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This Day in NY Mets History: A brawl, pitchers in the outfield, 14-innings

One of the wilder games the Mets have ever played.
ByTim Boyle|
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May 8, 2018; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of the New Balance cleats and Stance socks worn by New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario (1) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
May 8, 2018; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of the New Balance cleats and Stance socks worn by New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario (1) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

July 22, 1986 was one of the stranger New York Mets games. A memorable brawl sparked at third base between Ray Knight and Eric Davis, the Mets were forced to get creative to get through the final innings.

Replacing Knight in the lineup was Roger McDowell who’d come on to pitch. Well, sort of. While he did take the mound to retire the final batter in the bottom of the 10th, he did it with fellow reliever Jesse Orosco out in right field.

The game would last 14 innings and, as needed, the Mets would switch between McDowell and Orosco on the mound with the other moving to a corner outfield position. Fists flying, pitchers playing the outfield, and 5 hours of baseball made this one of the stranger Mets games that’ll ever get played.

You’re dared to find a wilder Mets win

The 5-hour contest against the Cincinnati Reds wasn’t one the Mets were willing to punt in any aspect. Before there was a Wild Card, you had to win your division. There were no ifs, ands, or buts. Games mattered a lot more than they do today.

Forced to work with what he had left, Davey Johnson devised all he could to get the Mets to the finish line.

The 11th was smooth with McDowell getting the first two outs and Orosco the final one. Orosco pitched the entire 12th, but after a leadoff single, McDowell swapped from right field to left field with Mookie Wilson.

In the 13th inning, McDowell was back on the hill. Orosco took his spot in right field. Wilson went back to left field. The second out of the inning was a liner off the bat of Tony Perez, caught by Orosco who was probably glad he had practiced shagging fly balls in batting practice.

The Mets took a 6-3 lead in the top of the 14th on a three-run home run off the bat of Howard Johnson. They stuck with their alignment of McDowell pitching, Wilson in left field, and Orosco in right. Three ground outs and it was over.

A position player taking the mound is one thing. Pitchers going into the outfield, and exchanging roles over the course of multiple innings, is a horse of a different color. It worked for the Mets in this instance just as many of the decisions they made throughout 1986 did.

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