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The one where the NY Mets season ends with a single-game strikeout record

No playoffs but a big finish to the season.
ByTim Boyle
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Apr 8, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A detail view of New York Mets hats and gloves during the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Apr 8, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A detail view of New York Mets hats and gloves during the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

With nothing to play for but pride and some padded stats to end the season, David Cone stepped on the mound on October 6, 1991, with a 3-0 lead. A leadoff triple followed by a double got the scoring started for the New York Mets. In what would become a 7-0 victory to end a disappointing season, Cone provided Mets fans with one last remainder of what could lie ahead even though it didn’t.

This would be Cone’s final year finishing the season for the Mets as he’d end up traded the following August. Not his encore Mets outing but a final chance to shine in 1991, he did it by tying the franchise record of 19 strikeouts in a single game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

David Cone finished his 1991 season with authority and a 19-strikeout game

Cone didn’t waste time compiling strikeouts. He struck out the side in the first while issuing his lone walk of the game against the second hitter. A leadoff double in the third ended the no-hit bid before it actually began. Cone fired back at the Phillies hitters by striking out three more.

One more in the third, three in the fourth, and two in the fifth brought Cone to ten quickly. Cone added three more in the sixth around a single. In the seventh, Cone retired the side with three balls in the air. Two more Ks in each of the final two innings pushed him to the 19 mark. The final batter of the game, Dale Murphy, grounded out to end the game on a 2-1 pitch.

The 19 strikeouts tied Tom Seaver for the most in a single game by a Mets pitcher. It fell short of the MLB record in a 9-inning performance. It was set by Roger Clemens in 1986. He’d do it again in 1996. Three more players, Kerry Wood, Randy Johnson, and Max Scherzer, would match his total.

In comparison to Seaver’s 1970 game where he struck out 19, this one might have bested it for one simple reason: Seaver allowed a run. A home run to leadoff the second made this a tight 2-1 Mets win. Seaver’s game ended much differently, fanning the final 10 batters he faced and not allowing any base runners. The first and last in this string of 10 straight strikeouts was, convenientally, Al Ferrara. Why does that matter? He’s also the one who hit the home run against Seaver.

How did Cone’s memorable performance look? The full game is available on YouTube for Mets fans to enjoy forever.

Leadoff hitter Kim Baptiste led the way with 4 strikeouts in as many chances. The only person in the starting lineup for Philadelphia who didn’t go down on strikes was pitcher Andy Ashby who exited after only one trip to the plate.

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