Subway Series Sim — Games 3, 4, and 5

In continuing with the post from this morning, I’m posting a Subway Series-themed simulation courtesy of the talented folks at WhatIf Sports. The previous simulation that I ran featured the 1996 Yankees and the 2009 Yankees; this one pits the 1996 Yankees against the 1986 Mets. After two games we find this series tied at one game apiece headed to Yankee Stadium for the next three games (click here to see the results of the first two games).

Let’s see how the Yankee Stadium games fare, shall we?

Game 3 @ Yankee Stadium (click to view box score)

After splitting the first two games in Shea Stadium, the series shifted to Yankee Stadium for Game 3. In spite of his recovering from aneurysm surgery, David Cone was tapped by Joe Torre to start opposite the Mets’ Ron Darling. Coney was solid through 3 innings on a strict pitch count, allowing only two hits. Unfortunately the bullpen did not build on his performance as Brian Boehringer took the loss in the 7-2 defeat at home. While not overly dominant like they were in Game 2, the Mets were able to jump on a bullpen forced to be used way earlier than expected thanks to a Kevin Mitchell HR and wild pitches from Boehringer and Jim Mecir. Darling was masterful in 8 shutout innings, allowing only 5 hits. The Yankees’ only offense came in the 9th inning on a 2-run HR from Darryl Strawberry, and it wasn’t nearly enough as the Mets regained home-field advantage.

Game 4 @ Yankee Stadium (click to view box score)

Never in a million years would Yankee fans have thought Kenny Rogers would pitch in a game of this magnitude, let alone succeed. Yet he did exactly what was asked of him: keep the Yankees in the game, which they ended up winning 4-3. “The Gambler” scattered 8 hits and allowed 3 runs over 8 innings. His counterpart, Sid Fernandez, fared better in allowing only two hits in 7 scoreless innings. The Mets’ bullpen, however, did them in as Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco blew the 3-0 lead in the last two innings. Bernie Williams drew walks in the 8th and 9th innings that brought home the first and last runs of the game. With this win, The Yankees pulled even at 2-2.

Game 5 @ Yankee Stadium (click to view box score)

Anyone looking for a repeat of Game 1 was highly disappointed. Andy Pettitte looked atrocious in the 16-7 loss, allowing home runs to Keith Hernandez and Kevin Mitchell and 6 total earned runs in two-plus innings. The bullpen did not fare any better as seven different relievers (Mark Hutton, Brian Boehringer, Jim Mecir, Bob Wickman, Mariano Rivera, Jeff Nelson and John Wetteland) combined for a DISGUSTING 10 earned runs and 17 hits in seven innings. Hernandez and Gary Carter combined to go 6-for-10 with 9 RBIs, and Lenny Dykstra & Mookie Wilson threw in 4-hit games of their own. The Yankees offense did not roll over against Doc Gooden, scoring 6 runs in 8 innings. Tino Martinez contributed with a HR and 2 RBIs and Darryl Strawberry added three hits of his own, but it was not enough to overcome a horrendous performance by the pitching staff. The Mets now stand one win away from claiming cyber bragging rights.

*****

Looks like the ’96 Yankees are in danger of losing bragging rights after dropping two of three games at home. Can they come back in Shea and take the final two games? Or will the ’86 Mets finish them off in six? Wish I could tell you now, but you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out!