Amazin’ Look Back – July 26, 1973: Mets Drop Doubleheader to Cardinals, 13-1 and 2-1, at the Busch

The New York Mets (42-53) scored only 2 runs all day while losing to the St. Louis Cardinals twice in the Gateway City. Jon Matlack (7-13, 3.66 ERA) lost the 1st game, while Jerry Koosman (8-10, 3.31 ERA) took the L in the nightcap.

In the first game, the Mets were able to scrap a run off Bob Gibson in the 2nd inning off an Ed Kranepool sac fly, but Matlack could not shut the Cards down in the bottom half, giving up 5 runs in the frame. Matlack only went 4 innings, giving up 6 runs (5 ER) on 10 hits and 3 walks. Reliever John Strohmayer ended up giving 6 runs up in his 2 innings of work, including a Grand Slam by Bob Gibson in the bottom of the 5th. That same man ended up going 9 against the Metsies.

In the 2nd game, Jerry Koosman kept the Mets in the game against STL starter Alan Foster, giving up 1 run over 7 innings on 3 hits and 2 walks. You can’t be in the game if you can’t cross the plate, however, and by the time the Mets did so in the 9th inning with an RBI groundout by Jerry Grote, the Cardinals had scored another run on a Joe Torre home run off reliever Harry Parker in the 8th.

Willie Mays pinch-hit for Bud Harrelson, but he struck out looking for the last out of the game.

Starting Lineups (Gm. 1)

Starting Lineups (Gm. 2)

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