Subway Series Sim — Games 1 and 2

As I stated in my previous post, I’m posting a Subway Series-themed simulation courtesy of the talented folks at WhatIf Sports.You may remember the last one I did featuring the 1996 Yankees and the 2009 Yankees; well, the ’96 squad is making another appearance, this time against the 1986 Mets team that stunned the nation by further extending the Red Sox’ infamous World Series drought.

Without further ado, I bring you the ‘WhatIf Sports Subway Series Sim”!

Game 1 @ Shea Stadium (click to view box score)

We start off this series with a couple of young fireballers toeing the rubber — Andy Pettitte and Dwight Gooden. Neither pitcher was great, but both kept their teams in the game and ended with no-decisions in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory. “Doc” wound up going seven innings, allowing 9 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 6 Yankees. Pettitte fell victim to a relatively high pitch count, only going 5 2/3 despite allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs. This game was decided late, with the Yankees coming through thanks to a fielder’s choice by pinch-hitter Tim Raines in the 8th and back-to-back RBI singles by Darryl Strawberry and Joe Girardi in the 9th. Girardi and Tino Martinez combined to go 7-for-10 with three RBI and three runs scored, including a Tino HR. And as was the case so many times, the Rivera-Nelson-Wetteland combo shut the door on the Mets and closed it out.

Game 2 @ Shea Stadium (click to view box score)

There’s nothing like seeing two veteran left-handers face off following the young bucks. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Jimmy Key did not fare well at all in the 6-2 loss. He failed to make it out of the third inning, surrendering all six runs in the second and third innings. Mookie Wilson provided most of the offense by driving in three of the runs, and run-scoring hits from Gary Carter, Ray Knight and Rafael Santana provided all the offense Bob Ojeda would need. Ojeda silenced the Yankees bats all game, going six innings and allowing 6 hits but only one earned run. The Bombers stranded a total of 22 runners — half of those by Paul O’Neill and Bernie Williams, who combined to go a measly 1-for-8.

*****

So after two games, we find this series tied at one as the series shifts to Yankee Stadium for three games. Can the Yankees take advantage of home-field? Will the Mets build on the last game and take control? Stay tuned to find out later today!

*****

We haven’t been able to say this all too much this season, but props to Javier Vazquez on a terrific pitching performance last night. Yes it was the Mets and he’s only been winning on the road, but it doesn’t change the fact that he held the other NY team to one hit over six innings before leaving the game with a bruised right index finger in the 7th inning on a sacrifice bunt (x-rays were negative, according to all the beat writers).

And how about some more props for New York-born Kevin Russo? A natural infielder, the guy gets called up due to Marcus Thames’ sprained ankle and gets his first two ML hits, including the run-scoring 2B which provided the Yankees offense in the game. Well done, Kevin — here’s to many more hits in your big-league career!