1986 National League Championship Series

Game 1

Wednesday, October 8, 1986 at Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

Game 1 featured a pitching duel between eventual NLCS Most Valuable Player Mike Scott and Dwight Gooden

Dwight Gooden

Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...

. Scott allowed just five hits and walked one while striking out 14 in a complete-game effort as the host Astros prevailed 1–0. Gooden allowed one run in his seven innings.

Houston first baseman Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis (baseball)

Glenn Earl Davis is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. While a member of the Houston Astros in the late 1980s, he finished three times in the top ten in National League MVP balloting . He batted and threw right-handed....

hit a long home run leading off the second inning, producing the game's lone run. Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...

singled with one out in the top of the ninth and eventually reached third base, but Scott struck out Ray Knight

Ray Knight

Charles Ray Knight is a former right-handed Major League Baseball third baseman best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets...

to end it.

Game 2

Thursday, October 9, 1986 at Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Game 2 saw the Mets knot the series at one game apiece as New York scored two runs in the fourth inning and then got three more in the fifth against Astros' starter Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan

Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....

en route to a 5–1 victory.

Lefty Bob Ojeda went the distance on a ten-hitter for the Mets, who were aided by a two-run triple from Keith Hernandez

Keith Hernandez

Keith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...

in the fifth inning. Gary Carter

Gary Carter

Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...

added an RBI double and Wally Backman

Wally Backman

Walter Wayne Backman is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He is best known for his time with the New York Mets from - and was a member of their 1986 World Series-winning team...

an RBI single for New York. One of the game's notable plays came in the second inning of a scoreless contest when Ojeda fielded a bunt by Alan Ashby

Alan Ashby

Alan Dean Ashby is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros...

and tagged out Kevin Bass at home plate.

Game 3

Saturday, October 11, 1986 at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...

in Queens, New York
Game 3 was a back-and-forth contest won by the Mets when Lenny Dykstra

Lenny Dykstra

Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra , nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s....

hit a two-run, walk-off homer against Astros' reliever Dave Smith in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving New York a 6–5 victory and 2–1 series lead on a Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

.

Houston broke through with four runs in the first two innings against Mets' starter Ron Darling

Ron Darling

Ronald Maurice Darling, Jr. is an American former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos...

, highlighted by Bill Doran's two-run home run in the second.

Darling then threw three scoreless frames and the Mets came back by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth as Darryl Strawberry's three-run homer off Houston starter Bob Knepper

Bob Knepper

Robert Wesley Knepper is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1976 to 1990. He played for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, both of the National League....

tied the game 4–4.

However, the Astros struck back against reliever Rick Aguilera in the top of the seventh as a throwing error by Ray Knight led to an unearned run that came home when Denny Walling

Denny Walling

Dennis Martin Walling is a former Major League Baseball player. Walling played all or part of eighteen seasons in the majors, from 1975 to 1992. He played his most games as a third baseman, but also saw significant time as an outfielder and first baseman.Walling may be best known as a...

's fielder's choice plated Doran for a 5–4 lead. It was the only error committed by the Mets in the series.

With the Astros still leading in the bottom of the ninth, closer Smith allowed a lead-off bunt single to Wally Backman, who appeared to have run out of the first-base line to avoid the tag of first baseman Glenn Davis, but was called safe by umpire Dutch Rennert

Dutch Rennert

Laurence Henry "Dutch" Rennert, Jr. is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1973 to 1992. He was considered one of the game's most colorful characters, best known for his animated and loud strike calls; similar to the NFL's colorful referee Red Cashion...

despite an argument from Houston manager Hal Lanier. Backman advanced to second on a passed ball to Danny Heep and Heep then flew out to centerfield for the inning's first out. The next batter was Dykstra, who won it for New York by lacing a Smith pitch over the right-field fence for a two-run homer.

Jesse Orosco

Jesse Orosco

Jesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...

won the game in relief for New York by working two scoreless innings.

Game 4

Sunday, October 12, 1986 at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

in Queens, New York
Astros' ace Mike Scott was dominant once again in Game 4 as the right-hander went the distance on a three-hitter to earn his second victory of the series in Houston's 3–1 triumph.

Mets' starter Sid Fernandez

Sid Fernandez

Charles Sidney Fernandez was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher from to . Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Fernandez was proud of his roots and wore uniform number 50 in honor of Hawaii being the 50th state...

allowed just three runs in six innings, but surrendered a two-run home run to Alan Ashby

Alan Ashby

Alan Dean Ashby is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros...

and a solo shot to Dickie Thon

Dickie Thon

Richard William "Dickie" Thon is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball.- Early life :Thon was raised in Puerto Rico after spending only the first two weeks of his life in Indiana where his father had just completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame.- Professional career :He...

to account for all the offense the Astros needed.

Gary Carter came to bat as the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, but flew out to center as the Astros tied the series 2-2.

Game 5

Tuesday, October 14, 1986 at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

in Queens, New York
After rain postponed Game 5 to a noon start on October 14, the Mets took a 3–2 series lead as Gary Carter's single off Charlie Kerfeld

Charlie Kerfeld

Charles Patrick "Charlie" Kerfeld is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Almost all of his career was spent with the Houston Astros.-Career:...

in the bottom of the 12th scored Wally Backman with the winning run for a 2–1 victory.

Game 5 was a pitching duel between Dwight Gooden and Nolan Ryan as Gooden allowed just one run in 10 innings with Ryan also surrendering a single run on two hits while striking out 12 in nine innings.

The Astros took a 1–0 lead in the fifth when Alan Ashby doubled, took third on a single by Craig Reynolds, and then scored on Bill Doran's ground-out. However, the Mets came right back and tied it in the bottom half when Darryl Strawberry took Ryan deep for the Mets' first hit of the game and his second homer of the series.

The game stayed tied until the 12th when with one out Wally Backman got an infield single off Kerfeld. Backman then took second on Kerfeld's errant throw on a pick-off attempt. Houston manager Hal Lanier opted to intentionally walk Keith Hernandez and pitch to Gary Carter, who had been just 1-for-21 in the series, but the catcher came through, lashing a single to center to give the Mets the win and a one-game lead as the series shifted back to Houston.

Jesse Orosco again earned the win for New York by hurling two perfect innings.

Hernandez would reveal in 2011 that he had stepped off the bag as the first baseman in the top of the second inning, when the Astros had runners on first and third and one out, and batter Craig Reynolds, grounded to second and the Mets tried to turn a double-play. Hernandez would say, "[Reynolds] clearly beat it, but I cheated and we got the call." Had Reynolds correctly been called safe, Kevin Bass would have scored from third and the Astros would have taken an early 1–0 lead.

Game 6

Wednesday, October 15, 1986 at Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

In one of the most famous games in baseball history, the Mets defeated Houston at the Astrodome 7–6 in 16 innings as Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass on a curveball for the final out with runners at first and second and New York advanced to its third World Series in franchise history.

Houston took a 3–0 lead in the first inning against Bob Ojeda as an RBI double by Phil Garner, plus RBI singles from Glenn Davis and Jose Cruz

José Cruz

José Cruz Dilan is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is also the former first base coach for the Houston Astros. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970-1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros...

gave Astros' starter Bob Knepper an early advantage. They were unable to add more runs as Kevin Bass was thrown out at third base following Alan Ashby's botched attempt to lay down a suicide-squeeze bunt and then Ashby lined out to shortstop to end the inning.

That lead held up for most of the game as Knepper was dominant, allowing no runs through the first eight innings. Meanwhile, Ojeda allowed nothing more through his next four frames, after which Rick Aguilera

Rick Aguilera

Richard Warren Aguilera is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-2000 for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs....

tossed three scoreless innings.

This set the stage for a Mets' comeback in the top of the ninth that started when Lenny Dykstra tripled against Knepper to lead off. Mookie Wilson

Mookie Wilson

William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...

singled in Dykstra to cut it to 3–1 and then with one out Keith Hernandez doubled to score Wilson and end Knepper's night as the southpaw was replaced by Dave Smith, who walked Carter and Darryl Strawberry to load the bases. Ray Knight then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Hernandez and tie the game before Danny Heep

Danny Heep

Daniel William Heep , is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder.Heep played for five different ballclubs during his 13 year career: the Houston Astros , New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , Boston Red Sox , and Atlanta Braves .Heep played for two different World Series champions: the New...

struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Roger McDowell

Roger McDowell

Roger Alan McDowell is the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and was a right-handed relief pitcher for twelve seasons in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League and the Texas Rangers and...

then came in to pitch for New York and allowed just one hit through five scoreless innings. The Mets took the lead in the top of the 14th when Carter singled, Strawberry walked, and with one out Wally Backman singled off Aurelio López

Aurelio López

Aurelio Alejandro López was a Mexican relief pitcher. Over the course of an eleven year Major League career , he acquired the nickname "Señor Smoke" in Detroit due to his Mexican heritage and his overpowering fastball, which had been measured as high as 93 mph.-Early career:Born in Tecamachalco,...

to plate Strawberry with the go-ahead run as Bass' throw home sailed high. The Mets still had the bases loaded before Wilson struck out to end the threat.

The Mets were now three outs away from going to the World Series, but with one out in the bottom of the 14th, Billy Hatcher homered off the left-field foul pole against Orosco to tie the game 4–4.

However, in the top of the 16th, Strawberry doubled to lead off against López, followed by Knight's single that scored Strawberry to put the Mets ahead again. Jeff Calhoun then replaced López and threw two wild pitches, the second scoring Knight to put New York up by two. Dykstra then singled in Backman, who had walked, for a 7–4 Mets' advantage.

The Mets needed each of those three runs as Houston rallied once again as with one out Davey Lopes

Davey Lopes

David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...

drew a pinch-hit walk, followed by Doran's single. Hatcher then singled in Lopes to make it 7–5, after which Denny Walling hit into a fielder's choice for the second out. Davis followed with a single that brought home Doran to cut it to 7–6. Now with the tying run in scoring position, the winning run at the first base, and would-be Game 7 starter Mike Scott looming in the dugout, Orosco fanned Bass to end the contest and send the Mets to a World Series duel with the Boston Red Sox.

Orosco pitched three innings for his third win of the series, marking the first time a reliever had ever won three games in a postseason series. The time of the game was 4 hours and 42 minutes and the 16 innings was the most that had ever been played in a postseason contest at that time. Interestingly, the Mets and Astros had played a 15-inning contest that lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes during the regular season, which Houston won 9–8.

In 2011, MLB Network

MLB Network

MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...

ranked this as the fifth greatest game of the preceding fifty years.

Composite box

1986 NLCS (4–2): New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...

over Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

Aftermath

Astros' pitcher Mike Scott was named the series' Most Valuable Player by going 2–0 with a 0.50 earned-run average, allowing just one earned run on eight hits and one walk in 18 innings. Also for Houston, Nolan Ryan went 0–1 with a 3.86 ERA, striking out 17 through 14 innings, and Bob Knepper posted an ERA of 3.52 with no decisions in his two starts. The Astros' bullpen allowed seven runs and took three of the losses in the series as Dave Smith (9.00 ERA), Charlie Kerfeld (8.10), and Aurelio López (2.25) dropped decisions.

For the Mets' pitching staff, lefty reliever Jesse Orosco went 3–0 with an ERA of 3.38 in the series, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks in eight innings. Ojeda notched New York's other victory and was 1–0 with a 2.57 ERA in his 14 innings of work. Dwight Gooden went 0–1 with an ERA of 1.06 in 17 innings and Ron Darling had no decisions with a 7.20 ERA with Sid Fernandez going 0–1 with a 4.50 ERA as they each made one start. Right-hander Roger McDowell allowed no earned runs and one hit in seven innings of relief work.

The Astros' offense saw Billy Hatcher bat .280 with three walks, a home run, and two RBI and three stolen bases for the series. Glenn Davis hit .269 with a home run and three RBI, Kevin Bass batted .292 with two doubles and four walks, and Bill Doran had a homer with three RBI. Houston hit .218 with five home runs in the six games.

For New York, Lenny Dykstra batted .304 with a double, triple, home run, and three RBI. Keith Hernandez hit .269 with three RBI and Strawberry homered twice with five RBI to go with 12 strikeouts. The Mets batted .189 with three homers for the series.

External links

1986 NLCS at Baseball Reference

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