"Oh My Darling": 1984 Cubs are on a Roll; Stun '86 Mets

Thad Bosley hit a pinch-hit, two-out, game-winning home run in the top of the 11th inning to stun the 1986 New York Mets and lift the red-hot 1984 Chicago Cubs to a 9-6 win in Game 1 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series Monday.

Bosley’s bomb came off reliever Ron Darling (0-1). He was pinch-hitting for Lee Smith (1-0), who pitched a scoreless 10th. George Frazier earned the save for the Cubs, now 5-0 overall.

Chicago was the bottom seed in Bracket B before winning for straight to advanced to the World Series.

The Mets jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by rightfielder Darryl Strawberry.

The Cubs cut the lead in half then scored five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead.

New York scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and and twice more in the sixth to tie the game.

The bullpens took over from there as Warren Brusstar pitched three scoreless innings of relief. Chicago starter Rick Sutcliffe worked six innings.

The Mets received quality relief work from Rick Anderson, Rick Aguillera and Jesse Orosco before Darling walked two after one out in the 11th. After recording the second out, Darling was scorched by Bosley.

“Walks always kill you,” said @sacco_john, Mets’ manager. “You expect a little more from a veteran right there. This one stings. Right now, these Cubs can do no wrong.”

Dwight Gooden was rocked for six runs in a poor start for the Mets.

“Have many in a row have (we) won,” said @JackSacco6. “Who says only the Mets can be Amazin’?

The Cubs pounded out 12 hits, including a three-run home run by third baseman Richie Hebner, RBI doubles from Ryan Sandberg and Leon Durham and three singles by catcher Jody Davis. Gary Woods added a pinch-hit double.

Strawberry had three hits to lead the Mets. Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman, Howard Johnson and Kevin Mitchell all smacked doubles for New York. Danny Heep had an RBI, pinch-hit single.

The Cubs’ bullpen pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. The bullpen was perfect over the last four innings.

Game 2, which will be played at Shea Stadium will feature Chicago’s Scott Sanderson and the Mets’ Bobby Ojeda.

Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played in the “Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field.

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John Sacco

sacman18@comcast.net

@sacco_john