Remembering Mets History: (1973) NLCS Game #4: Reds Even Up Series On Rose HR
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October 9th,1973- NLCS Game #4:
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds | New York Mets | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pete Rose | LF | 1 | Wayne Garrett | 3B | |
2 | Joe Morgan | 2B | 2 | Felix Millan | 2B | |
3 | Tony Perez | 1B | 3 | Rusty Staub | RF | |
4 | Johnny Bench | C | 4 | Cleon Jones | LF | |
5 | Andy Kosco | RF | 5 | John Milner | 1B | |
6 | Ed Armbrister | CF | 6 | Jerry Grote | C | |
7 | Denis Menke | 3B | 7 | Don Hahn | CF | |
8 | Darrel Chaney | SS | 8 | Bud Harrelson | SS | |
9 | Ross Grimsley | P | 9 | Jerry Koosman | P |
51,000 fans came out to Shea Stadium for the Game #4 matchup, which if the Mets won, would send them to the World Series.
Most folks were still talking about the events of Game #3 which of course was highlighted by the Bud Harrelson / Pete Rose brawl.

Shea Stadium was filled with anti Pete Rose banners lashing out at the Reds All Star. "This Rose Stinks" / "Rose is a Weed" / "Rose Is a Bum" were just some of the many hanging from the rafters.
When ever Rose came to bat or came onto the field he was greeted with a chorus of boos & a lot of other obscenities as well. This would be a tradition from this day forward as Met fans would never forget.

Sparky Anderson sent the Reds Fred Norman tp the hill. Norman had come over from the San Diego Padres in a trade on June 12th.
After going 1-7 with a 4.27 ERA with the Padres, he turned things around to go 12-6 with a 3.30 ERA since going to Cincinnati.
Norman then walked George Stone, but got Wayne
Garrett to fly out to centerfield. Hahn advanced to third. With two outs, Felix Millan drove a single to left field scoring Hahn with the first run of the game, 1-0 Mets.

Stone rolled along until the 7th inning, when Tony Perez tied the game with a HR. Stone went 6 2/3 of an inning, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four.
He was relieved by Tug McGraw, after walking Andy Kosco,with two outs in the 7th.
Fred Norman retired the Mets in order in the 4th & 5th innings. He was releived by, Game #2 starter Don Gullet.The line on Norman was 5 innings, one run just one hit, three Ks & three walks.
Gullet would come in & shut down the Mets over the next four innings, allowing just two singles, one to Jerry Grote in the 7th & a lead off single to Felix Millan in the 9th.
In the 9th, Pete Rose singled & Joe Morgan reached on an error, after he attempted a sac bunt to the pitcher.
After Tony Perez popped up, Johnny Bench walked to load up the bases. McGraw then struck out Kosco & got Dennis Menke to pop up to third base, ending the threat.
As the game went to extra innings, McGraw pitched 4.1 scoreless relief innings, allowing four hits. In the 10th, Ed Crosby singled with one out & advanced on a wild pitch.
Rusty Staub Makes One of Two Great Catches |
In the 11th, back to back singles put two men on with one out. McGraw struck out Cesar Geronimo & then got Dan Driessen to fly out to right field as Rusty Staub made a spectacular circus catch.
Staub Goes Down After Crashing Into Wall |
His shoulder injury would bother him all through the World Series affecting his hitting & throwing.
The Reds pitching held down the Mets as well, Norman went five innings allowing one run on just one hit with three walks. He was relieved by Don Gullett who pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out three.
In the 12th inning Harry Parker (8-4 / 5 saves / 3.35 ERA) came on to pitch for the Mets. With one out, the most hated man in New York; Pete Rose belted a HR over the right field fence, putting the Reds up for good 2-1.

The Reds tied the series at two games each. It would all come down to a final Game Five.
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