METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE AUGUST 27, 1986 GAME:
Christopher
January 15, 2002
How can any Met fan forget this game? Unfortunately, it required a late night, but the ending was something that would make the 1 a.m. bedtime well worth it. If memory serves me correctly, Mets are up 6-4, bottom of the 11th, Padres batting, 1 out, man on second. Line drive base hit to center field, Dykstra comes up throwing to John Gibbons, play at the plate, the runner barrels Gibbons over like I've never seen a catcher get barreled. Gibbons hangs onto the ball for Out #2, the team is yelling at him to throw to third as the batter raced around second trying for third and was tagged out sliding. As Tim McCarver had called it, "a routine double play to end the game". Dykstra comes running in all smiles from center high-fiving everyone and caps it off with a huge bear hug of Gibbons. An earmark game for the season.
Cappy1986
January 29, 2002
Yes the Mets did pull this one out late...but the 8-2-5 double play called by McCarver to end the ball was "just your routine double play." the hit was by Tim Flannery to center field. Dykstra comes up throwing with the Mets up 6-5 to get the runner trying to score from second at the plate for out #2. Flannery going to third was tagged out by Howard Johnson on the throw from dishelved John Gibbons (wearing the regular Mets cap, not the helmet) to end the ballgame. Thank God I woke up in the top of the 11th to see this one. A typical Doug Sisk win....
Carl Dennett
April 24, 2004
I was there that night. Tony Gwynn had two, or possibly three assists from right field that night. And another time Strawberry at third on a hit to right field, held at third. Great ending. The guy thrown out at third, I can't remember his name, but very popular in San Diego. Played Second base, and last I knew, still lived in San Diego, and surfs. My memory must be fading, but I remember Gary Carter playing catcher, or maybe he just celebrated out of the dugout. Great Mets celebration at home plate after this game. Wish I had it on video.
Bob P
April 28, 2004
Carl, you are right. Tony Gwynn had three assists in the game. In fact, two of them came on consecutive plays! The Mets were about to blow the game open in the first inning, but with one out and runners on the corners, John Gibbons his a fly to right for out number two and Darryl Strawberry was thrown out trying to score to end the first. Then, leading off the second, Rafael Santana singled to right and Gwynn threw him out as he tried to stretch it into a double. In the bottom of the fifth, Keith Hernandez singled with one out and he also tried to stretch it into a double, but Gwynn nailed him too. Tony led the majors in assists by a RF that season with 21. The game did end on one of the most bizarre double plays you'll ever see. As others have mentioned in the game memory section, it is forever immortalized by Tim McCarver's call that was on the 1986 Mets highlights video "What a double play! Just your routine double play!" Garry Templeton was thrown out at home by Len Dykstra and then John Gibbons recovered to throw to third and get Tim Flannery for the final out. Gary Carter did not play in the game; if I'm not mistaken he was out much of August with a hand injury.
Peter P
September 23, 2005
I was at the game as well, and in addition to that incredible double play (I've never seen so many dejected Padre fans leaving the park), the win capped an 8-1 West Coast trip. Those were the days!
John T Greenpoint
February 18, 2009
Just watched the SNY replay of this game. Unbelievable play by Dykstra and Gibbons. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Chris S
April 29, 2011
Those were the days indeed. Check the box score, the Goose went 3 innings!
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