Remembering Mets History (1972) Rookie John Milner Drives in Five Runs in Mets 12 Run Win
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First off, on an MLB level, the season got started late due to the first MLB Players Strike that halted Spring Training.
In the bottom of the 1st, Montreal's Ernie McNally walked the first three Mets batters: Bud Harrelson, Ken Boswell & Tommie Agee. Rusty Staub followed with a sac-fly scoring Harrelson giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Next, Jim Fregosi singled. Ed Kranepool popped up for the first out then Duffy Dyer singled putting two men on base. After Gary Gentry struck out, Bud Harrelson added a base hit up the middle driving in Fregosi to make it 7-0 Mets. Ken Boswell singled to right field, bringing in both Dyer & Harrelson making it 9-0 Mets.
The Mets Gary Gentry went through the first three innings holding the Expos scoreless. In the top of the 4th with two outs, Ken Singleton doubled & Bob Bailey's RBI single put the Expos on the board 9-1.
Trivia: Jim Fregosi hit four triples that year for the Mets. In 1968 he had led the American league with 13 triples while playing for the California Angels.
Then more sadly, the Mets family lost their beloved Manager, Gil Hodges, who passed away from a fatal heart attack. The organization was devastated, in the aftermath they named the popular favorite, coach Yogi Berra to take his place.
On this evening, 16,905 fans came out to Shea Stadium, to see the Yogi's Mets host Gene Mauch's Montreal Expos (13-14). Berra sent Gary Gentry to the mound to face Montreal's Ernie McAnally. In 1966, McAnally had originally been drafted by the New York Mets, in 1968 he was picked up by the Expos in the expansion draft.
The 1972 Mets had some exciting young players ready to break out, that year's Rookie of the Year pitcher Jon Matlack & the rookie slugger, from Atlanta Georgia, John Milner. Milner was even labeled "the hammer" (named after his Atlanta hero- Hank Aaron). After making a brief debut in 1971, Milner was expected to be the Mets HR star of the future.
The 1972 Mets had some exciting young players ready to break out, that year's Rookie of the Year pitcher Jon Matlack & the rookie slugger, from Atlanta Georgia, John Milner. Milner was even labeled "the hammer" (named after his Atlanta hero- Hank Aaron). After making a brief debut in 1971, Milner was expected to be the Mets HR star of the future.In 1972, Milner began making pinch hit appearances. On April 26th, he got his first start in a game collecting two hits, going 2-4. In his second game he got another hit & in his third start he got two more hits. Yogi Berra felt he was ready to play. In this game Milner would have one of his biggest days in his rookie campaign, as well as his career.
Still with nobody out, John Milner cracked a double to left field bringing in Boswell & Agge, making it a quick 3-0 Mets lead.
Ernie McNally was relieved by Denny Lemaster who got out of the inning without any more damage.
In the home 3rd, Tommie Agee led off with a walk & Rusty Staub reached on a botched infield play. John Milner then hit the first HR of his young career, a three-run blast off Lemaster giving the Mets a 6-0 lead. For Milner it was his fifth RBI of the game.
John Milner Trivia: In 1972 Milner hit 17 HRs with 12 doubles 38 RBIs batting .239 with a .762 PS coming in third in the Rookie of the Year voting. The five RBIs were a season high for Miner. In 1976 he would have a multi-six RBI game to top it.
Montreal manager, Gene Mach removed Denny Lemaster & brought in Tom Walker. Walker gave up a single to Tommie Agee & walked Rusty Staub but struck out Milner to end the long inning. In the 3rd inning, the Mets sent 12 men to the plate, put up six runs in the inning, on six hits, with two walks
In the bottom of the 4th, Jim Fregosi led off with a base hit. Ed Kranepool flew out, then catcher Duffy Dyer & pitcher Gary Gentry singled to load the bases. Pitcher Tom Walker then walked Teddy Martinez to bring in the Mets 10th run.
In the top of the 6th, Boot Day singled to center field, Tommie Agee's error allowed Boots to get to third base. Former Mer Mike Jorgensen then hit a sac fly to score Boots with the Expos second run.
In the bottom of the 7th, Tommie Agee drew a two out walk from new pitcher John Strohmayer. & then Jim Fregosi tripled bringing in Agee for the 11th Mets run.
After Ed Kranepool walked, Duffy Dyer singled to right scoring Fregosi topping off the Mets twelve run, seventeen hit day in the 12-2 victory.
Gary Gentry was the winning pitcher, going the distance allowing just two runs on four hits. He struck out five & walked two earning his third win to get to 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
John Milner led the offense with a HR, five RBIs & a pair of hits Duffy Dyer had a season high four hits in the game with an RBI. Jim Fregosi collected his season high three hits with an RBI. Fregosi had four three hit games that season. Bud Harrelson, Tommie Agee & Rusty Staub all collected two hits each.