Amazin’ Look Back: June 27th, 1973 – Mets Split Doubleheader vs. Phils

The Phillies came into town today to play two against the Amazins. At 34-38, the Phillies sat one game ahead of the 31-37 Mets in the standings.

Game 1 (Box Score & Play by Play)

Apr 23, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; General view a baseball during batting practice prior to the San Diego Padres game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets would make up that game by taking game one. They put up all seven of their runs in the first inning with eight singles and a double off Philadelphia starter Barry Lersch. The Mets would only manage five more hits after the inning, three of which by shortstop (and utility man extraordinaire) Ted Martinez.

With that seven run lead, starter George Stone was able to coast. Unfortunately, he very nearly let the Phillies back into the game by allowing a pair of runs in the second inning (including a leadoff home run for Greg Luzinksi) and three more in the following frame on a long ball from right fielder Mike Anderson. He would quiet down, giving up another run (his sixth) in the fifth inning before ending his day. Meanwhile, Lersch had settled down, throwing six scoreless innings to let the Phillies come within a run.

Fortunately for the Mets, Buzz Capra would earn the save as he threw four no-hit innings of relief, walking a pair and striking out four. Mets win 7-6.

Game 2 (Box Score & Play by Play)

Game 2 started much more quietly, with a Willie Mays double representing the game’s only baserunner until the fourth inning, when the Phillies got on the board with a single and steal by Del Unser before Greg Luzinski knocked him home. 22-year-old Mike Wallace, making his major league debut in this game, then set down the Mets in order. The Phillies would double their lead as Mike Schmidt homered, launching his seventh of the season over the Shea fence to make it a 2-0 Phillies lead.

The Mets led off the bottom half of the fifth with two singles and a double, but George Theodore was thrown out advancing to third so the Mets only got a single run on a Ted Martinez sacrifice fly. It would quickly come apart for the Mets in the sixth,as the Phillies put up five thanks largely to a Mike Schimdt grand slam. Each team would manage a couple extra hits, and the Mets would mount a mini (albeit scoreless) rally in the ninth, but Wallace would complete the game without incident.

[Fun fact: Despite going the distance in his first career start, Mike Wallace would only start four more games in a short career. Today’s game represented nearly 5% of Wallace’s career innings.]

Next up: The Mets will try to take the series from Philadelphia tomorrow before starting a seven-game road trip to Chicago and Montreal.

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