Mets Win, 6-5; Even Series on Rally in 10th

The New York Mets, one strike away from elimination, put together a three-run rally in the 10th inning Saturday night to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 6-5, before a crowd of 55,078 at Shea Stadium in New York and force the World Series to a decisive seventh game tonight.

Dave Henderson hit a home run in Boston’s two-run 10th inning as the Red Sox took a 5-3 lead that appeared sufficient to give them their first World Series title in 68 years.

But the Mets, who had to come back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the best-of-seven series once before at 2-2, tied it this time at three games apiece with the help of three consecutive two-out singles in the bottom of the 10th that chased Boston reliever Calvin Schiraldi.

Schiraldi got the first two outs of the 10th on fly balls, bringing up Gary Carter, who singled to left. Pinch-hitter Kevin Mitchell, a rookie, followed with a single to center that sent Carter to second. Ray Knight then hit a looping single to center that scored Carter and sent Mitchell to third.

Bob Stanley replaced Schiraldi, but he threw a wild pitch that allowed Mitchell to score the tying run as Knight went to second. Mookie Wilson’s dribbler down the first-base line went between the injured Bill Buckner’s legs for an error, scoring Knight.

The Mets are only the third team in World Series history to be three outs from elimination and escape.