Each opportunity to witness a Dwight Gooden start — especially during those initial seasons — was an opportunity to witness something special. He delivered on that promise against the Giants at Shea Stadium. Before 31,758, Gooden struck out 16 in a 3-0 Mets victory and became the only pitcher in NL history to record 200 K’s in each of his first two years.
Gooden’s dominance by this point was now commonplace and the reality that a pitcher not yet 21 years old could dominate National League hitters had set in. So when he struggled in each of his previous two August outings — versus the Cubs and Phillies, respectively — it was a diversion from what fans had regularly watched over the course of a spectacular 1985 campaign.
Any worries that Gooden would slip further would evaporate when on the mound against San Francisco — but not right away. In the top of the first, Brad Wellman looped a one-out single into short right field. Chili Davis lined a single to right, and Wellman advanced to third when Darryl Strawberry misplayed the hit. Davis, though, was caught stealing second and Joel Youngblood struck out with the bases loaded following two walks.
The Giants, with the worst team batting average the in the majors, missed their chance. Gooden struck out three in the fourth, three in the fifth, another in the sixth, and two in the seventh — without allowing anyone past second base. San Francisco brought the tying run up in the eighth, but Youngblood popped out to catcher Gary Carter.
Fittingly, Doc finished it with a strikeout of Rob Deer — the crowning touch on his 13th complete game and sixth shutout, not to mention a victory which secured the Mets’ 1.5 game lead in the NL East.
The 16 strikeouts were the most in a game by anyone in the majors that season, as was his 208 strikeouts thus far, his winning streak of 13, and his win total of 19 (to just three defeats). By eclipsing 200 strikeouts for the second time in a many big league seasons, it was a feat matched only by the Cleveland Indians’ Herb Score in 1955 and 1956.
Gooden would tack on the accomplishments and cement one of the most phenomenal seasons ever — a 24-4 mark with 268 K’s, a 1.53 ERA, and — not surprisingly — a Cy Young Award.
