Amazin’ Look Back – April 12th, 1973: Seaver’s Mets top Gibson’s Cardinals 2-1

In a duel that was worthy of more than the just over 6,000 fans who were in attendance at Busch Stadium, Tom Seaver took on Bob Gibson in the second and final game of the Mets’ early season series in St. Louis.

March 8, 2013; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Mets bats and helmets lay in the dugout works out prior to the game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets scored two in the first off Gibson.  Bud Harrelson doubled and Felix Millan reached on an error to open the game.  Later in the first, Harrelson was singled home by John Milner and Millan came in on a sacrifice fly from Cleon Jones.

Behind Seaver, that was all the scoring the Mets would need.  The Franchise pitched seven and two thirds, giving up just four hits.  He walked two and struck out seven.  The only run off Seaver was a solo homer off the bat of Jose Cruz leading off the seventh.  After Seaver departed, Phil Hennigan pitched the final inning and a third for the save.

The Mets improved to 4-0 on the season, while St. Louis dropped to 0-5.

Here’s the box score and starting lineups from that day:

New York Mets

St. Louis Cardinals

1.

Bud Harrelson,

SS1.

Lou Brock

LF2. Felix Milan, 2B2.

2B3. John Milner, 1B3. Jose Cruz, CF4.

, RF4.

1B5.

Cleon Jones

, LF5.

C6.

, 3B6.

3B7.

Rich Chiles

, CF7.

, RF8.

Duffy Dyer

, C8.

Ray Busse

SS9. Tom Seaver, P9. Bob Gibson

Up Next:

The Mets head to Philadelphia to open a three game set.  Jon Matlack will be on the hill for the Mets.

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