Amazin’ Look Back, August 19, 1973: Koosman Guides Mets Past Reds

Jerry Koosman’s gem of a start held the Big Red Machine in check as the Mets nipped Cincinnati 2-1 this afternoon at Shea Stadium. Koosman was the man on the long side for New York, while Ross Grimsley was stuck with a tough loss for the contending Reds.

May 10, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; The Mr. Red mascot poses for a picture before a game with the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets got off to a fast start as Bud Harrelson led the first inning off with a double. He advanced to third on Felix Millan’s groundout and came home on Willie Mays’s sac fly, and just like that the orange and blue had themselves a 1-0 lead.

At that point, the starters settled in for the long pitchers’ duel. Koosman and Grimsley kept each side in check until the fifth, when an error by Mays at first base let Pete Rose on base. After Joe Morgan’s fielder’s choice, steal of second, and trip to third on Dan Driessen’s groundout, Tony Perez plated the run on a double to left.

The duel resumed for the rest of the game, as the unearned run would be the only score against Koosman on the day. New York finally broke through Grimsley again in the eighth as Don Hahn led off with a single, advancing to second two batters later on Koosman’s sac bunt. It was then Bud Harrelson who plated Hahn with an RBI double, enough for Koosman to sit the Machine down 1-2-3 in the ninth to secure the victory.

The starting lineups on the day looked like this:

Cincinnati Reds

New York Mets

LF1

SS2

2B2

2B3

3B3

1B4

1B4

RF5

LF6

RF6

CF7

CF8

SS8

3B9

The Mets and Reds will finish up their series tomorrow as Tom Seaver duels Jack Billingham.

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