Mets win their first opener at Forbes Field’s final Opening Day
On April 7, 1970, one historic first and one historic last occurred at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. In their ninth try, the New York Mets finally captured their first Opening Day victory, while Forbes Field hosted its final Opening Day after 61 years. The Mets, basking in the glow of their Miracle championship from last year, sent Cy Young Award winner Tom Seaver to start. The Pirates countered with their ace, 16-game winner Steve Blass. Both right-handers struggled in their first three innings but settled down to pitch effectively for eight and 10 innings respectively.
The Mets and Pirates battle to a 3-3 tie after 9, Don Clendenon delivers a key pinch hit 2 run single in the 11th to give the Mets victory.
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New York Mets 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
SABR Article
Game Played on Tuesday, April 7, 1970 (D) at Forbes Field
NY N 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 5 11 0 PIT N 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 9 1
BOX+PBP WP: Taylor (1-0) LP: Hartenstein (0-1) SV: McGraw (1)
Play by Play
METS 1ST: Agee singled; Harrelson flied to center; Foy grounded out (third to first) [Agee to second]; Jones doubled to right [Agee scored]; Shamsky singled to right [Jones scored, Shamsky to second (on throw to home)]; Swoboda grounded out (shortstop to first); 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 2, Pirates 0. PIRATES 1ST: Alou doubled to right; Hebner struck out; Clemente singled to right [Alou scored]; Stargell grounded into a double play (first to shortstop to first) [Clemente out at second]; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Pirates 1. METS 2ND: Garrett struck out; Grote lined to second; Seaver struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Pirates 1. PIRATES 2ND: Oliver tripled to right; Alley struck out; J. May hit a sacrifice fly to right [Oliver scored]; Mazeroski popped to third; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Pirates 2. METS 3RD: Agee singled to center; Agee stole second; Harrelson grounded out (third to first) [Agee to third]; Foy hit a sacrifice fly to right [Agee scored]; Jones walked; Shamsky flied to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. PIRATES 3RD: Blass struck out; Alou grounded out (shortstop to first); Hebner doubled to center; Clemente struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. METS 4TH: Swoboda doubled to right; Garrett flied to right [Swoboda to third]; Grote popped to third; Seaver grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. PIRATES 4TH: Stargell flied to right; Oliver popped to third; Alley popped to second; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. METS 5TH: Agee grounded out (second to first); Harrelson grounded out (pitcher to first); Foy struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. PIRATES 5TH: J. May flied to center; Mazeroski grounded out (pitcher unassisted); Blass grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. METS 6TH: Jones struck out; Shamsky doubled to left; Swoboda was called out on strikes; Garrett was walked intentionally; Grote forced Garrett (shortstop to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 2. PIRATES 6TH: Alou tripled to left; Hebner popped to second; Clemente singled to left [Alou scored]; Stargell forced Clemente (second to shortstop); Oliver flied to left; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. METS 7TH: Seaver struck out; Agee was called out on strikes; Harrelson singled to right; Foy popped to second; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. PIRATES 7TH: Alley singled to left; J. May was called out on strikes; Mazeroski flied to right; Blass singled to left [Alley to second]; Alou lined to pitcher; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. METS 8TH: Jones grounded out (second to first); Shamsky flied to center; Swoboda grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. PIRATES 8TH: JORGENSEN REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING 1B); Hebner flied to right; Clemente singled to center; Stargell flied to left; Oliver grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. METS 9TH: Garrett grounded out (first unassisted); Grote struck out; KRANEPOOL BATTED FOR SEAVER; Kranepool struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. PIRATES 9TH: TAYLOR REPLACED KRANEPOOL (PITCHING); Alley grounded out (shortstop to first); J. May grounded out (pitcher to first); Mazeroski lined to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. METS 10TH: Agee singled to left; Harrelson out on a sacrifice bunt (first unassisted) [Agee to second]; Foy popped to catcher in foul territory; Jones singled to second [Agee out at home (second to catcher)]; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. PIRATES 10TH: ROBERTSON BATTED FOR BLASS; Robertson flied to center; Alou grounded out (pitcher to first); Hebner struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 3, Pirates 3. METS 11TH: HARTENSTEIN REPLACED ROBERTSON (PITCHING); Jorgensen singled to left; Swoboda reached on an error by J. May [Jorgensen to second]; Garrett out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to second) [Swoboda to second, Jorgensen to third]; Grote was walked intentionally; BOSWELL BATTED FOR TAYLOR; GIBBON REPLACED HARTENSTEIN (PITCHING); CLENDENON BATTED FOR BOSWELL; Clendenon singled to center [Grote to third, Swoboda scored (unearned), Jorgensen scored]; Agee grounded into a double play (second to first) [Clendenon out at second]; 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Mets 5, Pirates 3. PIRATES 11TH: MCGRAW REPLACED CLENDENON (PITCHING); Clemente walked; Stargell popped to third in foul territory; Oliver popped to third in foul territory; Alley struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 5, Pirates 3.