1986 NLCS Game 5 Comeback
From the brink of elimination to a last-inning hero, the Mets refused to die in Game 5.
The fifth game of the 1986 National League Championship Series stands as one of the most dramatic comebacks in Major League Baseball history. Played between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros at Shea Stadium, this contest saw the Mets overcome a seemingly insurmountable deficit to force a Game 7. It is remembered not just for the athletic feat, but for the sheer emotional volatility that defined the series.
- Event
- 1986 NLCS Game 5
- Date
- October 13, 1986
- Location
- Shea Stadium, Queens, New York
- Opponent
- Houston Astros
- Series Status
- Mets trail series 2-3
- Key Player
- Darryl Strawberry (Home Run)
- Outcome
- Mets win 7-5 in 10 innings
Lore & Background
This moment cemented a belief in the Mets' resilience that would carry them through Game 6's legendary collapse and into the World Series victory. It is often cited as the turning point where the narrative shifted from a likely Astros championship to an unforgettable Mets fairy tale, showcasing the unpredictable magic of October baseball.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Shea Stadium was cold enough to see your breath, but the stands were burning hot with tension. Two outs, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth. The noise died down to a collective hold of breath as Darryl Strawberry stepped into the batter's box. The crowd knew what was at stake: glory or oblivion. As Scott wound up and delivered, time seemed to suspend. The crack of the bat echoed like a gunshot, sending the ball soaring high over the center-field fence. In that split second, despair evaporated, replaced by a roar so loud it shook the very foundations of the stadium.
Reader's Guide
On October 13, 1986, the New York Mets faced elimination against the Houston Astros in Game 5 at Shea Stadium. The Astros took an early lead and built a 4-0 advantage by the sixth inning, seemingly putting the series out of reach for New York. The Mets began to chip away at the lead in the later innings, but trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded. With Mike Scott still pitching for Houston, Darryl Strawberry stepped up to the plate. He hit a towering two-run home run into the right-field stands, tying the game at 5-5 and sending it into extra innings. The Mets eventually broke the deadlock in the top of the tenth inning with a solo home run by Gary Carter. The team held on for a 7-5 victory, forcing a decisive Game 7 and keeping their World Series hopes alive.
Did You Know?
- Darryl Strawberry's game-tying home run was his first of the entire postseason series until that moment.
- The Mets were down by four runs in this game before mounting their historic comeback.
- Mike Scott, who had been unbeaten in three starts against the Mets earlier in the season, finally suffered a loss here.
- This victory set the stage for the famous 'Ray Knight' Game 6 and the eventual World Series championship.
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