Amazin’ Look Back: May 18, 1973 – Wayne Garrett & Tom Terrific Help Mets Beat Cubs, 4-3, at Shea

Standing at 18-15 after a win and an off-day, The New York Mets, behind a complete game by their Franchise, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, on Friday Evening, May 18, 1973, in front of 34,565 at Shea Stadium. They are now 4 games over .500 at 19-15, 2 games behind the NL-East-Division-leading Chicago Cubs. Tom Seaver, behind 7 strikeouts in the 9-inning game, improves to 5-3 with a 1.57 ERA.
Things weren’t all rosy for Tommie and the Mets to start things off. Second baseman Dave Cash led off with a double to center off Seaver, and 3rd baseman Richie Hebner gave the Pirates a quick 1-0 lead with a single. Tom settled down though, and got the next 3 batters to limit the damage.
The Mets didn’t get on the board until the 3rd, but they took over the game when they did. After Bud Harrelson flied out to center to lead off the inning, Seaver helped his own cause by singling to right field. Ronald Wayne Garrett then knocked one out for a 2-run home run, giving the Mets a 1-run lead that would become a 2-run lead rather quickly. Center Fielder Ted Martinez singled to right, moved over to 2nd on a Jim Fregosi groundout to 3rd, and scored when La Grande Orange Rusty Staub singled to right as well. The Mets left the inning with a 3-1 lead.
They tacked on 1 more the next inning when Bud Harrelson, who had singled, scored on Wayne Garrett‘s 1-bagger, giving him 3 RBI on the day.
The Pirates edged closer with 1 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th, but Tom Terrific would not let the W slip through his fingers. Though the Pirates got a baserunner on in the 9th, Tom locked down the complete game victory.
Starting Lineups
Up next for the Mets is one more game against the Pirates on Saturday, May 19, at 2:15PM, when Nelson Briles takes on Jon Matlack.
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