5 most clutch starting pitching performances in Mets history

2) NY Mets clutch pitching performance: Tom Seaver 1973 NLCS

It’s hard to do any list of great Mets pitcher moments and only have Tom Seaver on there once. A few years after his World Series win, he found himself back in the postseason with the Mets. This time his big game came in the 1973 NLCS.

Underdogs yet again, there was an immediate pattern set in the series. Seaver lost Game 1 to the Cincinnati Reds. This time, he wouldn’t start Game 4. Instead, he was saved for Game 5 to break the 2-2 tie in the best of 5 series. The pressure was huge.

With much more run support this time, Seaver entered the ninth inning with a 7-2 lead. A single and two walks with only one out gave manager Yogi Berra some concern. His ace wasn’t going to finish this one off. He was going to need a little help. Fortunately, Tug McGraw had become one of the game’s most reliable closers.

A pop out with the bases loaded retired Joe Morgan and a groundball to first base tossed to McGraw ended it. The Mets took the series and were heading back to the World Series.

Although Seaver had more help from the bats in this one, he had less room for error. A loss would have eliminated the Mets and sent them to the golf course. A win put them in the World Series for the second time in franchise history.