Amazin’ Look Back – 8/23/1973: Mets Edged by Dodgers

Today at Shea Stadium, the Mets took on the Dodgers in the final game of a three game set.  The Mets were going for a sweep, but were edged out by Los Angeles 5-4.  New York fell to 57-68, 6.5 games out of first place.

February 25, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy LaSorda sits in the dugout during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets got on the board early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Willie Mays stroked an RBI single to center field.

The Dodgers tied it up in the top of the fourth, but the Mets struck right back to go ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the frame.  In the top of the fifth, though, the Dodgers plated 3 runs to take a 4-2 lead.  The runs came in on a 2 run homer off the bat of Willie Davis and an RBI single by Bill Russell.

The Mets roared right back to tie things at 4 in the bottom of the fifth.  With runners on first and second and no one out, the Mets tied things up on an RBI single by John Milner and a sacrifice fly from Cleon Jones.

In the top of the sixth inning of this topsy turvy affair, the Dodgers went ahead 5-4 when Joe Ferguson drove a 2 out, RBI double to left field.  Both pitching staffs clamped down from there, and that turned out to be the deciding run as the Dodgers salvaged the final game of the series.

Here’s the box score and starting lineups from the game:

New York Mets

Los Angeles Dodgers

1.

, 3B

1.

, 2B

2.

, 2B2.

, 1B

3.

, 1B

3.

, CF

4.

, LF

4.

, C

5.

, RF

5.

, LF

6.

, C

6.

, SS

7.

, CF

7.

, RF

8.

, SS

8.

, 3B

9

.

, P

9.

, P

Next Up:

The Mets open a three game set with the Giants tomorrow at Shea Stadium.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to follow@RisingAppleBlog on Twitter and Instagram, and Like Rising Apple’s Facebook page to keep up with the latest news, rumors, and opinion.