Subway World Series Game 5: Ron Darling outduels Andy Pettitte

Game 5 of WhatIfSports‘ simulation of a Subway World Series between the 1986 Mets and the 1998 Yankees went much better for Ron Darling and Andy Pettitte than their Game 1 matchup, when both pitchers gave up six earned runs.

This time, Pettitte allowed a run in the first when Wally Backman doubled and Darryl Strawberry singled him home, then shut down the Mets until the eighth, when Rafael Santana and Ray Knight doubled for the Mets’ second run.

Darling was even better, allowing no runs on four hits and three walks in eight innings, while striking out nine.

Roger McDowell pitched the ninth to preserve the 1986 Mets’ 2-0 win.

The 1998 Yankees now lead the series, three games to two.

Read the Game 5 box score and game summary.

Here’s a look back at Game 1, Game 2, Game 3 and Game 4.

The good folks at WhatIfSports, who run SimLeague Baseball and Hardball Dynasty have run a best-of-seven scenario for us- a Subway World Series, if you will – between the two teams. And each day this week, we’ll feature one of the games here at Subway Squawkers.