July 20, 1996 at The Astrodome
Astros 9, Mets 8 (60-28)
If there was any indication that these two teams would have a terrific series in october, this game was it. It had it all. Big homeruns, timely hitting and some good (and bad) relief pitching.
The Astros drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning. Sid Fernandez gave up an RBI double to make it 1-0.
The Mets answered in the third inning. Mookie Wilson led off by grounding out to third, but Kevin Mitchell drew a walk. Keith Hernandez singled and Mitchell moved to third and then Gary Carter hit into a fielders choice that scored Mitchell. Darryl Strawberry then tripled home Carter for the first of many lead changes. Mets lead 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Astros got to Sid Fernandez again. Alan Ashby drove home Glenn Davis with a two out single. Game tied 2-2.
The Astros then took the lead for the second time in the sixth inning. Kevin Bass homered and Ashby doubled home Jose Cruz. Astros lead 4-2.
In the top of the eighth, the Mets jumped back on top. Kevin Mitchell and Keith Hernandez led off with back to back homers to tie the game up. Gary Carter singled, but he was forced out by Darryll Strawberry. George Foster singled and move Straw to third and then Ray Knight drove home Strawberry on a fielder’s choice. Mets lead 5-4.
The Astros then busted the game open. Doug Sisk gave up four runs in the bottom of the eighth, and just like that, the Astros had a commanding 8-5 lead.
But this is 1986. Howard Johnson led off the ninth with a walk and moved to second on Kevin Mitchell’s ground out. Johnson then scored on Keith Hernandez’s single. Gary Carter was beaned to put runners on first and second before Darryl Strawberry struck out. Rafael Santana then singled home Hernandez to make it a one run game and then Ed Hearn singled home Carter to tie things up. The score was 8-8 and was heading for extra frames.
Neither team scored in the first five extra innings. In the top of the fifteenth, the Mets went down 1-2-3, but in the bottom of the fifteenth, Kevin Bass finally ended the game with by driving home Bill Doran on a fielder’s choice. Final score was 9-8 in fifteen and the game took five hours and 29 minutes. The Astros had the lead four times and the Mets three times.
What a game. The Astros won the series and the game, but this must have been some drama.
