Remembering Mets History (1970) Jim McAndrew Tops Padres as Preston Gomez Removes Clay Kirby in the 8th Inning With a No-Hitter Going

July 21st, 1970: From June 24th thru July 10th the reigning World Champion Mets had either been in sole possession or tied in first place. After a seven game win streak New York dropped five straight games, three at home to the Expos & the first two games of the West Coast road trip in Los Angeles. 

The Mets salvaged the final game of the series at Dodger Stadium then split a four game set at Candlestick in San Francisco.

Tonight Gil Hodges Mets (50-43) opened a series against Preston Gomez's last place Padres (38-59). A small crowd of 10,373 came out to Jack Murphy Stadium in beautiful San Diego for the matchup.

In the top of the 1st, Tommie Agee started the game with a walk then stole his 21st base of the season. Agee stole 31 bases & scored 107 runs that year setting Mets single season marks at that time. Ken Singleton also drew a walk then Gil Hodges put on a successful double steal, getting Agee to third base. Art Shamsky grounded to second base, Agee scored on the play giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Clay Kirby retired the next ten batters in a row before issuing a walk to Joe Foy in the 5th inning. He retired seven more batters until walking Wayne Garrett in the 7th inning. Kirby still had not given up a hit.

Jim McAndrew retired the Padres in order in the first two innings. In the bottom of the 3rd, Ed Spiezio led off with a double. After retiring the next batter he struck out the pitcher, Clay Kirby & Ron Slocum. McAndrew scattered a hit in each of the next two innings, before getting into a rhythm retiring the next thirteen batters in a row through the the rest of the game.

In the top of he 8th, Clay Kirby issued his fifth walk, when he gave Joe Foy the free pass. Although Foy stole second, Kirby got Jerry Grote & Jim McAndrew to both ground out. He then ended the inning striking out Tommie Agee on for his fourth K of the game. Kirby left the mound feeling confident he would accomplish the no-hitter.

As Clay Kirby came back to the dugout, he saw his pitching coach, former Met Roger Craig had a long look on his face. Kirby was scheduled to bat third in the inning, as he went to put his helmet on & go to the on deck circle, manager Preston Gomez shouted for him to get his butt back. 

Gomez sent in Cito Gaston to pinch hit for him. Gaston would lead the Padres in batting .318 that year along with 28 HRs & 93 RBIs. He was not in the starting line up that evening due to a leg injury. Gaston felt for his pitcher & didn't want to take on the task but did as instructed.

Preston Gomez said if one of the first two batters got on he would have stuck with the pitcher to have him sacrifice but with two outs, his mind had been made up to put in a pinch hitter, Gaston with power. 

Years later he defended his decision noting he didn't want to take the young pitcher out but his team needed to score runs in the 1-0 game. He stated he didn't play for the fans. He also wanted to spoil the Mets bid for win since they were fighting the Pirates for first place.

Quotes- Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner: "The game doesn't belong to the pitcher. The manager has no choice but to pinch hit.

Quotes- Clay Kirby: "It's not that I'm bitter but when I try to look at the logic behind it, I don't see it. We needed something to drum up interest in the ball club, a no hitter would have given the franchise a much bigger boost than one more victory. If it had been the seventh game of the World Series I could understand, bit we were in last place".

Tom Seaver said the Mets bench gasped in disbelief when Gaston was announced. The small crowd booed at the decision & reports say two fans attempted to go after Gomez but were restrained.

Jim McAndrew struck out Cito Gaston the end the inning.

In the top of the 9th, Jack Baldschun came on to pitch & immediately served up the Mets first hit, as Bud Harrelson singled into left field. Ken Singleton then sacrificed Harrelson to second. Art Shamsky was walked intentionally with Mike Jorgensen coming into run for the slow Shamsky.

Cleon Jones followed with a base hit to load the bases. After Wayne Garrett struck out, Joe Foy delivered a two run single scoring Cleon Jones & Jorgensen giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jim McAndrew continued with his fine outing as pinch hitter Ramon Webster grounded to Bud Harrelson at short for the first out. McAndrew then struck out Steve Huntz & "Downtown" Ollie Brown popped up to Harrelson for the final out.

For Jim McAndrew he went to 5-8 on the season, as he pitched a complete game three hit shut out, striking out a season best nine batters, in his best outing of the year. In 1969 McAndrew had pitched a two hit complete game shut out.

After the game reporters tried to get Clay Kirby to make negative comments toward his manager, but he did not later saying he had to much respect for him to do that.

Quotes- Preston Gomez: "I never second guess myself & I can always go home after a game & sleep, figuring I did what I thought was right".

Preston Gamez Trivia: In 1974 as manager of the Astros, Gomez pulled pitcher Don Wilson who had a no hitter going down 2-1, for a pinch hitter in the 8th inning as well. Kirby was a member of the opposing Reds that day & went to Gomez's office to shake his hand after the game, saying Preston told me he'd never change his ways.

Trivia: In 1969 the Padres came into the league as an expansion team, they would not have a team pitcher throw a no hitter until Joe Musgrove in 2021.