Remembering Mets History: (1974) Ray Sadecki Shuts Out Braves

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

It would be a great pitcher’s match up of future Hall of Famer; the Braves Phil Niekro against the Mets veteran, Ray Sadecki.

Starting Lineups

	New York Mets				Atlanta Braves
1	Bud Harrelson	SS		1	Ralph Garr	LF
2	Felix Millan	2B		2	Marty Perez	2B
3	Cleon Jones	LF		3	Darrell Evans	3B
4	Rusty Staub	RF		4	Dusty Baker	CF
5	Ed Kranepool	1B		5	Davey Johnson	1B
6	Wayne Garrett	3B		6	Ivan Murrell	RF
7	Jim Gosger	CF		7	Leo Foster	SS
8	Duffy Dyer	C		8	Vic Correll	C
9	Ray Sadecki	P		9	Phil Niekro	P

Both pitchers held the opposing team down through the first four innings. In the 5th, the Mets Jim Gosger singled to right field. He advanced to second on a passed ball & then to third base on a ground out.

The Mets pitcher; 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 of Neikro. 

Sadecki would be even better that day, shutting out the Braves, allowing five hits with two walks & five strike outs. Sadecki didn’t strike out anyone until the 7th inning. It was also the only inning he came closest to allowing a run, as two Braves reached with singles. He answered by striking out all three outs of the inning. His other strike out came in the bottom of the 9th as he fanned Leo Foster for the final out. 

Sadecki spent six seasons with the Mets (1970-1974 / 1977) being used as both a starter & reliever. He was 30-25 with one save, posting a 3.36 ERA in 165 games as a Met. Overall he pitcher 18 big league seasons going 135-131 in 563 games.