Game 1
Mets 3 Padres 1
Jerry Koosman pitched 8 2/3 allowing only 4 hits and 1 run,
despite walking 5 (6 Ks) as he won his first game of the season (1-3). Keith
Hernandez was the hitting star for the Mets as he doubled in a run in the
second and hit a solo HR (4) in the 9th for an insurance run. In
between, Lenny Dykstra singled in a run as the Mets took a 3-0 lead into the 9th.
Koosman lost his shutout bid when Cito Gaston hit a solo HR (3) leading off the
9th. Koosman retired the next two batters but a tiring Koosman then
walked Ivan Murrell – bringing Tug McGraw into the game. McGraw ended the
threat to pick up his 4th save of the season.
Ed Whitson was the starter and loser (0-3) despite pitching a
solid game (8 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 0 W, 9 K).
Game 2
Mets 2 Padres 1 14 innings
A tense battle between the two teams as the series shifted to Shea
Stadium. Darryl Strawberry put the Mets ahead in the 4th with a solo
HR (1). With Gary Gentry throwing bullets, the Mets took a 1-0 lead into the 9th-and
for the second day in a row the Padres got a 2 out HR in the 9th –
this time by Nate Colbert (3) and this time it tied the game! The game stayed
tied until the 14th inning when Howard Johnson singled in the game
winner off reliever Mark Grant who took the loss (0-2). Tug McGraw got the win
for the Mets as he pitched 4 sensational innings, allowing 0 hits and 2 walks
while striking out 4, as he improved to 2-1 on the year.
Gentry, in 8 2/3, allowed only 7 hits and the 1 run while walking
none and striking out 7 as he lowered his ERA to 2.37. Walt Terrell, an ex-Met,
was solid for San Diego as he allowed only 4 hits and 1 run over 7 innings.
Game 3
Mets 11 Padres 2
After two close games, it was all Mets in this one as the Mets
belted FIVE HRs – 2 each by Mookie Wilson and Howard Johnson and one by Darryl
Strawberry. Wilson led off the bottom of the first with a HR (2) and
Howard Johnson hit a 2 run shot (1) later in the inning as Dennis Rasumussen
did not have it today for the Padres.
After the Pads pulled to within 3-2 the Mets put the game away in
the 5th when Straw hit a 2 run shot, his 5th of the year
– and HoJo hit a solo shot (2). In the 7th, the Mets scored 5 more
as PH Greg Jeffries drove in a run with a sac fly, pitcher McAndrew helped his
cause with an RBI double and Mookie capped off a great game with a 3 run HR
(3).
Mookie went 3-5 with2 HRs, 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored to lead the
Mets to victory. Jim McAndrew got the complete game win, scattering 10 hits,
walking one and striking out 3 as he improved to 2-1 on the season. Rasumussen
struggled, giving up 6 earned runs in 4 2/3 as his record dropped to 0-2.
The Mets are now 10-7 and in contention for the lead in the NL
East. San Diego drops to 2-15, last in the NL West.
Next up: the Mets play a four game series against the division
leading Washington 2014/2017 Nationals. San Diego will play fourth place San
Francisco 1967/2000.
Thanks to Joey for playing on line on Saturday afternoon
