The second game of the season was also a thriller with heroics provided by another future Hall of famer & New York National League legend.

The Phillies would go 71-91 on the season with Steve Carlton winning 27 of those 71 wins.
Starting Lineups
1 | Larry Bowa | SS |
2 | Bill Robinson | CF |
3 | Willie Montanez | RF |
4 | Deron Johnson | 1B |
5 | Greg Luzinski | LF |
6 | Jose Pagan | 3B |
7 | Bob Boone | C |
8 | Terry Harmon | 2B |
9 | Jim Lonborg | P |
1 | Bud Harrelson | SS |
2 | Felix Millan | 2B |
3 | Willie Mays | CF |
4 | Rusty Staub | RF |
5 | Cleon Jones | LF |
6 | John Milner | 1B |
7 | Jim Fregosi | 3B |
8 | Duffy Dyer | C |
9 | Jon Matlack | P |

In the home 2nd, the '73 Mets leading HR hitter John Milner hit his first of the season to make it 1-0. In the home 3rd, with two outs, Rusty Staub doubled & scored on Cleon Jones RNI single, to the Mets up 2-0.
Bill Robinson struck again in the 6th, as he led off the inning with a solo shot off Matlack to tie the game up at two.

Matlack, a favorite of manager Yogi Berra, remained in the game, he retired the side in order in the 8th. In the 9th he walked Montanez, Deron Johnson then sacrificed him to second.
Next up "the Bull" slugger Greg Luzinski was walked intentionally. Matlack the got Jose Pagan & Bob Boone to both fly out to end the Phillies threat. Over nine innings, Matlack had walked five & only struck out two, but he only allowed two runs on two hits.
In the bottom of the 9th, former Met Dick Selma, who was a high school & college friend to Tom Seaver in Fresno, California, was on the mound for Philadelphia.
Pinch hitter Ed Kranepool led off with a walk. Ted Martinez was brought in to run for Kranepool. The next two Mets were retired & the stage was set for Willie Mays with Martinez on second & two outs.
The Say Hey Kid, delivered with a base hit, Teddy Martinez crossed the plate & the Mets had an exciting walk off win. The Shea crowd went wild & cheered for Mays their future Hall Of Fame hero. It was Mays last walk off hit in his career.
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