Remembering Mets History (1976) On America's Bicentennial- Mets Win Tenth Straight Game

July 4th, 1976: In the Nation's bicentennial year, the Mets had fallen four games below .500 (33-37) dropping 14.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies & six games behind the second place Pittsburgh Pirates.

Trivia: That year the National League was celebrating its centennial with it's 1100th year Anniversary.

From June 23rd to July 3rd, the Mets went on a season best nine game win streak. First taking a game in St. Louis, then a series sweep at Wrigley Field before coming back to Shea Stadium to take three from the Cardinals then the first two of a four game set with the Cubs. 

On Saturday afternoon, with the bases loaded in a 2-2 tie, Cubs pitcher Darold Knowles had tried to pick off Mike Phillips at first base but his throwing error allowed Bud Harrelson to score with the walk off run.

On America's 250th Birthday, with celebrations all across the country, New York City was front & center with a magnificent "Operation Sail" boat parade, featuring tall ships from 14 different nations, drawing an estimated six million people.

Over in Queens, the Mets hosted the Chicago Cubs in a double header followed by a fireworks show. In between games the celebrations featured a half hour show "American History from Paul Revere to George M. Cohan".

The first game featured the Mets Craig Swan (4-7) going up against Bill Bonham (6-5).

In the top of the 1st, the Cubs put two men on with base hits, but Swan got out of the inning, even escaping a botched pick off attempt on batting champ, Bill Madlock.

In the top of the 3rd, the Cubs scored first with base hits from Rick Monday & Jose Cardenal.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Ron Hodges singled & consecutive walks to Bud Harrelson & Craig Swan  loaded the bases. Mike Phillips drove in the first run with a sac fly to center field. Bill Bonham then walked Bruce Boisclair to load the bases again. 

John Milner delivered an RBI single putting the Mets ahead 2-1. Bonham then hit Dave Kingman with a pitch bringing in the Mets third run, 3-1.

In the bottom of the 4th, Bonham walked Wayne Garrett & Ron Hodges, totaling five walks in the game. Bud Harrelson then delivered an RBI single to center scoring Garrett. Mike Phillips grounder scored Ron Hodges giving the Mets a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the 5th, Rick Monday hit his 14th HR of the year, a two run shot making it 5-3. In the 6th, the Cubs added a run on Steve Swisher's RBI double. The Mets Craig Swan pitched six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out two & walking two.

The Cubs would go thru five pitchers in the game. In the bottom of the 8th,  John Milner collected
his 12th double of the year, with a grounder down the line. Dave Kingman reached for the second time with a walk. Joe Torre attempted a sac bunt, catcher Steve Swisher's error led to Milner scoring from third & Torre reaching safely.

The Cubs fifth pitcher, Darold Knowles who's throwing error the previous day won the game for New York, came on & walked Wayne Garrett intentionally. 

Bud Harrelson followed with his  second RBI hit of the day then pitcher Skip Lockwood delivered a two run double to left field scoring Torre & Wayne Garrett topping off the 9-4 Mets win.

Skip Lockwood Trivia: The two runs were the only RBI's Lockwood would have all season. It was his first Mets double as he would hit four in his career. 

Quotes- Skip Lockwood: "I got that hit for my father , he drove down from Boston & told me the roads were empty. I had left my place in Westchester & there was nobody on the Hutch, nobody on the road. It was spooky".

In the 9th, Lockwood closed out the game, collecting his ninth save of the season. Skip would save 19 games on the year (2nd most in the NL). In his five seasons with the Mets he saved 65 games (11th most in franchise history). Lockwood was one of the leagues better closers but as the Mets got worse in the seventies he suffered their bad luck.

Trivia: The Mets win streak reached a season best ten games, it would be their longest win streak until the 1986 Championship season, a decade later when they won eleven in a row from April 18th thru April 30th.

The ten game win streak didn't help them much in the standings as they only gained two games on the powerful Phillies. Although the Mets won 86 games, the most since their 1969 Championship season, in an era with no wild card they finished third. 1976 was also their last winning season until 1984.

For the Cubs the loss was the team's ninth straight in a season where they finished fourth (75-87).

After the festivities, the Cubs ended the Mets win streak & broke their own losing streak taking the night cap 4-2 as Ray Burris bet Mickey Lolich.

Trivia: That season the Mets on occasion had donned blue caps with orange stripes around it & thru the NY in honor of the NL's 100th season.