Game 6 of the 1986 National League Championship Series (NLCS) stands as one of baseball's most famous contests, a marathon 16-inning battle between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. Played on October 15, 1986, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, this game was a pivotal moment that ultimately sent the Mets to the World Series. The temperature inside the dome was 73 degrees Fahrenheit, setting the stage for a long and intense matchup that would
test the endurance and resolve of both teams.
The Astros initially seized control, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Mets starter Bob Ojeda. Phil Garner contributed an RBI double, followed by RBI singles from Glenn Davis and Jose Cruz, giving Astros' starter Bob Knepper an early advantage. Houston had an opportunity to extend their lead further in the first, but Kevin Bass was thrown out at third base after Alan Ashby's failed suicide-squeeze bunt attempt, and Ashby then lined out to shortstop, ending the inning. This early lead held for much of the game, as Knepper was dominant, allowing no runs through the first eight innings. Ojeda, after the first inning, also settled down, allowing nothing more through his next four frames, and was followed by Rick Aguilera, who tossed three scoreless innings for the Mets.
The Mets' Dramatic Ninth-Inning Comeback
The stage was set for a dramatic Mets' comeback in the top of the ninth inning. Lenny Dykstra led off with a triple against Knepper, immediately putting pressure on the Astros. Mookie Wilson then singled, scoring Dykstra and cutting Houston's lead to 3-1. With one out, Keith Hernandez doubled, scoring Wilson and ending Knepper's night. Dave Smith came in to relieve Knepper and walked Gary Carter and Darryl Strawberry, loading the bases. Ray Knight then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hernandez and tying the game at 3-3. The inning concluded when Danny Heep struck out swinging with the bases loaded, but the Mets had erased the Astros' lead and forced extra innings.
Mets manager Davey Johnson employed his bullpen aggressively, a strategy influenced by the looming threat of Astros ace Mike Scott, who was scheduled to start Game 7. The Mets had struggled against Scott, scoring only one run off him in 18 innings in his previous two outings. Several Mets players later acknowledged that they viewed Game 6 as a "deciding game," playing it with the belief that they would likely lose to Scott if the series reached a seventh game. Roger McDowell entered the game for New York and pitched five scoreless innings, keeping the Astros offense at bay. Meanwhile, Houston pitchers Smith and Larry Andersen held the Mets hitless until the top of the 14th inning.
Extra-Inning Thrills and Heartbreak
In the top of the 14th, the Mets finally broke the tie. Gary Carter singled, followed by a walk to Darryl Strawberry. With one out, Wally Backman singled off Aurelio López, plating Strawberry with the go-ahead run. The Mets still had the bases loaded, but Wilson struck out to end the threat. Now leading 4-3, the Mets were just three outs away from securing the pennant. However, in the bottom of the 14th, with one out, Billy Hatcher homered off the left-field foul pole against Jesse Orosco, tying the game once again at 4-4. The game continued, scoreless through the 15th inning, building to another dramatic climax in the 16th.
The Mets regained the lead in the top of the 16th. Darryl Strawberry doubled to lead off against López, and Ray Knight followed with a single that scored Strawberry, putting the Mets ahead for good. Jeff Calhoun then replaced López and threw two wild pitches, the second of which scored Knight, extending the Mets' lead to two runs. Lenny Dykstra then singled in Wally Backman, who had walked, making it 7-4. Despite the three-run cushion, the Astros mounted one last rally in the bottom of the 16th. With one out, Davey Lopes drew a pinch-hit walk, followed by a single from Bill Doran. Hatcher then singled in Lopes, making the score 7-5. Denny Walling hit into a fielder's choice for the second out. Glenn Davis followed with a single to center field that landed in front of a charging Dykstra, bringing home Doran and cutting the lead to 7-6, with Walling moving into scoring position. The tying run was at second base, and the winning run was at first. Jesse Orosco, facing Kevin Bass, found himself at a full count. With the pennant on the line, and a misplaced pitch away from loading the bases, Orosco struck out Bass on a slider for the final out, securing the 7-6 victory for the Mets and sending them to their third World Series in franchise history. This game would also be the final MLB game that Keith Jackson would do play-by-play for ABC Sports.
The Aftermath for Both Teams
For the Astros, the loss in Game 6 was a crushing blow, and their chances at a pennant and World Series slipped away in subsequent seasons. Mike Scott continued to be one of baseball's best pitchers until an arm injury in 1991 forced his retirement. Nolan Ryan, another former Met in the Astros' rotation, left Houston after a contract dispute following the 1988 season, signing with the Texas Rangers, where he played until his retirement at age 46. Ryan later returned to the Astros in 2014 as an executive adviser, a position he held until 2019. The Astros did not make the postseason again until 1997. The Mets, on the other hand, advanced to the World Series, where they ultimately won the championship. Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS remains a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of postseason baseball, a game etched in the memories of fans for its relentless drama and historic conclusion.
