Oct 15, 1988                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9   10 11    R  H  E
1988 Minnesota 0-1            1 0 0   0 0 2   0 1 0    0  0    4  7  5
1988 New York (N) 1-0         0 3 0   0 0 0   0 1 0    0  1    5  9  2

GWRBI-Wilson,M
Game MVP:Darryl Strawberry

Shea Stadium    (03-25-2024 17:09:11)       Time 3:37, 61ø, Wind: 4 MPH Out to LCF  Night Game

A thrilling, tense, game goes to the Mets as Mookie Wilson drives in the game winner in the bottom of the 11^th. The Twins struck first when Randy Bush hit a solo HR in the first inning. The Mets stormed back to take a 3-1 lead in the second on a 2 run blast by Darryl Strawberry with another run scoring on an error by Minnesota SS Gary Gagne – one of FIVE Minnesota errors on the day.

With David Cone shutting down the Twins, things looked bleak for Stan’s squad but in the 6^th, the Minnesotians came to life as Kent Hrbek doubled in one and Gary Gaetti singled in Hrbek to tie the game at 3-3!

In the 8^th, light hitting Tommy Herr hit a solo HR and Minnesota took a 4-3 lead. It didn’t last long as the Mets came right back to tie it in the bottom of the 8^th on one hit and yet another Twins error. Howard Johnson drove in the run with a single.

The game went to extra innings with Roger McDowell and Juan Berenguer throwing blanks. In the bottom of the 11^th pinch hitter Lee Mazzilli led off with a single. He then stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Minny catcher Brian Harper, Harper’s second error of the game.. Mookie Wilson then hit a liner to left, deep enough to score Mazzilli with the winning run.

McDowell won it in relief, pitching 3 scoreless innings, allowing only 1 hit with no walks. JuaBerenguer took the loss, also allowing only 1 hit  in 2.1 innings but with 3 walks.

Oct 16, 1988                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1988 Minnesota 1-1            0 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 5      6 12  2
1988 New York (N) 1-1         0 0 0   1 1 0   0 0 0      2  8  1

GWRBI-Herr
Game MVP:Gary Gaetti

Shea Stadium    (03-25-2024 17:30:14)       Time 3:09, 52ø, Wind: 4 MPH In from CF  Night Game

Mets take a 2-0 lead after five, on a solo HR by Strawberry and an RBI double by Mookie. Twins get one back in the 7^th on a Gary Gaetti HR off Mets starter Ron Darling. The Twins threatened to tie it but Gene Larkin hit into an inning ending DP with the bases loaded. Still 2-1 Mets after seven.

The game went to the 9^th with Darling on cruise control looking for the complete game win. Dan Gladden led off and Darling strikes him out. One down. Tim Laudner up next and he hits one deep to left but its in the park and Kevin McReynolds hauls it in. Two out, nobody on. 2-1 Mets. Light hitting Greg Gagne is up and he lines a single up the middle. The Twins have life. Moses comes up to pinch hit and the Mets counter with lefty reliever Randy Myers. Manager Stan counters by putting up the RH hitting Brian Harper.Harper lines a single and the Twins now have two on and two out. Steve Lombardozzi now up to bat. And he pops it up behind the plate..Gary Carter settles under it… the Mets will take a 2-0 lead in the series but CARTER DROPS THE BALL. E2. And Minnesota is still alive. Lombardozzi crushes a double to left and the game is tied, 2-2. Myers is struggling but Manager Alan leaves him in to face the switch hitting Herr – and Herr comes through with a DOUBLE OFF THE WALL. Two runs score and the Twins improbably have a 4-2 lead. That’s all for Myers. In comes Roger McDowell. Kirby Puckett greets him with a TRIPLE. Hrbek then singles and FIVE RUNS are in, before Gaetti lines to short to end the inning.

Jeff Reardon holds the Mets scoreless in the bottom of the 9^th and the Twins have evened the Series. Freddie Tolliver gets the win in relief. Myers takes the loss.

Oct 18, 1988                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1988 New York (N) 1-2         0 1 0   1 3 0   5 0 0     10 15  0
1988 Minnesota 2-1            0 2 0   3 2 1   3 0 -     11 14  1

GWRBI-Puckett
Game MVP:Tim Laudner

HHH Metrodome    (03-25-2024 17:51:05)       Time 3:56, 67ø, Dome  Night Game

The two teams combine for 29 hits (and 21 runs) in a wild and crazy game. After the Mets took a 1-0 lead in the second, the Twins came right back on an RBI double by Tim Laudner and an RBI triple by Bush to lead 2-1 after two. In the fourth, the Straw Man homered for THE THIRD STRAIGHT GAME to tie it at 2-2. In the bottom 4^th, the Twins scored three on 3 hits and a walk to take a 5-2 lead. But the Mets came right back in the 5^th as Strawberry singled in a run and Howard Johnson doubled in two to TIE THE GAME. 5-5. Now it was Minny’s turn and sure enough they scored 2 in the bottom 5^th on 3 hits and a walk. Laudner doubled in the tie breaking run and Dan Gladden singled in Laudner. 7-5 Minnesota.  

In the 6^th, Hrbek hit a solo HR to make it 8-5 Twins. Then came the 7^th. The Mets exploded for FIVE RUNS on 4 hits, 2 walks and an error. McReynolds singled in the first run. The Mets loaded the bases for Gary Carter and he cleared them with a double. Kevin Elster drove in a run with a sac fly and when the dust settled, the Mets had regained the lead, 10-8! Once again, the lead did not last long. In the bottom of the 7^th, Gagne singled in Bush to make it 10-9.Kirby Puckett then DOUBLED scoring TWO to give the Twins an 11-10 lead.

The Twins bullpen shutout the Mets the rest of the way as Berenguer got the win with 1 inning of relief and Reardon got the save. Bobby Ojeda, making an unusual relief appearance (after starter Sid Fernandez was shelled) took the loss.

Strawberry was 4-5 with a HR, 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored. Wally Backman and Howard Johnson each had 3 hits.

For the Twins, Randy Bush was 2-4, with 2 triples. Larkin was 2-4 with 3 runs scored and Laudner was 3-5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored.                                                                                  

Twins lead the Series 2-1

Oct 19, 1988                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1988 New York (N) 2-2         1 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 0      2  6  0
1988 Minnesota 2-2            0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1      1  9  1

Game MVP:Dwight Gooden

HHH Metrodome    (03-25-2024 18:05:17)       Time 2:40, 69ø, Dome  Night Game

After Game Three’s 21 runs, Game 4 was a classic pitchers duel as Dwight Gooden took a shutout into the 9^th before tiring, allowing one run before McDowell came on to get the final out and the save. Frank Viola as outstanding for the Twins, allowing only 5 hits (and 2 runs) over 7 innings but 2 runs is all the Mets needed.

Keith Hernandez hit a solo HR in the first and Mookie Wilson TRIPLED in Kevin Elster in the 7^th for the Mets two runs. Minny’s only run, coming in the 9^th, came in on an RBI single by Larkin. It was too little, too late, as the Mets evened the series at 2 games apiece.

Oct 20, 1988                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1988 New York (N) 3-2         1 1 2   1 2 0   1 0 0      8 18  1
1988 Minnesota 2-3            2 0 0   1 0 1   0 0 0      4 10  0

GWRBI-Strawberry
Game MVP:Howard Johnson

HHH Metrodome    (03-25-2024 18:19:10)       Time 3:07, 68ø, Dome  Night Game

Another wild one with Hernandez again getting the Mets started in the first, this time with an RBI double, off Twins starter and loser Les Straker (who’s he ?). Twins come right back with 2 in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

Mets tie it in the second on a solo blast by Carter. 2-2.

In the third Strawberry hits his FOURTH HR of the Series and it’s 4-2 Mets. An RBI single by Lenny Dykstra in the fourth makes it 5-2.

Bottom 4^th- Gladden hits a solo HR to make it 5-3 but the Mets pull away with 2 in the 5^th on an RBI single by McReynolds and a 2RBI double by HoJo. 7-3 Mets

After the Twins made it 7-4 in the 6^th, Ho Jo belted a solo HR in the 7^th making the final score 8-4.

David Cone started and got the win, going 5.2 IP allowing 4 runs and 7 hits in a shaky performance. Straker, the losing hurler, gave up 7 runs and 15 hits in 6 innings.

Wally Backman and Hernandez each had 3 hits, as did Howard Johnson (3-5, double, HR, 2 RBIs)

For Minny Bush was 3-4 with 2 doubles

The Mets take a 3-2 series lead and can wrap things up when the Series returns to Shea

Oct 22, 1988                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1988 Minnesota 2-4            0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0      0  6  0
1988 New York (N) 4-2         1 0 0   0 0 0   3 0 -      4  9  0

GWRBI-Hernandez


Game MVP:Ron Darling
Injury: Strawberry (today only)

Shea Stadium    (03-25-2024 18:30:53)       Time 3:10, 68ø, Cloudy, Light Rain  Day Game

Ron Darling threw a 6 hit shutout with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts as the Mets win the WORLD SERIES!

For the third game in a row, Hernandez got the Mets started in the first inning, this time with a single scoring Mookie.

The game remained 1-0 into the 7^th as Twins starter Allan Anderson was pitching a gem to match Darling

In the bottom of the 7^th, the Mets finally got to Anderson as Tim Teufel doubled in a run, Hernandez singled in a run and McReynolds hit a SF for the third run of the inning.

The Mets had breathing room and that was more than enough for Darling who completed the shutout and gave the Mets the 1988 ARAIG title.

The real life 1988 Mets had many of the same players as the 86 Championship team. In real life the 88 team won 100 games, easily winning the NL East. They were favored to go to the World Series for the second time in three years but lost in SEVEN GAMES to the eventual World Champion LA Dodgers.

The real life 1988 Twins finished a distant second to the eventual AL Champion Oakland A’s. Three years later they would be World Champions beating the Braves in 7 games in the memorable 1991 World Series.

Manager Stan did a great job with these Twins, getting 99 wins in ARAIG and defeating the Red Sox in the ALCS. They came up just short against the Mets, a team that was fun and EASY to manage with their terrific combination of great pitching and a terrific lineup packed with POWER and SPEED.

Now its on to 1989….