1998 NLCS Game 2

The Dodgers were eager to grab a 2-0 series lead vs the Mets and started 26 year old, twelve game winner vs David Cone who went 20-3.  The Mets faithful were nervous when the Dodgers jumped to a 2-1 first inning lead, but they had nothing to fear as the Mets scored in each of the first four innings, but really erupted when they put eleven runs on three Dodger relievers.

David Cone wasn't on top of his game giving up four runs in six plus innings, but with 16 runs to work with, he easily picked up the win.  Rick Aguilera came in to get the last nine outs and the three inning save.

It's difficult to pick a single offensive star for the Mets since they rapped 21 hits including two doubles and three homers, but 20 year old rookie, Gregg Jefferies came up very big.  He had three runs, three hits and three RBI.  Jefferies also had two homers.  Jefferies was one of five Mets with at least three hits.  Darryl Strawberry led the way with four hits including the other Mets homer and one of their doubles.  Every starter had at least 1 RBI.  Lenny Dykstra was the only Met in a bad mood after this one after taking an 0 for 7.

The Dodgers pitching was obviously poor, but their offense wasn't too great either.  The bright spot for LA was the continued good play of Mike Marshall.  The rightfielder hit a homer for the second consecutive game.  Franklin Stubbs also homered for the Dodgers.  Mike Scioscia and Alfredo Griffin each had two hits.

The teams fly across the country to meet on October 8 in New York.  The Mets are starting 17 game winner Ron Darling and the Dodgers are looking to curb the Mets momentum by going back to the Bulldog, Orel Hershiser, in Game 3.

Mets 16, Dodgers 4 Wednesday, October 5, 1988 Mets (1-1) Dodgers (1-1) Player AB R H BI BB SO P A E LOB Ave Player AB R H BI BB SO P A E LOB Ave ------ -- - - -- -- -- - - - --- --- ------ -- - - -- -- -- - - - --- --- Dykstra cf 7 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 .000 Sax 2b 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 0 0 .000 Jefferies 3b 5 3 3 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .444 Hatcher 1b 2 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 .333 Hernandez 1b 5 2 1 1 1 1 5 0 0 3 .125 Orosco p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Strawberry rf 5 4 4 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 .500 Horton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 McReynolds lf 6 1 3 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 .300 Holton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Johnson ss 4 3 3 1 2 0 0 3 0 0 .625 Davis ph lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Carter c 5 1 2 3 0 1 12 0 0 2 .500 Gibson lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 .286 Backman 2b 5 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 .500 Pena p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Cone p 5 1 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 2 .400 Marshall rf 3 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 .333 Aguilera p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Shelby cf 3 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 .714 Scioscia c 4 0 2 0 0 1 9 0 0 1 .286 Hamilton 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 3 .000 Griffin ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 .375 Belcher p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 .000 Leary p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Stubbs ph 1b 3 1 1 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 .429 -- - - -- -- -- -- -- -- --- -- - - -- -- -- -- -- -- --- Totals 48 16 21 15 5 6 27 5 0 12 Totals 34 4 8 4 2 9 27 12 1 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mets 1 1 1 2 0 11 0 0 0 16 21 0 Dodgers 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 8 1 FE- Griffin(1); LOB- Mets 12, Dodgers 6; 2B- McReynolds(1), Strawberry(1); HR- Jefferies 2(2), Strawberry(1), Marshall(2), Stubbs(1); RBI- Backman 2(3), Carter 3(3), Cone(1), Dykstra(1), Hernandez(2), Jefferies 3(3), Johnson(1), McReynolds(1), Strawberry 2(2), Marshall 2(4), Stubbs 2(3); SF- Carter(1); GIDP- Stubbs(1); RLSP- Carter, Cone, Dykstra 2, Hernandez 2, Hamilton; DP- Mets 1; Mets IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Cone(W 1-0) 6.0 6 4 4 2 7 2 6.00 Aguilera(S, 1) 3.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Dodgers IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Belcher(L 0-1) 3.1 9 5 5 3 2 2 13.50 Leary 1.2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Orosco 0.0 3 4 4 1 0 1 0.00 Horton 0.1 4 6 2 0 0 0 54.00 Holton 1.2 2 1 0 1 1 0 0.00 Pena 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Inherited runners-scored- Leary, Horton 2-2, Holton 3-3; Batters faced- Cone 27, Aguilera 10, Belcher 22, Leary 7, Orosco 4, Horton 7, Holton 8, Pena 7; HBP- Strawberry(by Horton), Hatcher(by Cone);