4/13/84: Gooden erratic, Cubs hang on to outlast Mets, 8-7

Dwight Gooden struck out 8 in his second start but walked 8 as the Mets wasted a 5-0 lead, giving the Cubs a chance behind some clutch hitting in a wild and wooly 8-7 triumph at an even wilder Wrigley Field in the Cubs' home opener. 

"Robert & Natalie & Elliot & Dyan star in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, tonight at 7 on WGN Channel 9." 

The Mets struck for 5 off Cub lefty Steve Trout in a 9-batter 2nd inning highlighted by a 2-run double by Gooden and 2-run single by Ron Gardenhire. The Cubs would rally behind an erratic Gooden in the bottom of the 3rd, sending 8 batters in a 2-run/4-walk/1 hit inning.

The Cubs chased Gooden for good in the 6th on a pair of errors by the battery of Junior Ortiz and Gooden and a pair of walks, the latter of which was a bases-loaded walk by Gary Matthews, then Leon Durham tied it with a 2-run single, chasing Gooden. It was 5-all after 6.

Tim Stoddard relieved Trout in the 7th and retired the Mets in order. Ed Lynch relieved Tom Gorman in the Cub half of the 7th and gave up back-to-back doubles by Mel Hall and Jody Davis, giving the Cubs a 6-5 lead. after Larry Bowa bounced to short, PH Richie Hebner slugged a 2-run homer giving the Cubs an 8-5 lead through 7. 

Lee Smith took over for Stoddard in the 8th, but was victimized by a lead-off error by Larry Bowa, allowing Keith Hernandez to reach. George Foster tripled in Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry walked, Mookie Wilson scored Foster with a single, cutting the Cubs lead to 8-7, Foster to 3rd. Smith settled down, striking out the side, ending the Met threat.

In the 9th, Ron Gardenhire led off with a single, then he was forced out on a bouncer by Smith, putting PH Wally Backman on at 1st. Backman was then picked off, which loomed large when Hernandez doubled to right with 2 out. George Foster singled, sending Hernandez to 3rd, but Strawberry flied to Keith Moreland in right, ending the wild, wooly affair at Wrigley.

WP-Stoddard LP-Lynch SV-Smith CHC 8-8-1 NYM 7-12-3 HR-Hebner (1) GWRBI-Davis CHC 4-4 NYM 3-5

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