N.Y. Mets: Jacob deGrominated Dodgers with an all-time Amazin' effort

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

K K K K K K K K K K K K K

Jacob deGrom tied Tom Seaver (1973)

for most strikeouts in a post-season start.

NEW YORK METS: Jacob deGrom's Game One performance goes down as one of the Amazin's all-time best playoff efforts ever.

Jacob deGrom's winning effort in Game One of the NLDS over the Dodgers goes down as one of the organization's finest play-off performances ever.  He faced 27 batters over 7 innings pitched, allowed the Dodgers no runs on just 5 hits, walked one, and struck out 13 batters for the victory.

Jacob tied Tom Seaver for most strikeouts in a post-season game by a Met.  In the opening game of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds, Seaver struck out 13 batters over 8.1 innings, yet took the loss.

Jacob deGrom also became only the third Mets pitcher to achieve double-digit strikeouts in a post-season game.  Seaver struck out another 12 batters against the Oakland A's in the '73 World Series, but this time earned a no-decision.  Dwight Gooden struck out 10 Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 innings to open the 1988 NLCS, and likewise walked off to a no-decision.

In the 1969 NLCS vs. the Atlanta Braves, Nolan Ryan pitched 7 innings, allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, and fanned 7 batters for the victory in relief of starter Gary Genrty.

In the World Series vs, the Baltimore Orioles, Tom Seaver pitched 10 innings and struck out 6 batters for the victory in Game Four.  Jerry Koosman pitched a complete game and fanned 5 batters in the Game Five clincher.

In 1973 NLCS, Jon Matlack followed Tom Seaver's 13 strikeout opening loss against Cincinnati with a gem.   Matlack fanned 9 batters en route to a complete game 2-hit shutout over the Big Red Machine in Game Two.  Jerry Koosman followed with another 9 strikeout, complete game effort in Game Three.

In Game Three of the 1973 World Series against the Oakland A's, Tom Seaver fanned 12 batters over 8 innings pitched.

The greatest pitching effort of the 1986 NLCS was perhaps authored by Roger McDowell during the Game Six clincher.  Starter Bob Ojeda pitched a complete game victory in Game Two, but only lasted 5 innings in Game Six, which evolved into 16 innings of play.  Before Jesse Orosco labored through the final three innings, Roger McDowell's 5 innings of 1-hit ball kept the Mets alive from the 9th through the 13th inning.

Bob Ojeda got the Mets turned around after going down 0-2 in the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox with an immensely clutch effort in Game Three.  Ron Darling allowed just one unearned run and 6 hits, and struck out 12 over 2 starts and 14 innings pitched.

Dwight Gooden experienced tough luck during the 1988 post-season against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He struck out 10 batters over 7 innings in Game One, but took a no-decision.  Gooden was again cruising along in Game Four with 9 strikeouts through 8.1 innings until Mike Scioscia connected on a gut-wrenching home run in the 9th inning.

Al Leiter's 1999 play-in game in the 163rd game of the regular season deserves mention.  He tossed a complete game 2-hit shutout over the Cincinnati Reds, with 7 strikeouts.

A year later, Mike Hampton turned in a brilliant performance in the 2000 NLCS clincher, tossing a complete game 3-hit shutout, with 8 strikeouts over the St. Louis Cardinals.

In fairness to Tom Glavine, he pitched very well in Game Two of the 2006 NLDS against the Dodgers, and again in Game One of the NLCS against the Cardinals, when he opened the series with 7 scoreless innings of 4-hit ball for the victory.

Forgive me for the efforts omitted in this compilation, but none of them would have matched what Jacob deGrom accomplished Friday night in Los Angeles.