Remembering Mets History: (1974) Ray Sadecki Shuts Out Braves & Drives in the Games Only Run

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Sunday August 25th, 1974: A small crowd of 9,358 came to Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium to see Yogi Berra’s fifth place Mets (54-70) take on Clyde King’s third place Braves (70-57). 

The Mets were still the reigning NL Champions, but they floundered in 1974 finishing 5th going 71-91. The Braves had celebrated Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's HR record in April but would finish third in the West with an 88-74 record.

Today's game would be a great pitcher’s match up with the Mets veteran Ray Sadecki (4-7) going up against future Hall of Famer; the Braves Phil Niekro (14-10).


Both pitchers held the opposing team down through the first four innings. In the home 5th, with one out the Mets Jim Gosger singled to right field. He advanced to second on a passed ball by catcher Vic Correll. He then advanced to third base on Duffy Dyer's ground out.

The Mets pitcher Ray Sadecki then singled to right field bringing in Gosger with what turned out to be the game’s only run. The Mets would go on to the one run win, gathering just five hits off along the way off Phil Niekro. 

Ray Sadecki would be even better that day, shutting out the Braves, allowing five hits with two walks & four strike outs in the complete game win. 

Sadecki didn’t strike out anyone until the 7th inning. It was also the only inning the Braves came closest to scoring a run.
 
With one out, Dusty Baker singled, Sadecki then fanned Ivan Murrell, but Leo Foster also singled putting two men on. Sadecki answered by striking out Vic Correll to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the 9th after getting the first two outs, Hank Aaron who was sitting out that day, had a pinch hit single. But Sadecki struck out Leo Foster for the final out. 

Trivia: Ray Sadecki spent parts of six seasons with the Mets (1970-1974 then again 1977) being used as both a starter & reliever. He was 30-25 with one save with the Mets. He posted a 3.36 ERA in 165 games as a Met.  A member of the 1973 NL Pennant winner he pitched in four games of the 1973 World Series. 

Overall, he pitcher 18 big league seasons going 135-131 in 563 games.

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