Remembering Mets History (1979) Mets Set Franchise Record at the Time Scoring Ten Runs in an Inning

June 12th, 1979: The Met's fans in 1979 didn't have much to cheer about during this sad era of Mets history. But there were a few bright spots in the season & on this night they had a historic ten run 6th inning.

Tonight, Joe Torre's last place Mets (23-32) hosted John McNamara's second place Cincinnati Reds (33-28) in front of a small crowd of 9,805 fans. 

Reds Trivia: Although the Reds won the Western Division that season, they were past the hey day of the Big Red Machine Days, where they had won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975-1976. 

In the 1970's the Reds won six divisional titles, getting to four World Series winning two Championships. In 1979 they lost the NLCS to the eventual World Champion Pirates. The Reds would not get to another NLCS until their 1990 Championship season.

Tonight, the Mets sent Brooklyn native, Pete Falcone (0-5) who joined the club that season & was still looking for his first Mets win. He went up against the Reds Bill Bonham (2-1).

In the bottom of the 1st, Joel Youngblood & Frank Taveras reached on base hits. Lee Mazzilli then doubled to right field scoring Youngblood. Next, Richie Hebner hit a grounder between the pitcher & 1st base, allowing Taveras to score the second run.

Mets pitcher, Pete Falcone held the Reds down until the top of the 6th. The Reds Dave Collins & Junior Kennedy began the inning with base hits. After a sacrifice, George Fosters ground ball scored Dave Collins. Dan Driessen then tied the game with an RBI base hit. Veteran Paul Blair added an RBI single giving the Reds the lead. Pete Falcone was done for the day as Mike Scott came on to pitch.

The first batter he faced, Vic Correll doubled bringing in two more runs giving the Reds a 5-2 lead.

Ten Run Inning: Bill Bonham settled in holding the Mets down to the bottom of the 6th. In the home 6th, John Stearns led off with a double to left, then Steve Henderson drew a walk. 

Reds Manager John McNamara changed pitchers bringing in Manny Sarmiento. Mets Second baseman Doug Flynn reached on an error by Ray Knight at third to load up the bases.

Met manager Joe Torre sent in Ron Hodges to pinch hit & he drew a bases loaded walk bringing in the Mets third run. Sergio Ferrer came in to pinch run for Hodges. After Joel Youngblood popped up, Frank Taveras doubled to right field bringing in both Henderson & Flynn tying up the game at five.

John McNamara brought in Dave Tomlin to pitch & had him walk Lee Mazzilli intentionally. Richie Hebner then collected the fourth hit of the inning, bringing in Sergio Ferrer & the speedy Frank Taveras with the fourth & fifth runs of the inning giving the Mets a 7-5 lead.

Willie Montanez then reached on the second Reds error of the inning when Paul Blair botched a fly ball in centerfield. Everyone was safe & Lee Mazzilli scored the sixth run of the inning.

The Mets batted around, as John Stearns who started the inning off, flew out to center for out number two. Steve Henderson then singled to center bringing in Hebner with the seventh run of the inning making it 9-5 Mets.

 

Inside the Park HR: Light hitting Mets infielder, Doug Flynn hit a shot to center that got past the outfielders, Willie Montanez scored, Steve Henderson scored & Flynn rounded the bases for an sliding safely with an inside the park HR. 

Doug Flynn Trivia: In 1979, Doug Flynn hit four HRs after not having hit one in his three previous seasons. Four days later he would hit another HR in Kevin Kobel's three hit shutout. In his 11-year career Flynn hit just seven HRs in 3853 at bats.

Mets Franchise Record: The three runs put ten runs on the board for the Mets setting a single season franchise record for most runs in an inning. The record held up until 2006 when the Mets put up an eleven-run inning.

In the inning, the Mets sent 13 men to the plate, scored ten runs on five hits, drew three walks & benefited from two Reds errors. 

The Mets went on to a 12-6-win, with pitcher Dale Murray earning the victory. Murray came on allowing one run, a HR to George Foster in three innings of work.