As the series shifts to Shea Stadium the Mets send Nino Espinosa (11-15 4.73 Grade 3) to the mound opposite Luis Tiant (13-8 3.31 Grade 11).
The Red Sox would come out quick as Jim Rice would drive in 2 runs with a base hit in the first to give the Red Sox a quick 2-0 lead. The Mets would finally dent the scoreboard with a run in the 3rd via a sacrifice fly by Elliott Maddox (only hit 2 in the regular season).The Red Sox would add an insurance run with yet another RBI from Jim Rice, this time a 2 out double to left. The Mets would tie in the bottom of the 6th as Willie Montanez would draw a 2 out walk and then John Stearns would take Tiant deep.
With the score tied at 3, the Mets would take control of the game with 3 in the bottom of the 7th courtesy of a 3 run homer by Maddox. The Red Sox tried to get back in the game in the ninth as Rice once again goes yard this time a 2 run homer to draw the Sox within a run. Dale Murray would get Carlton Fisk to end the game and get the Mets back into this series.
Final Score: Mets 6, Red Sox 5
WP: Skip Lockwood (1-0)
LP: Luis Tiant (0-1)
Save: Dale Murray (3)
HR’s: Red Sox – Jim Rice (2), Mets – Elliott Maddox (1), John Stearns (2)