Remembering Mets History (1978) Steve Henderson's Walk Off & The Hot Dog's Multi- Four RBI Game
Both managers were in the early days of their Hall of Fame managing careers leading two of the worst teams in the National League.
Ironically, Cox was replaced by Joe Torre. In 1982 he led the Braves to their first NL West title since 1969. Torre remained in Atlanta for three years finishing second & third respectively.
Grant's Tomb: This game drew a small Shea Stadium crowd of just 4,431 fans. At this low point in franchise history, Shea Stadium was known as "Grant's Tomb". The reference was to the cheap, penny-pinching Mets Chairman M. Donald Grant.
Tonight, the Mets Pat Zachary (4-1) took on & the Braves Preston Hana (2-0).
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Preston Hanna walked Lenny Randle then threw a wild pitch advancing him to second. After retiring Bruce Boisclair, Hana walked Lee Mazzilli & Steve Henderson to load the bases. "The Hot Dog" Willie Montanez followed with an RBI sac fly making it 1-0 Mets.
In the top of the 2nd the Braves veteran Darrel Chaney singled & scored on Rod Gilbreath's double. The pitcher, Hana moved Gilbreath over on a sacrifice bunt. He attempted to score on Jerry Royster's grounder to third, but Lenny Randle threw him out at the plate.
Bobby Cox pulled Preston Hana & brought in Jamie Easterly to pitch. Willie Montanez followed with his second RBI of the game, as he singled to center bringing the Mets to within a run 4-3.
Pat Zachry Trivia: Pat Zachry would pitch just two innings, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out one & walking four. That year Zachry would make the All Star team, go 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA.
Bob Myrick came on to pitch for New York. In the top of the 5th, Jeff Burroughs singled & Rowland Office walked. Veteran Darrel Chaney then doubled to left scoring both runners, putting the Mets in a 6-3 hole. Marty Cornejo came in relief of Bob Myrick.
From 1977 to 1981, Joe Torre managed the Mets going 286-420 never finishing above fourth place. From 1978 to 1981 Bobby Cox would manage the Braves in his time around, going 266-323 also never finishing above fourth place.
Bobby Cox went to the Toronto Blue Jays managing them for four years winning an AL East title in 1985. He returned to the Braves as a General Manager (1986-1990). He then returned to the dugout managing the Braves from June 1990-2010 winning five pennants & a World Series.
In 2014 both managers would get into the Baseball Hall of Fame at the same time.
After the death of principal owner Joan Payson, Grant ran the team for her daughter Lorinda de Roulet. Grant refused to give in the high-priced contracts of free agency & destroyed the Mets organization.
Tonight, the Mets Pat Zachary (4-1) took on & the Braves Preston Hana (2-0).
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Preston Hanna walked Lenny Randle then threw a wild pitch advancing him to second. After retiring Bruce Boisclair, Hana walked Lee Mazzilli & Steve Henderson to load the bases. "The Hot Dog" Willie Montanez followed with an RBI sac fly making it 1-0 Mets.In the top of the 2nd the Braves veteran Darrel Chaney singled & scored on Rod Gilbreath's double. The pitcher, Hana moved Gilbreath over on a sacrifice bunt. He attempted to score on Jerry Royster's grounder to third, but Lenny Randle threw him out at the plate.
With two outs Pat Zachry walked Bob Beall. Then Brian Asselstine singled to right scoring Jerry Royster to bring in the Braves second run. Slugger Jeff Burroughs (the former 1974 AL MVP) followed with a two run double making it 4-1 Braves.
In the home 3rd inning, Len Randle singled & Lee Mazzilli drew a one out walk. Steve Henderson then singled to center scoring Lenny Randle with the Mets second run. It was his first RBI of the game.
In the home 3rd inning, Len Randle singled & Lee Mazzilli drew a one out walk. Steve Henderson then singled to center scoring Lenny Randle with the Mets second run. It was his first RBI of the game.
Bobby Cox pulled Preston Hana & brought in Jamie Easterly to pitch. Willie Montanez followed with his second RBI of the game, as he singled to center bringing the Mets to within a run 4-3.In July during Pete Rose's hit streak, he gave up the hit in the NL record tying 37th game. On his way back to the dugout, he attempted to kick a helmet, missed & kicked the step injuring his foot putting him out the rest of the season.
Bob Myrick came on to pitch for New York. In the top of the 5th, Jeff Burroughs singled & Rowland Office walked. Veteran Darrel Chaney then doubled to left scoring both runners, putting the Mets in a 6-3 hole. Marty Cornejo came in relief of Bob Myrick.In the bottom of the 5th, Lenny Randle started with his second hit of the game, doubling to right field. Bobby Valentine then came in to pinch hit for Bruce Boisclair & singled up the middle scoring Randle making it 6-4. Willie Montanez then doubled to left, bringing in Valentine getting the Mets to within a run 6-5.
For Montanez it was his third RBI & third hit of the game.
In the top of the 7th inning, with Butch Metzger now pitching for the Mets, Brian Asselstine & Biff Pocoroba both singled. Rowland Office's sac fly brought home Asselstine giving the Braves a 7-5 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Braves Adrian Devine now pitching, had Lenny Randle lead off with a triple. It was his third hit of the game. Lee Mazzilli then grounded out to the right-side scoring Randle, making it a one run 7-6 game.
In the bottom of the 10th, Lenny Randle reached with his third walk of the day. The pitcher Skip Lockwood moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Lee Mazzilli was then intentionally walked, bringing up Steve Henderson.
Friday May 19th: The next night Danny Ozark's first place Phillies (181-15) came to town. The
Phillies won the NL East that year losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Craig Swan retired the Phillies in order thru the first three innings. In the 4th after a Bake McBride single he retired the next six batters. In the top of the 6th, former Met, Bud Harrelson now with the Phillies, reached on an infield single.
In the top of the 8th, Skip Lockwood came on for the Mets, Bob Boone greeted him with a lead off
HR making it 2-0. After getting the first out, three straight singled led to a 3-0 Phillies lead, with Larry Bowa collecting his second RBI of the game.
McGraw then walked Tom Grieve, next John Stearns reached on a Mike Schmidt error at third base to load the bases. Lee Mazzilli then drove a two-run base hit to left field to tie the game up at three. McGraw struck out Doug Flynn to end the inning.
Next Steve Henderson singled to right field. Willie Montanez "the Hot Dog" continued his big day, as he doubled to left field. Steve Henderson scored tying up the game at seven.
Multi- Four RBI Game: For Montanez, he collected his third hit of the game, going 3-3 with a pair of doubles & a season high four RBIs. He would have three four RBI games that year & 29 multi-RBI games overall. He would lead the Mets with 96 RBIs on the season.
In the 9th, the Mets Skip Lockwood took over as the fifth pitcher of the night. He gave his team two scoreless, hitless innings getting to the bottom of the 10th tied.
For Atlanta, Eddie Solomon had come on in the 8th inning holding the Mets down for two innings.
Henderson singled to right field, scoring Randle with the walk off, game winning run in the 8-7 exciting Mets win.
For Steve Henderson he had a season high multi-four hit game with two RBIs. It was the first of two walks off hits he would have that month. It was his third Mets Walk off hit since being traded to New York in the Tom Seaver deal the previous June.
The Mets used five pitchers that day, with Skip Lockwood earning the win getting to 2-3 with a 3.31 ERA. He would go 7-13 that year with 15 saves & a 3.57 ERA in 57 appearances.
Phillies won the NL East that year losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
The Phils featured sluggers Greg Luzinski (35 HRs 101 RBIs) & Mike Schmidt (21 HRs 78 RBIs) speedsters Gary Maddox (33 steals) Bake McBride (29 steals) & star short stop Larry Bowa hit .294 & stole 27 bases.
Tonight 13,181 fans came to Shea as Craig Swan took on the Phillies veteran Jim Kaat. Craig Swan was that years NL ERA leader (2.43) going 9-6 with a 5.6 WAR (4th best in the NL). Jim Kaat would go 8-5 on the year, enroute to 283 career wins getting elected to the Hall of Fame in 2022.
Tonight 13,181 fans came to Shea as Craig Swan took on the Phillies veteran Jim Kaat. Craig Swan was that years NL ERA leader (2.43) going 9-6 with a 5.6 WAR (4th best in the NL). Jim Kaat would go 8-5 on the year, enroute to 283 career wins getting elected to the Hall of Fame in 2022.
Swan then hit Bake McBride with a hit, getting Harrelson to second. Larry Bowa then drove a base hit into centerfield, scoring Harrelson with the first run.
Craig Swan got thru seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits with no walks & a strike out. Jim Kaat held the Mets scoreless thru seven, scattering eight hits, with a walk & three strikeouts.
HR making it 2-0. After getting the first out, three straight singled led to a 3-0 Phillies lead, with Larry Bowa collecting his second RBI of the game.
In the bottom of the 8th, another former Mets pitcher, Tug McGraw came on for the Phillies. With one out Joel Youngblood doubled to left field. Steve Henderson then singled putting two men in scoring position.
The Hot Dog Willie Montanez grounded out to second, allowing Youngblood to score, the Mets first run.
In the top of the 9th, Skip Lockwood retired the Phils in order. In the bottom of the 9th, pinch hitter Bruce Boisclair led off with a double. Lenny Randle then reached on a bunt base hit. After Joel Youngblood was retired, Steve Henderson was walked intentionally, loading the bases for "the Hot Dog".
Walk Off Hit: Willie Montanez drove a base hit to center off Tug McGraw scoring Boisclair with the walk off game winning run. It was the only walk off for Montanez in his short Mets career.