Remembering Mets History (1973) Jon Matlack Tosses His First Career One Hit Shutout
The Mets had been struggling & would not start their pennant run that took them one game shy of a World Championship until the end of the month.
Two months earlier, Matlack had been hit in the face with a line drive but luckily returned with overcoming the situation.
Quotes- Jon Matlack: "A couple of inches lower & I'd have needed major surgery. I was told it would be doubtful I'd ever pitch again if that had happened. Now there's no effect. I'm not ducking, I'm not flinching, not closing my eyes."
Leo the Lip Trivia: After 24 seasons of managing, this was to be Leo Durocher's last season as he was to retire at the end of the year.
It had just been 19 years since he took the 1954 New York Giants to a World Series sweep over the Cleveland Indians.
In the top of the 1st, Jon Matlack started the game by striking out former Mets World Series hero,
Tommie Agee, he then got two ground ball outs. Matlack began the game setting down the first six batters over the first two innings.
With two outs, catcher Duffy Dyer drove a single up the middle scoring Staub with what turned out to be, the only run of the game.
In the top of the 5th, Lee May hit a long fly ball to right field that Rusty Staub caught over his head for the out.
Now Matlack regrouped & had to focus to a hold the 1-0 lead. He got a ground ball out from catcher Skip Jutze, then struck out Jerry Reuss & Tommie Agee (for the second time) to end the inning.
In the top of the 7th, Matlack walked "the toy cannon" Jimmy Wynn. Wynn tried to steal to second, but Mets catcher Duffy Dyer threw him out. Next, Bob Watson flew out for the third out.
In the top of the 9th Matlack seemed more dominating, as he struck out the side. First he fanned Skip Jutze, then pinch hitter Ray Busse . He ended the game striking out former Met, Tommie Agee for the third time in the game.
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Jon's 1st One Hitter: It was the first one hitter of his young career. The one hit game was also the tenth one hit complete game thrown by a Mets pitcher in franchise history.
Tonight's pitching matchup was certainly a good one, the Mets' John Matlack (6-10) went up against Houston's Jerry Reuss (11-5).
Two months earlier, Matlack had been hit in the face with a line drive but luckily returned with overcoming the situation.
In his last two starts, Matlack had given up one earned run over 15 innings.
The Astros were in fourth place at the time & were manager by legendary Hall of Fame manager- Leo Durocher.
Leo the Lip Trivia: After 24 seasons of managing, this was to be Leo Durocher's last season as he was to retire at the end of the year.
Durocher first managed the Brooklyn Dodgers (1939-1948) winning one pennant. Then he switched over to the rival New York Giants (1949 -1955) raising a lot of eyebrows & having to earn respect from the one-time enemy team, as well as their fans. That he did by winning two pennants & the 1954 World Series.
Leo then did MLB on NBC & was an NBC executive. In 1961 he returned to the Dodgers as a coach for four seasons. Leo moved on to the Chicago Cubs (1966-1972) with three second place finishes, including a major first place collapse in 1969 to the Amazing Mets. Lastly Leo went to the Houston Astros (1972-1973). Overall, he went 738-565.
Tommie Agee, he then got two ground ball outs. Matlack began the game setting down the first six batters over the first two innings.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Rusty Staub drew the leadoff walk, then manager Yogi Berra put the hit & run on. Staub safely advanced to second on a ground out by Cleon Jones.
Quotes- Yogi Berra: "That hit & run broke up the double play, otherwise we might still be playing".
For Houston, starter Jerry Ruess would go the distance for his team, allowing just one run on six hits. Ruess walked five batters & one of them turned out to be costly.
In the top of the 3rd inning, Matlack got all three outs on ground balls.
Jon Matlack retired the first 15 batters he faced & would take a perfect game into the 6th inning. Up to that point he had eight ground ball outs, four fly outs, three-line outs & two strike outs.
In the top of the 5th, Lee May hit a long fly ball to right field that Rusty Staub caught over his head for the out.In the top of the 6th, Tommy Helms led off with a double to left field, as the perfect game & the no hitter were both erased.
Tommy Helms Trivia: Helms had spent eight years with the Reds making two All Star teams & playing in the 1970 World Series. In 1872 he was part of a blockbuster trade that sent himself & Lee May to Houston for Jack Billingham, Joe Morgan, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke & Ed Armbrister. Helms spent four years in Houston having career highs in RBIs twice before becoming a part time player finishing his career in 1977 with Boston.
In the top of the 7th, Matlack walked "the toy cannon" Jimmy Wynn. Wynn tried to steal to second, but Mets catcher Duffy Dyer threw him out. Next, Bob Watson flew out for the third out.
In the top of the 8th, Matlack walked his second batter, as he gave a free pass to "the Red Rooster" Doug Rader. Matlack then got Tommy Helms, who had the Astros only hit in the game, to ground into a double play, ending that inning.
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Matlack, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, earned the complete game, one hit shutout, win to get to 7-10 with a 3.36 ERA. Matlack struck out seven batters & walked two.
Jon's 1st One Hitter: It was the first one hitter of his young career. The one hit game was also the tenth one hit complete game thrown by a Mets pitcher in franchise history.Quotes- Jon Matlack: "I was able to get the ball down & keep them off stride. I got them to hit ground balls which is what I wanted."
From August through the end of the regular season, Matlack went 7-2. He finished at 14-16 with 205 strike outs (3rd in the NL) & a 3.20 ERA. He was outstanding in the 1973 post season as well.