Bob Ojeda's arrival in Flushing before the 1986 season completed the roster that was on the verge of winning a championship. Traded from the Boston Red Sox in a major eight-player deal the previous December, the experienced left-hander joined a star-studded rotation that included Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, and Sid Fernandez. Although those pitchers had higher velocity, Ojeda contributed a smart, competitive approach and a lethal changeup, providing the perfect complement to the staff.
His first summer in New York became a defining moment in his career. As the 1986 Mets dominated the National League, Ojeda stood out as the most dependable and consistent pitcher on the team, leading the league with an impressive 18-5 record. He also achieved a career-best 2.57 ERA, confounding opposing lineups over 217.1 innings and finishing fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
When October arrived, destiny brought an exciting showdown against his former club in the World Series. Ojeda was a key player during that unforgettable postseason; he kept Houston quiet in the NLCS, then stepped up to start Game 3 at Fenway Park with the Mets behind two games to zero. Under huge pressure, he delivered a brilliant, one-run performance over seven innings, swinging the series in favor of the Queens team and ultimately helping them secure their second world championship.
In subsequent seasons, however, his resilience was tested by unusual and tragic events. In September 1988, while trimming hedges at his home, Ojeda endured a severe accident that cut off the top of his left middle finger. Medical professionals managed to reattach the finger, and through strong determination, he returned to the mound by mid-1989. Although he lost some sensation in his breaking pitches, he adjusted his style and achieved a steady 10-11 record with a 3.47 ERA over 31 starts in 1990.
His five-year stay in New York drew to a close after that 1990 campaign, when the front office traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He departed Shea Stadium with a 51-40 record and a 3.12 ERA as a Met.
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