KOOSMAN, METS PREVAIL IN 10
Perfecto Lost in 7th
HOUSTON, July 7 (AP) - Jerry Koosman took a perfect game into the seventh inning
against the Houston Astros and the New York Mets scored twice in the top of the
tenth inning to win, 3-1, at the Astrodome. Koosman is the seventh pitcher
in the major leagues this season to retire at least the first 18 batters faced
in a game. All seven instances have seen the perfect game lost in the
seventh or eighth inning.
Koosman and Astros starter Joaquin Andujar matched goose eggs through four
innings before the Mets finally dented the scoreboard in the top of the
fifth. Bud Harrelson reached leading off the inning on second baseman Rob
Andrews' fielding error and advanced to second on Koosman's sacrifice
bunt. Andujar fanned Mike Phillips for the second out but Felix Millan
guided a ground ball into center field for a base hit, scoring Harrelson with
the game's first run.
Koosman retired the first 18 Houston batters he faced but, with the score still
1-0, Enos Cabell started the bottom of the seventh by lacing a double to
right-center field, ending Koosman's bid for immortality. Andrews then
dropped down a perfect bunt, sacrificing the tying run to third base with one
out. Koosman fell behind Cesar Cedeno 3-0 and then issued an intentional
ball four to the Houston center fielder. Bob Watson worked the count full
then struck out with Cedeno running on the pitch. Catcher Jerry Grote
gunned the runner down at second and the strike 'em out, throw 'em out double
play ended the seventh.
The Astros finally drew even in the eighth. Leon Roberts drew a lead-off
walk and was replaced at first base by pinch runner Wilbur Howard. Cliff
Johnson bounced a grounder to second and the Mets got the force on Howard but
Harrelson's relay throw to complete the would-be double play was wild and eluded
first baseman Ed Kranepool. Johnson ended up on second on the two-base
error. Greg Gross pinch hit for Skip Jutze and rolled a single into right
field, advancing Johnson to third and Roger Metzger grounded to second, with
Johnson scoring on the play, tying the game at one.
The 1-1 tie lasted through a scoreless ninth, with each team's run
unearned.
Andujar was still on the mound to start the tenth and issued a one-out walk to
Harrelson. Ron Hodges came on to hit for Koosman and Harrelson stole
second base on the first pitch. After falling behind 3-1, Andujar hung a
curve and Hodges deposited it in the right field seats for his third home run of
the year. Gil Rondon replaced Andujar and worked through the inning
without suffering any further damage but the Mets now led 3-1.
Ken Sanders came on to pitch the bottom of the tenth for New York and promptly
walked Johnson and Gross to open the frame, bringing the potential winning run
to the plate with no outs. Metzger was next up and he attempted to
sacrifice the tying runs into scoring position but he popped up the bunt and it
was snagged by Sanders who whirled and fired to Harrelson at second to double up
Johnson who was caught in no man's land. Sanders then retired pinch hitter
Ken Boswell to close out the game.
Koosman's terrific effort--no earned runs in nine innings--was rewarded as he
earned his eighth victory of the year. Andujar's fine effort only resulted
in being saddled with the loss.
7/7/1976, NYN76-Hou76, Astrodome 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E LOB DP 1976 Mets 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 7 1 6 2 1976 Astros 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 2 5 4 Mets AB R H BI AVG Astros AB R H BI AVG Phillips 3b 3 0 1 0 .226 Cabell 3b 4 0 1 0 .255 Millan 2b 5 0 2 1 .264 Andrews,R 2b 3 0 1 0 .246 Milner lf 4 0 1 0 .256 Cedeno cf 3 0 0 0 .257 Vail rf 0 0 0 0 .200 Watson 1b 3 0 0 0 .348 Kingman rf 4 0 0 0 .218 Roberts,L rf 2 0 0 0 .321 Brown,L cf 0 0 0 0 .121 Howard,W pr 1 0 0 0 .254 Kranepool 1b 3 0 0 0 .278 Johnson,C lf 3 1 0 0 .239 Boisclair cf 4 0 1 0 .270 Jutze c 2 0 0 0 .139 Grote c 4 0 0 0 .211 Gross,G ph 1 0 1 0 .290 Harrelson ss 3 2 1 0 .230 Metzger,R ss 4 0 0 1 .229 Koosman p 2 0 0 0 .268 Andujar p 3 0 0 0 .147 Hodges ph 1 1 1 2 .296 Rondon p 0 0 0 0 .077 Sanders p 0 0 0 0 .000 Boswell ph 1 0 0 0 .229 33 3 7 3 30 1 3 1 Mets INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Koosman W 8-7 9.0 3 1 0 3 8 117 70 2.98 Sanders S 2 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 12 4 2.22 10.0 3 1 0 5 8 129 74 Astros INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Andujar L 6-4 9.1 7 3 2 4 3 127 68 2.80 Rondon 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 10 4 5.93 10.0 7 3 2 5 3 137 72 NYN: Hodges batted for Koosman in the 10th Vail inserted at rf in the 10th Brown,L inserted at cf in the 10th Boisclair moved to lf in the 10th Hou: Howard,W ran for Roberts,L in the 8th Gross,G batted for Jutze in the 8th Howard,W moved to lf in the 9th Johnson,C moved to c in the 9th Gross,G moved to rf in the 9th Boswell batted for Rondon in the 10th E-Harrelson, Andrews,R, Metzger,R. 2B-Cabell(8). HR-Hodges(3). RBI-Millan(27), Hodges 2(11), Metzger,R(33). SB-Phillips(1), Harrelson(5), Andrews,R(3). CS-Cedeno. K-Phillips, Koosman 2, Cedeno 2, Watson 2, Roberts,L, Jutze, Andujar 2. BB-Phillips 2, Milner, Kranepool, Harrelson, Cedeno, Watson, Roberts,L, Johnson,C, Gross,G. SH-Koosman, Andrews,R. GWRBI: Hodges Temperature: 70, Wind: none. Attendance: 7,728 Game Time: 2:25