April 6, 1973
The day after SF and Cincinnati opened the 1973 season, the remaining 10 NL teams had their opening day games.
Some interesting notes on the 5 games played:
Montreal's Ron Fairly went 5 for 5 in the Expos 6-5 comeback win over Chicago.
Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente Day, in honor of the player who died in a tragic plane crash during the offseason, was spoiled by the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 9-5.
New York Met pitcher Tom Seaver threw a 3-hit, no walk shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Atlanta Braves had a 19-hit attack and came from behind with a 4-run 9th inning to defeat the Houston Astros 10-9.
NEWSPAPER GAME STORIES FOR 1973 National League Date: 4/6/1973
MONTREAL AT CHICAGO
Expos........... 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 - 6 16 1
Cubs............ 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 - 5 9 0
Win:Strohmayer(1-0) Loss:Bonham(0-1)
Ron Fairly had 5 hits and 2 RBI at Wrigley Field where the Montreal Expos beat
the Chicago Cubs by the score of 6 to 5.
Montreal won the game with a run in the top of the 9th inning. After an out
was recorded, Mike Jorgensen drew a walk. Fairly stepped into the batter's
box and he hit a single. Ken Singleton then hit a sacrifice fly scoring the
run. This was a game of many highs and lows for the home town fans, as the
lead kept changing - 5 times in all.
John Strohmayer(1-0) went 2 innings allowing no runs for the win. Bill
Bonham(0-1) was given the loss in relief. He surrendered 3 hits and 1 walk
in 2 and 2/3 innings.
CONDENSED PLAY LOG
TOP 1- Hunt-Si, SB(Hunt), Foli-G, Jorgensen-Si, Fairly-Si, Singleton-K
Bailey-K
BOT 1- Monday-F, Cardenal-F, Williams-W, Pepitone-G
TOP 2- Roque-F, Boccabella-G, Torrez-G
BOT 2- Santo-G, Beckert-G, Hundley-Si, Kessinger-E-3B, Jenkins-Si, Monday-F
TOP 3- Hunt-Si, CS(Hunt), Foli-K, Jorgensen-Si, Fairly-Si, Singleton-Si
Bailey-K
BOT 3- Cardenal-K, Williams-G, Pepitone-Si, CS(Pepitone)
TOP 4- Roque-K, Boccabella-F, Torrez-K
BOT 4- Santo-F, Beckert-W, Hundley-G-DP
TOP 5- Hunt-G, Foli-Si, Jorgensen-K, Fairly-Si, Singleton-K
BOT 5- Kessinger-Si, Jenkins-Sac, Monday-G, Cardenal-W, Williams-F
TOP 6- Bailey-Si, Roque-F, Boccabella-K, Torrez-G
BOT 6- Pepitone-G, Santo-F, Beckert-Si, Hundley-G
TOP 7- Hunt-Do, Foli-Si, Jorgensen-Sac, Fairly-Si, Singleton-G-DP
BOT 7- Kessinger-G, Garrett-Si, Monday-G, Cardenal-W, Williams-Si, Pepitone-IW
Santo-Si, Beckert-G
TOP 8- Bailey-Si, PB, Roque-K, Breeden-L, Day-Si, Hunt-G
BOT 8- Bonham-G, Kessinger-G, Garrett-G
TOP 9- Foli-G, Jorgensen-W, Fairly-Si, Singleton-SF, Bailey-F
BOT 9- Monday-F, Cardenal-Si, Williams-G-DP
ST. LOUIS AT PITTSBURGH
Cardinals....... 1 1 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 - 9 15 2
Pirates......... 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 - 5 10 0
Win:Gibson(1-0) Loss:Blass(0-1)
Homeruns- J.Cruz(1st), R.Busse(1st)
Jose Cruz had 4 hits and 2 RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals bested the
Pittsburgh Pirates 9 to 5 at Three Rivers Stadium.
Bob Gibson(1-0) had a solid outing for St. Louis. He went 8 and 1/3 innings
allowing 9 hits and 3 walks. Even though they scored in 5 different innings,
Pittsburgh was not able to pull off the win.
Steve Blass(0-1) absorbed the loss. He gave up 4 runs and 6 hits in 5 and 2/3
innings.
CONDENSED PLAY LOG
TOP 1- Brock-F, Sizemore-Si, Cruz-Do, Torre-IW, Simmons-F, Reitz-W
Carbo-G
BOT 1- Stennett-FO, Sanguillen-G, Oliver-G
TOP 2- Busse-K, Gibson-Do, Brock-F, Sizemore-IW, Cruz-Si, Torre-W, Simmons-G
BOT 2- Stargell-K, Robertson-W, Hebner-K, Alley-F
TOP 3- Reitz-FO, Carbo-W, Busse-K, Gibson-G
BOT 3- May-L, Blass-G, Stennett-F
TOP 4- Brock-F, Sizemore-F, Cruz-G
BOT 4- Sanguillen-Tr, Oliver-Si, Stargell-L, Robertson-L, Hebner-P
TOP 5- Torre-F, Simmons-F, Reitz-F
BOT 5- Alley-W, PkOff, May-F, Blass-Do, Stennett-Si+E-SS, Sanguillen-G
TOP 6- Carbo-W, Busse-HR, Gibson-L, Brock-G, Sizemore-Si, Cruz-W, Torre-W
Simmons-F
BOT 6- Oliver-Tr, Stargell-G, Robertson-L, Hebner-G
TOP 7- Reitz-Do, Carbo-IW, Busse-Si, Gibson-Si, Brock-K, Sizemore-Force
WP, Cruz-Si, Torre-Si, Simmons-P
BOT 7- Cash-W, May-G-DP, Clines-F
TOP 8- Reitz-Si, Carbo-Force, Busse-F, WP, Gibson-Si
BOT 8- Stennett-Do, Sanguillen-G, Oliver-G, Stargell-Tr, Robertson-G
TOP 9- Brock-Si, CS(Brock), Sizemore-F, Cruz-HR, Torre-G
BOT 9- Hebner-Si+E-CF, Cash-L, May-Si, Zisk-Si, Stennett-K, Sanguillen-K
PHILADELPHIA AT NEW YORK
Phillies........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 0
Mets............ 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 - 3 7 1
Win:Seaver(1-0) Loss:Carlton(0-1)
Homeruns- C.Jones(1st)
Cleon Jones left the yard and had 2 RBI and Tom Seaver allowed only 3 hits
resulting in a big goose egg on the scoreboard for Philadelphia at Shea
Stadium where the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3 to
0.
Seaver(1-0) was indeed brilliant as he hand-cuffed the Philadelphia offense.
He didn't give up much, just 3 hits and no walks in 9 innings. The
Philadelphia batters didn't put up a fight in the 9th.
Steve Carlton(0-1) was hit with the loss. 'He came out with good stuff,' Yogi
Berra said about Seaver. 'He threw the ball good from the first pitch on.'
CONDENSED PLAY LOG
TOP 1- Bowa-Si, Unser-K, Montanez-Force, Hutton-E-SS, Luzinski-G
BOT 1- Harrelson-G, Millan-Si, Mays-Do, Staub-G, Jones-G
TOP 2- Pagan-P, Ryan-G, Doyle-L
BOT 2- Milner-Si, Fregosi-K, Dyer-F, Seaver-F
TOP 3- Carlton-K, Bowa-F, Unser-Si, Montanez-K
BOT 3- Harrelson-F, Millan-L, Mays-K
TOP 4- Hutton-F, Luzinski-K, Pagan-K
BOT 4- Staub-F, Jones-Si, Milner-G, Fregosi-IW, Dyer-W, Seaver-K
TOP 5- Ryan-G, Doyle-G, Carlton-G
BOT 5- Harrelson-W, Millan-Sac, Mays-L-DP
TOP 6- Bowa-G, Unser-K, Montanez-K
BOT 6- Staub-W, Jones-HR, Milner-K, Fregosi-K, Dyer-Do, Seaver-K
TOP 7- Hutton-F, Luzinski-G, Pagan-P
BOT 7- Harrelson-G, Millan-G, Mays-K
TOP 8- Ryan-Si, Doyle-F, Anderson-F, Bowa-G
BOT 8- Staub-G, Jones-K, Kranepool-Si, Fregosi-K
TOP 9- Unser-F, Montanez-K, Hutton-F
LOS ANGELES AT SAN DIEGO
Dodgers......... 1 4 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 - 11 15 2
Padres.......... 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 - 2 6 1
Win:Sutton(1-0) Loss:Kirby(0-1)
Homeruns- W.Crawford(1st), K.McMullen(1st), C.Gaston(1st)
Don Sutton had an impressive outing and right fielder Willie Crawford
connected with a 'big fly' and had 3 RBI as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the
San Diego Padres by a score of 11 to 2.
Sutton(1-0) was very good in the win. He was stingy on the mound, allowing
just 6 hits and no walks in 9 innings. Los Angeles banged out 15 hits on the
night.
Clay Kirby(0-1) was the loser. He surrendered 5 runs and 6 hits in 1 inning.
CONDENSED PLAY LOG
TOP 1- Lacy-E-2B, Mota-Si, CS(Mota), Buckner-Si, PkOff, Davis-F
BOT 1- Hernandez-G, Grubb-F, Lee-G
TOP 2- Crawford-W, SB(Crawford), PB, Ferguson-Si, McMullen-HR, Russell-Tr
Sutton-Si, Lacy-Si, Mota-G-DP, Buckner-G
BOT 2- Colbert-K, Gaston-Do, Hilton-G, Roberts-K
TOP 3- Davis-G, Crawford-W, SB(Crawford), Ferguson-F-DP
BOT 3- Davis-K, Troedson-K, Hernandez-G
TOP 4- McMullen-Si, Russell-Do, Sutton-SF, Lacy-F, Mota-G
BOT 4- Grubb-L, Lee-Si, Colbert-Si, Gaston-G-DP
TOP 5- Buckner-G, Davis-G, Crawford-K
BOT 5- Hilton-G, Roberts-E-3B, Davis-Si, Corrales-E-2B, Hernandez-Force
Grubb-F
TOP 6- Ferguson-K, McMullen-G, Russell-Si, Sutton-Force
BOT 6- Lee-G, Colbert-K, Gaston-HR, Hilton-G
TOP 7- Lacy-K, Mota-Si, Buckner-G, Davis-Do, Crawford-HR, Ferguson-F
BOT 7- Roberts-G, Kendall-K, Marshall-F
TOP 8- McMullen-W, Russell-L, Sutton-Sac, Lacy-K
BOT 8- Hernandez-FO, Grubb-K, Lee-G
TOP 9- Mota-G, Buckner-Si, Davis-G, Crawford-Do, Ferguson-L
BOT 9- Colbert-F, Morales-Do, Hilton-G, Roberts-P
HOUSTON AT ATLANTA
Astros.......... 2 2 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 - 9 14 0
Braves.......... 0 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 4 - 10 19 2
Win:House(1-0) Loss:Crawford(0-1)
Homeruns- J.Wynn-2(2nd), H.Aaron(1st), D.Baker(1st)
In a dramatic ending, the Atlanta Braves staged a comeback win over the
Houston Astros by the count of 10 to 9.
Atlanta had the game winning rally in the 9th inning when they scored 4 runs
on 5 hits. The key offensive moment was provided by Mike Lum who electrified
Atlanta Stadium when he doubled scoring two baserunners. Despite scoring in
6 separate innings, Houston could not get the win.
The victory went to Tom House(1-0) who went 1 inning, allowing no runs. Jim
Crawford(0-1) was the losing pitcher in relief. Eddie Mathews was ebullient
after the game, 'It's great to win a hard fought game like that. Our guys
just weren't going to be denied. And did you see the fans - they were going
wild! Yes sir, a very enjoyable win tonight!'
CONDENSED PLAY LOG
TOP 1- Wynn-K, Helms-Si, Cedeno-Si, Watson-Si, May-Si, Rader-G-DP
BOT 1- Garr-F, Gilbreath-G, Aaron-Do, Baker-G
TOP 2- Edwards-W, Metzger-F, Roberts-E-C , Wynn-Si+E-SS, Helms-G, Cedeno-K
BOT 2- Evans-Do, Johnson-K, Oates-G, Perez-FO
TOP 3- Watson-Si, May-P, Rader-G, Edwards-F
BOT 3- Gentry-Si, Garr-Si, Gilbreath-Force, Aaron-Si, Baker-Force, Evans-Do
Johnson-P
TOP 4- Metzger-G, Roberts-G, Wynn-HR, Helms-G
BOT 4- Oates-Si, Perez-Force, Gentry-G, Garr-K
TOP 5- Cedeno-Do, Watson-Si, May-SF, Rader-P, Edwards-Si, Metzger-G
BOT 5- Gilbreath-G, Aaron-F, Baker-HR, Evans-K
TOP 6- Roberts-F, Wynn-HR, Helms-K, Cedeno-K
BOT 6- Johnson-Si, Oates-G-DP, Perez-Do, Gentry-K
TOP 7- Watson-G, May-K, Rader-P
BOT 7- Garr-G, Gilbreath-Do, Aaron-HR, Baker-Si, Evans-K, Johnson-G
TOP 8- Edwards-G, Metzger-Si, York-Force, Wynn-Si, Helms-Do, Cedeno-G
BOT 8- Oates-Si, Perez-F, Dietz-F, Garr-G
TOP 9- Watson-G, May-K, Rader-W, Edwards-P
BOT 9- Gilbreath-Si, Aaron-G, Baker-L, Evans-Si, Johnson-Si, Oates-Do
Perez-IW, Lum-Do
