Remembering Mets History (1980) Mike Jorgensen Hits the Third Walk Off Grand Slam in Franchise History
The previous night's win featured the bench clearing brawl starring Mets pitcher Pat Zachry & Dodger All Star Ron Cey.
The starting pitchers were Craig Swan (4-4) for New York & Jerry Reuss (7-1) for the Dodgers. Reuss began the season as a reliever going 6-1 with three saves & a 2.85 ERA thru May. He would go 18-6 with a 2.51 ERA & six shut outs as one of the NL's top pitchers that year.
After a quiet first inning, in the bottom of the 2nd, Joel Youngblood tripled to right field. In 1978 Youngblood hit eight triples tenth most in the NL. Alex Trevino then singled scoring Joel with the Mets first run.
In the top of the 7th inning, the Dodgers got a solo HR from Dusty Baker. Swan got to the 9th inning clinging to a one run lead. But Steve Garvey then hit a one out solo HR tying the game at two. For both Baker & Garvey it was their 13th HR of the season.
In the bottom of the 9th inning Rick Sutcliffe came on in relief for L.A. & retired the side in order.
In the bottom of the 10th, Doug Flynn led off with a single to right field & then stole second base, his first stolen base of the year.
Mets Walk Off Trivia: Mike Jorgensen was the third player in franchise history to end a game with a walk off grand slam HR. Tim Harkness & Jim Hickman had done it 17 years earlier (1963).
Jorgensen started his career with the Mets (1968) after playing parts of three seasons he was traded to Montreal along with Tim Foli & Ken Singleton in exchange for Rusty Staub prior to the 1972 season..
On this Wednesday evening, a Shea Stadium crowd of 23,500 came out to see Joe Torre's Mets (25-27) who were six games behind a good Montreal Expo team, as they hosed Tommy Lasorda's second place Dodgers (32-23) who were just 1.5 games behind the first place Houston Astros.
Craig Swan Trivia: Craig Swan entered the game at 4-4 with a 2.27 ERA having allowed just three earned runs in his last 23 innings. Swan was good pitcher on a bad team, just two years earlier (1978) he had won the NL ERA title (2.43).
In the off season the Mets made Swan the highest paid pitcher in franchise history with a $560k salary. After a good start, he tore his rotator cuff & was never the same.
In the bottom of the 5th, Jerry Morales who came in to replace Joel Youngblood, doubled to start the inning. After retiring the next two Mets, Jerry Reuss walked Doug Flynn intentionally to get to the pitcher Craig Swan.
But the Dodgers strategy backfired, as Swan singled to right field scoring Morales to make it 2-0 Mets. That year Swan drove in a career high five RBIs.
In the top of the 9th inning Mike Jorgensen came in to replace John Stearns at first base.
The game went to extra innings with Craig Swan continuing in the top of the 10th. He gave up a
one out single to catcher Mike Scioscia who would get moved over to third on a sacrifice from pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. Swan got Davey Lopes to pop up to Doug Flynn at second base to end the inning.
one out single to catcher Mike Scioscia who would get moved over to third on a sacrifice from pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. Swan got Davey Lopes to pop up to Doug Flynn at second base to end the inning.
With one out, Lee Mazzilli was walked intentionally. Frank Taveras then struck out for the second out. Rick Sutcliffe then walked Steve Henderson loading the bases.
Queens-native 32 year old Mike Jorgensen stepped in & hit Sutcliffe's pitch deep down the right field line. It landed over the auxiliary scoreboard in the lodge section for a walk off grand slam HR to win the game.
Jorgie's Grand Slams: It was Jorgensen's fourth career grand slam, the first two coming off Cubs pitcher Rick Reuschel (1973 & 1975) while Mike was with the Expos & the other off the Angels Dave Laroche (1977) while Mike was with Oakland.
Jorgensen started his career with the Mets (1968) after playing parts of three seasons he was traded to Montreal along with Tim Foli & Ken Singleton in exchange for Rusty Staub prior to the 1972 season..
Jorgensen played with the Expos (1972-1976) Oakland A's (1977) & Texas Rangers (1978 & 1979) before coming back to the Mets in 1979. In his Mets career Jorgensen had 21 HRs with 90 RBIs batting .234 in 492 games.