1973 NLCS Game #5: Mets Beat Reds To Win the Pennant

October 10, 1973 NLCS Game #5: Yogi Berra sent the 1973 Cy Young winner Tom Seaver to the mound to pitch the final game of the NLCS. The winner goes to the World Series, and Shea was packed with over 50,000. Seaver started out shaky with two on in the 1st inning, he intentionally walked Johnny bench and got Ken Griffey to pop up to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 1st, Felix Millan & Cleon Jones singled, and then John Milner walked. Ed Kranepool put the Mets on the board with a two run single. By the 5th inning the Reds tied it on a Dan Driessen sac fly & a Tony Perez double. The Mets broke it open in the bottom of the 5th. Wayne Garrett doubled, Felix Millan reached on a bunt base hit, & Cleon Jones doubled home Garrett. Don Gullett came in & walked Jon Milner, then Clay Caroll replaced Gullett. Willie Mays came to pinch hit for Kranepool and received a standing ovation in what became his last home game in New York. Mays delivered in heroic fashion, singling to left field driving in Millan. Don Hahn grounded into a fielders choice scoring another run, then Bud Harrelson singled home another. The Mets would never look back. In the 6th Seaver led off with a double and scored on Cleon Jones’ base hit, making it 7-2.

Seaver pitched until the 9th inning when he tired. He wasn’t at his best but did a hell of a job, giving up only two runs, on seven hits, walked five and struck out only four. In the 9th inning he gave up a single and two walks before exiting to Tug McGraw. McGraw got Joe Morgan to pop up & Dan Driessen to ground out to Milner at first. McGraw covered first for the out then ran for his life as the fans stormed the field. Pete Rose was on first base when the final out was made, he said he never was more scared in his life, as he tried to escape to the dugout. The Mets had come from last place at the end of August to winning the division on the final day to winning the NL Pennant. It was off to sunny Oakland California for the World Series.