1986 NLCS Game 6
New York Mets @ Houston Astros – October 15, 1986
Location: Astrodome, Houston, TX
Final Score: Mets 7, Astros 6 (16 innings)
Series Result: Mets win NLCS, 4–2
Game Summary:
Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS was an epic, exhausting, and dramatic classic that stretched across 16 innings and nearly 5 hours—a test of endurance, willpower, and championship resolve. The Astros, behind starter Bob Knepper, dominated early, taking a 3-0 lead into the 9th inning. With just three outs to go and ace Mike Scott looming for Game 7, it looked all but over for the Mets.
But New York wasn’t done.
In the top of the 9th, the Mets strung together clutch hits, including a critical RBI double from Wally Backman and a game-tying sacrifice fly by Lenny Dykstra to stun the home crowd and send the game into extra innings at 3–3.
From there, the game turned chaotic and unforgettable.
Both teams missed chances in extra frames. The Mets took a 4–3 lead in the 14th, only for Billy Hatcher to crush a game-tying homer off the foul pole in the bottom half. In the 16th, the Mets broke through with three runs, helped by a Ray Knight RBI single and a wild pitch.
Even then, Houston wasn’t finished. The Astros scored two runs in the bottom of the 16th and brought the winning run to the plate before Jesse Orosco struck out Kevin Bass with the tying and winning runs on base, ending the instant classic and sending the Mets to the World Series.
Why It’s One of the Greatest Comebacks in Baseball History:
Quote from Mets Manager Davey Johnson:
“If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it.”