The season opener saw 1974's Jon Matlack cruise for 8 innings then hit the wall and almost blow the game. Tug McGraw came on to get the final out of the game as the '79 team scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to put a scare into '74. Joel Youngblood's 2 run shot off of Matlack in the 9th closed the gap and made this game very interesting. '74 had what seemed like comfortable 4 run lead after scoring 2 runs in both the 4th and 5th innings. Don Hahn had the GWRBI & Cleon Jones, who went deep off of Pete Falcone ('79 starter) was the game MVP.In 1974 Tom Seaver finished the season 11-11. It was his first and only season without a winning
record in his first tour in Flushing. Seaver was injured most of the year and gamefully fought through it. He was not able to fight hard enough in this game as the '79 team scored 7 run off of him in 8 innings of work to win 7-3. Seaver yielded 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th as '79 was clinging to a 1 run lead at the time. Lee Mazzilli led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a walk to Joel Youngblood. Seaver then had to reach down deep into his greatness and struck out lefties Richie "gravedigger" Hebner and Willie "hot dog" Montanez. Unfortunately he could not get John "dude" Stearns or pinch hitter Elliott "the convert" Maddox out, which led to '79's 3 run outburst. Young Neil Allen came on in the 9th in relief of starter Craig Swan for the save.
record in his first tour in Flushing. Seaver was injured most of the year and gamefully fought through it. He was not able to fight hard enough in this game as the '79 team scored 7 run off of him in 8 innings of work to win 7-3. Seaver yielded 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th as '79 was clinging to a 1 run lead at the time. Lee Mazzilli led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a walk to Joel Youngblood. Seaver then had to reach down deep into his greatness and struck out lefties Richie "gravedigger" Hebner and Willie "hot dog" Montanez. Unfortunately he could not get John "dude" Stearns or pinch hitter Elliott "the convert" Maddox out, which led to '79's 3 run outburst. Young Neil Allen came on in the 9th in relief of starter Craig Swan for the save.
Game #3 was a classic 5-4 twelve inning affair that the '79 bunch wound up winning. By his own estimations '74's manager Paul Johnson felt that he "gave away the game" with some suspect strategies and decisions in the 8th that led to '79's scoring the tying run that forced extra innings. '74's starter Jerry Koosman was in a good grove, but stayed a bit too long and gave up the tying run. Both Koosman and his opponent Dock Ellis yielded 4. Ellis was constantly in trouble and the '79 team was ecstatic to have gotten 7 innings out of him. Neil Young, pitching his second game in a row in relief tossed 3.1 scoreless innings before yielding to eventual winner Skip Lockwood. In the top of the 12th Gold Glove, but lead bat second baseman Doug "thank god i'm a country boy" Flynn led off with a single. Lockwood was sent up to bunt and he properly advanced Flynn to second as he forced '74 third baseman Wayne Garrett to field the ball. Frank Taveras promptly singled in the go ahead run off of loser Bob Apodaca. Lockwood tossed a scoreless bottom of the 12th to notch the win.The finale turned out to be an offensive shootout. This surprised no one since both starters
(Kevin Kobel / Harry Parker) were not exactly dominant hurlers. Parker didn't make it out of the 3rd inning as he yielded 10 runs. Every position player in the '79 lineup had at least 1 hit. To their credit, Paul Johnson's '74 group did not quit. They have the heart of a champion, which they were the previous season in 1973. Rallying from a 8 run deficit they scored 1 in the 4th and 3 in the sixth to make the score 10-6 and chase Kobel from the hill. The '79 team answered back with 2 runs in the 7th off of reliever Ray Sadecki. Wayne Twitchell came on for the final 4 outs and yielded 1 unearned run to preserve Kobel's much undeserved win. Lefties Rich Hebner and Willie Montanez had 4 and 3 RBI's respectively. Montanez had 3 hits. The first 5 batter in the '79 lineup had 2 hits each. Bud Harrelson and Teddy Martinez drove in 2 each for the '74 team, but could not budge them from the losing side of the ledger.
(Kevin Kobel / Harry Parker) were not exactly dominant hurlers. Parker didn't make it out of the 3rd inning as he yielded 10 runs. Every position player in the '79 lineup had at least 1 hit. To their credit, Paul Johnson's '74 group did not quit. They have the heart of a champion, which they were the previous season in 1973. Rallying from a 8 run deficit they scored 1 in the 4th and 3 in the sixth to make the score 10-6 and chase Kobel from the hill. The '79 team answered back with 2 runs in the 7th off of reliever Ray Sadecki. Wayne Twitchell came on for the final 4 outs and yielded 1 unearned run to preserve Kobel's much undeserved win. Lefties Rich Hebner and Willie Montanez had 4 and 3 RBI's respectively. Montanez had 3 hits. The first 5 batter in the '79 lineup had 2 hits each. Bud Harrelson and Teddy Martinez drove in 2 each for the '74 team, but could not budge them from the losing side of the ledger.
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