Game #8
Friday April 11
New York Mets at Chicago Cubs
Opening Day at Wrigley Spoiled by Mets’ Rookie Ace
Gooden Strikes Out 15 in Dominant Debut as Mets Top Cubs
By Paul Sullivan | Tribune Staff Writer
CHICAGO — On a chilly, cloud-covered Opening Day at Wrigley Field, the ivy was dormant, the bats mostly frozen, and the Cubs' offense rendered utterly helpless—courtesy of a 19-year-old phenom from Tampa named Dwight Gooden.
In just his second major league start, Gooden stole the show and shattered Chicago’s homecoming hopes with a dazzling 15-strikeout performance over eight commanding innings, leading the New York Mets to a 7-3 victory Friday afternoon.
“He threw like he belonged here for years,” said Mets manager Davey Johnson. “That was something special.”
Gooden Overwhelms Cubs Lineup
Gooden (1-1) put on a clinic in front of 35,214 bundled-up fans, striking out at least one batter in every inning and retiring 13 Cubs in a row during one stretch. The right-hander allowed just three hits, walked none, and permitted only one run until his departure before the ninth.
Even veteran Cubs slugger Leon Durham, who homered off Gooden in the second, tipped his cap: “The kid’s the real deal. His fastball moves, and that curve—man, it’s sharp.”
Gooden used both to baffle Chicago hitters. Ron Cey, Larry Bowa, and Mel Hall each struck out twice, as did Durham. In all, the Cubs fanned 17 times—including two more against reliever Jesse Orosco in the ninth.
Trout Outdueled Again
Chicago starter Scott Sanderson Trout (0-2) was serviceable but couldn’t match the electricity on the other side. The Mets touched him up for nine hits and four runs over seven innings, including a thunderous two-run homer by George Foster in the first and a solo shot from Keith Hernandez in the fifth.
Hernandez also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and New York’s late-inning outburst—three runs in the top of the ninth off Tim Stoddard—sealed the deal.
“Against a guy like Gooden, you can’t afford to fall behind early,” said Cubs manager Jim Frey. “We were playing catch-up from the first inning.”
Bright Spots Dimmed
There were few offensive highlights for Chicago. Bob Dernier doubled and scored in the third. Ryne Sandberg tripled and plated a run in the ninth. But the lineup was otherwise lifeless, going 4-for-31 overall with just one hit in the middle six innings.
The Cubs grounded into two double plays and stranded just three baserunners all game.
“We’ve got to be better,” said Sandberg, who is off to a slow start at .156. “Opening Day is supposed to be about energy and optimism. Today, we just got flat-out dominated.”
Brooks, Chapman Spark Mets Late
For New York, third baseman Hubie Brooks collected three hits and scored twice. In the ninth, pinch-hitter Keith Chapman delivered a dagger—an RBI double off Stoddard that pushed the lead to 6-2.
Jesse Orosco, despite walking two and allowing a run, closed things out with minimal drama to secure the Mets' third win of the young season.
A Chilling Start, in More Ways Than One
Wrigley’s infamous early-spring chill added to the home fans’ discomfort. Game-time temperature hovered at 47 degrees with a biting wind blowing from right to left at 11 mph. The only real heat came from the right arm of Dwight Gooden.
“If this is how Opening Day starts,” said Mets catcher Joe Gibbons, “I can’t wait to see what Doc does in July.”