John From Albany: 40 Years Ago - Keith's Error Leads to Loss in Philly, 4/12/1986

 

NY Newsday 4/13/1986

1986, the last year the Mets won the World Series.  This daily post will detail the game by game journey to that Fall Title.  Click here for More Mets History and Calendar Classics.

Year: 1986; Game #3; Saturday,  Apr 12, NYM 8 @ PHI 9; boxscore; 14 innings; WP: Hudson; LP:  Niemann; Time: 05:03;  DAY,  Attendance: 22,737; Record: 2-1; Standings: 2; Games up/behind: 1.5; L-wo; 

Lenny Dykstra CF; 4 for 5; 1 run; 2 RBIs; 1 walk; Tim Teufel 2B-3B; 2 for 7; SH; 3 RBIs; 1 walk; Keith Hernandez 1B; 0 for 7; 2B; 1 K; Gary Carter C; 2 for 6; SF; 1 run; 1 walk; Darryl Strawberry RF; 0 for 6; 2B; 1 walk; 3 Ks; George Foster LF; 3 for 7; 2B; 1 run; 1 K; Ray Knight 3B; 3 for 5; 2B; 3 runs; 2 RBIs; Randy Niemann P; 0 for 1; Rafael Santana SS; 1 for 6; 1 run; 1 walk; 1 K; Sid Fernandez P; 1 for 2; Kevin Mitchell PH; 0 for 0; Danny Heep PH; 1 for 1; 1 RBI; Howard Johnson PH; 0 for 1; 1 K; Wally Backman 2B; 2 for 2; 1 run; 1 walk; Sid Fernandez; 4.1 innings; 4 runs; 4 ERs; 2 hits; 7 walks; 4 Ks; Ed Lynch; 1.2 innings; no runs; 2 hits; 1 K; Bruce Berenyi; 1 inning; no runs; 2 hits; Roger McDowell, H (2); 1.1 innings; 3 runs; 2 ERs; 3 hits; 1 walk; 1 K; Jesse Orosco, BS (1); 2.2 innings; no runs; 2 hits; 3 walks; 2 Ks; Randy Niemann, L (0-1); 2 innings; 2 runs; 2 ERs; 6 hits; 3 walks; 

National Pastime.com: In a humiliating 9–8 extra-inning loss against the Phillies, the Mets blow a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, thanks, in part, to Keith Hernandez's error allowing the leadoff batter to reach base, opening the floodgates to Philadelphia's comeback. Six years, the New York first baseman's Veterans Stadium miscue (albeit placed in the wrong season and different venue) becomes the background of a conspiracy theory detailed in an hour-long Seinfeld episode, The Boyfriend.

After Keith's error, Roger McDowell K'd John Russell but walked Von Hayes.  Steve Jeltz followed with a triple that made it 7-6.  Jesse Orosco came in and allowed a single to Garry Maddox that tied the game up.  Mets took an 8-7 lead in the 14th as Tim Teufel singled in Wally Backman but Randy Niemann allowed 4 singles and a walk - not retiring a batter as the Phils scored two for the win.  

NL East Standings 4/12/1986

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
STL	4	0	1.000	--	21	7	.882
NYM	2	1	.667	1.5	21	18	.570
PHI	2	2	.500	2.0	25	27	.465
PIT	1	2	.333	2.5	9	10	.452
MON	1	3	.250	3.0	10	24	.168
CHC	1	3	.250	3.0	9	13	.338

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/12/1986.