Wednesday September 19th, 1973: 
On September 17th the Mets & Pirates started a five-game stretch that began in Pittsburgh for two games then moved to New York for the next three. The Mets were 2.5 games behind the Pirates in fourth place in a tight NL East race. The two teams split the series in Pittsburgh.
Tonight, the matchup moved to Shea Stadium for a three-game series. The opener attracted 29.240 fans who were very quickly becoming interested in the Mets pulling off another Miracle. This was just four years after the Amazing Mets Championship of 1969. Tonight, the Mets sent George Stone (11-3) to the mound. Stone was on a personal five game win streak. From July 14th thru September 15th, he was 7-0 with a 2.15 ERA. Stone was a pleasant surprise for the 1973 NL Champs going 12-3 with a save & a 2.80 ERA.
The Pirates had veteran Nelson Briles (13-12) start the game.
Trivia: Briles an accomplished singer would sing the National Anthem at Game #4 of the World Series at Dhea Stadium a month later.
In the top of the 1st, the Pirates jumped out in front as Rennie Stennett led off with a HR.
In the bottom of the 2nd, John Milner led off with a base hit. Next Cleon Jones ripped a two run HR into the left field bullpen putting the Mets up 2-1.
In the top of the 3rd, Stennett struck again this time with a triple, he then scored on Dave Cash's base bit tying up the game at two.
In the bottom of the 3rd, pitcher George Stone reached on an infield hit. Stone was a good hitting pitcher who batted .271 that season with 13 hits in 48 at bats.
He advanced on a force play & was brought in on Felix Millan's RBI single, Millan's 175th hit of the season, putting the Mets ahead 3-2.
Later in the bottom of the 5th inning, Jerry Grote doubled to left field. Bud Harrelson reached on a hit back to the pitcher & Grote advanced to third base. George Stone then grounded to second base allowing Grote to score from third as New York had a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the 6th, the NL's leading HR hitter Willie Stargell connected for his 41st HR of the season, tying up the game. Stargell would lead the NL in HRs (44) doubles (43) RBIs (119) OPS (1.038) & Slugging (.646).
Wilver Stargell Trivia: Willie Stargell has hit the most HRs against the Mets than any other opponent by far. Stargell hit 60 HRs against the Mets with 26 coming in Shea Stadium.
George Stone would pitch six innings allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out just one while not issuing a walk. Tug McGraw came on for his sixth appearance in eight days.
In the top of the 7th, Tug issued a one out walk then a base hit to pinch hitter Fernando Gonzalez. Tug got out of the inning getting Rennie Stennett to pop up & Dave Cash to ground out.
In the top of the 8th, Al Oliver led off with a base hit, then Tug got Willie Stargell to ground out & a double-play ground ball from Richie Zisk.
In the bottom of the 8th, with the Mets facing Dave Giusti, Rusty Staub collected a single to left field & John Milner drew a walk.
Cleon Jones then hit his second HR of the game, a three-run shot giving the Mets a 7-3 lead.
Cleon Trivia: The HRs were his first since August 15th, in a year where injuries kept nagging him, Cleon was finally healthy. He had missed three weeks of action in late April then played just seven games in May before missing another six weeks. From September 19th thru the end of the regular season, he would hit six HRs with 14 RBIs in the Mets final ten games.
Tug McGraw would pitch three scoreless innings, earning his 22nd save of the year. In the past week in those six appearances, he earned two wins going 2-0 with four saves, not allowing an earned run. Tug had not allowed an earned run in the past ten innings.The win put the Mets (75-77) at 1.5 games behind the Pirates in the NL East with two more games to play head-to-head. Strangely the Mets were tied with the Cardinals & had the Montreal Expos a half game ahead of them in the crowded NL East.
On September 17th the Mets & Pirates started a five-game stretch that began in Pittsburgh for two games then moved to New York for the next three. The Mets were 2.5 games behind the Pirates in fourth place in a tight NL East race. The two teams split the series in Pittsburgh.
