Amazin’ Look Back: May 22, 1973 – Cardinals’ Rick Wise Pitches And Bats Way To 5-3 Victory Over Mets; Jerry Koosman Drops Second Straight

After a two day break in the schedule, the Mets got back to work this afternoon hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea.  Jerry Koosman climbed the hill opposed by the Card’s Rick Wise.  The two starting pitchers kept the game scoreless, matching zeroes through the first six innings.

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

Led at the plate by pitcher Rick Wise, St. Louis ended Jerry Koosman’s effort in the seventh inning, connecting for five hits en route to a five run inning.  An RBI single by third baseman Ken Reitz  opened the scoring.  Then with the bases loaded and one out, Rick Wise stepped in and promptly doubled to left, driving in Ken Reitz and Bill Stein to give himself and the Cards a 3-0 lead.  Still with only one out, Coach Yogi Berra made a decision that would factor heavily in the game.  He decided to leave his southpaw in to face the left hand hitting Lou Brock, who was previously 0 for 4 against Koosman.  Lou Brock responded with his first hit of the game, a single to center plating two more runs.

Perhaps a batter too late, Yogi finally made a move to the bullpen, bringing in Phil Hennigan to relieve Jerry Koosman.  Kooz pitched 6.1 innings in all, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits.  He walked two batters and struck out three, while his ERA rose to a 2.54 mark.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mets managed to get a run back.  Cleon Jones opened with a single, and advanced to third on Rusty Staub‘s base hit to right.  Next batter Ed Kranepool bounced into a 1-6-3 double play, as Cleon Jones scored on the play.

In the ninth inning,  Jones, Staub and Kranepool teamed up again against Rick Wise.  Cleon led off with a base hit and Staub followed with another single to left.  That ended Rick Wise’s afternoon, as manager Red Schoendienst called in Diego Segui from the bullpen.  Ed Kranepool greeted the new Cardinals pitcher with a double to left field, which cleared both Jones and Staub from the bases, and brought the Mets within two runs of the Cardinals.  But that’s all they’d muster.  Diego Segui recovered to retire the next three batters, striking out Jim Gosger, and Bud Harrelson two batters later to end the game.

Starting Lineups

Rick Wise picked up his fifth victory of the season, pitching 8.1 innings of five hit ball.  He allowed three earned runs, walked three and struck out six Mets batters.  Diego Segui earned his fifth save.  After being named April’s pitcher of the month, Jerry Koosman (5-2) continues to struggle in May, as he dropped his second consecutive start.  Koosman is 1-2 this month, with a no-decision.

Today’s game was a one day affair.  The Mets will get one more day off tomorrow for travel, as they embark on a twelve game road trip.  California, here we come.  The Mets next play the Los Angeles Dodgers, then will travel north and take on the San Francisco Giants.  The Mets will conclude the trip with a series against the Cincinnati Reds.

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