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| | Monday, October 18 | |||||
| The Mets have played some great games in their history. Here are five of the greatest -- all games in which they trailed and came back to win. Read about the games below and then vote in the poll as to which was the greatest comeback victory in Mets history.
1969 World Series, Game 5 The scene: The Baltimore Orioles, heavy favorites to win the World Series, lead the Mets 3-0 in the sixth inning of Game 5 at Shea Stadium. What happened: Cleon Jones led off the bottom of the sixth against Dave McNally and was hit by a pitch -- which he proved when shoe polish was detected on the ball. Donn Clendenon followed with a two-run home run. Light-hitting Al Weis tied the game with a homer in the seventh and the Mets added two more in the eighth on Ron Swoboda's RBI double and an error. Jerry Koosman finished off the 5-3 win as the Miracle Mets, hapless for the first seven years of their existence, won the World Series. 1986 NLCS, Game 6 The scene: The Houston Astros led the Mets 3-0 entering the top of the ninth at the Astrodome. While the Mets led the series 3-to-2, the Astros had the invincible Mike Scott ready for Game 7. He had already beaten the Mets twice in the series with a five-hitter and three-hitter. After 108 regular-season wins, the Mets appeared doomed. What happened: Astros starter Bob Knepper was cruising along with a two-hitter before finally faltering. He allowed two runs before being replaced by Dave Smith. Ray Knight's sacrifice fly tied the game at 3. What happened next: The game wasn't over. The Mets scored in the top of the 14th for a 4-3 lead but Billy Hatcher's home run tied it up again. Finally, in the 16th, the Mets scored three times off Aurelio Lopez and Jeff Calhoun, aided by two wild pitches. But the Astros fought back with two runs off Jesse Orosco, who finally fanned Kevin Bass with two runners on for a 7-6 victory. Some have called it the greatest game ever. 1986 World Series, Game 6 The scene: The Boston Red Sox were on the verge of winning their first World Series since 1918. Dave Henderson had homered in the top off the 10th inning and Marty Barrett added an RBI single for a 5-3 lead. Calvin Schiraldi then retired the first two Mets hitters in the bottom half of the 10th prompting Keith Hernandez to retire to the clubhouse for a smoke, but then ... What happened: Gary Carter singled. Kevin Mitchell singled. Ray Knight singled on an 0-2 count, making it 5-4. Bob Stanley replaced Schiraldi to face Mookie Wilson. He threw a wild pitch and the game was tied. Mookie then hit a dribbler that went through the legs of you-know-who as Knight scored the winning run. The scene: Hey, the World Series wasn't over. There was still Game 7 to be played at Shea Stadium. Home runs from Dwight Evans and Rich Gedman helped the Red Sox to a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth. Bruce Hurst hadn't allowed a hit to that point. What happened: The Mets tied the game in the sixth with four hits and a walk. Schiraldi entered in the seventh -- and Knight immediately greeted him with a home run. The Mets took a 6-3 lead. The Red Sox scored twice in the eighth to make it 6-5, but Darryl Strawberry's home run capped off an 8-5 victory. 1999 NLCS, Game 5 The scene: The Mets had staved off elimination with an eighth-inning comeback in Game 4 but Game 5 turned into a pitcher's duel. Eight Mets relievers held the fort until the top of the 15th inning, when the Braves finally broke through for a 3-2 lead. What happened: In a 12-pitch at-bat, Shawon Dunston led off the bottom of the frame with a single. After a walk, a bunt, an intentional walk and a bases-loaded walk to Todd Pratt, the game was tied 3-3. Robin Ventura then smacked Kevin McGlinchy's belt-high fastball over the right-field fence. Ventura never scored as he was mobbed by teammates. No matter. Mets 4, Braves 3. | ALSO SEE Amazin' Mets win 4-3 in 15 innings
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