Amazin’ Look Back – April 22nd, 1973: Mets Split Twin Bill with Expos

A Tale of Two Cities was the theme for the New York Mets today as they split a doubleheader with the visiting Montreal Expos, dropping a 10-inning affair 2-1 in the afternoon and then bouncing back with a 13-3 thrashing at night. In the first game, Montreal’s Mike Marshall was on the winning side, while New York’s Phil Hennigan took the loss, and Tom Walker picked up his second save of the year. In the second, Jim McAndrew chalked up his first W of the 1973 season, while Steve Renko was on the long side, and George Stone received credit for his first save. New York finished the day with an 8-6 records, while Montreal went to bed a game under .500 at 6-7.

June 05, 2011; Flushing, NY, USA; The New York Mets logo behind home plate before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. The Mets defeated the Braves 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Andrew B. Fielding-USA TODAY Sports

The afternoon contest was a rather slow affair for about eight and a half innings. Ron Fairly’s home run to lead off the second was the only run on the board by the bottom of the 9^th, and it appeared Tom Seaver was going to take the hard-luck complete-game loss. But Jim Fregosi drew a walk off Mike Marshall to start the frame and went to second on a wild pitch. Jerry Grote bunted him over to third base, which brought up the pinch-hitting Ken Boswell. Boswell proceeded to single in Fregosi, taking Seaver off the hook and, conversely, spoiling a great starting effort by Montreal’s John Strohmayer. Boswell was stranded on second and the game went into extras, but the Expos turned it around quickly, and a single and walk led to the go-ahead base hit by Tim Foli. Willie Mays, Rusty Staub, and John Milner would go down 1-2-3 against walker in the bottom of the 10^th.

In the nightcap, the Mets’ dormant bats woke up in time for the nocturnal thumping that was the 3^rd inning. Already up 1-0, the Amazin’s plated seven runs off Expo starter Steve Renko and company, as Ed Kranepool got things going with a two-run single that opened up the floodgates for Rich Chiles (RBI double), starter Jim McAndrew (two-run double), and John Milner (two-run single). Kranepool and company would strike again in the 5^th and 6^th, as the 28-year-old 12-year veteran (let that sink in for a moment) picked up two more RBIs on a 5^th-inning double, while Ken Boswell and Jim Beauchamp picked up the tap for three more runs in the 6^th. All the offense was more than enough for Jim McAndrew, who didn’t allow his two runs until his final inning, the 7^th. George Stone came in to get the final six outs, giving up the game’s final run but earning the save and the adulation of the 27,230 who made it out to Shea Stadium to catch the back end of the twin billing.

The starting lineups for the first game were as follows:

Montreal Expos

New York Mets

2B1

SS2

SS2

2B3

1B3

CF4

LF4

RF5

RF5

1B6

CF6

LF7

3B7

3B8

The second game’s starters looked like this:

Montreal Expos

New York Mets

2B1

SS2

SS2

2B3

1B3

1B4

LF4

RF5

RF5

LF6

CF6

3B7

3B7

CF8

The Mets are travelling tomorrow and will open up a three-game series with the Houston Astros on Tuesday at the famous Astrodome.

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