1973 NL Game Stories

 May 25, 1973

 In today's slate of games in the NL 4 shutouts were pitched. Jon Matlack (NY), Bob Moose (Pitt), Fred Norman (SD), and Don Gullet (Cin) all had fine outings for their teams. They won 2-0, 3-0, 1-0 and 1-0 for their respective teams.

NEW YORK AT LOS ANGELES
Mets............ 0 0 1  0 0 1  0 0 0  -  2  8  0
Dodgers......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  2  1
Win:Matlack(4-2) Loss:Osteen(5-3)
 
Jon Matlack carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning at Dodger Stadium as the
New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers by the count of 2 to
0.
 
Matlack(4-2) escaped virtually unscathed against the Los Angeles hitters.  He
didn't allow much, just 2 hits and 1 walk in 9 innings seeing his ERA drop
from 3.24 to 2.81.  The left-handed Matlack lost his chance for a no-hitter
when Davey Lopes singled with two outs in the 6th inning.  New York had 8
hits for the night.  
 
Claude Osteen(5-3) took the loss.  'Matlack pitched a gem of a game', Walter
Alston recounted.  'He kept our batters off balance the entire game.'
 

 
HOUSTON AT PITTSBURGH
Astros.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  4  0
Pirates......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  3 0    -  3  6  1
Win:Moose(4-3) Loss:Reuss(5-6)
 
Bob Moose had an impressive outing and catcher Milt May hit 2 doubles and had
2 RBI as the Pittsburgh Pirates outscored the Houston Astros 3 to
0.
 
Moose(4-3) pitched one of his finer games as he simply was too much for the
Houston batters.  He surrendered only 4 hits and 2 walks in 9 innings
improving his ERA from 3.02 to 2.52.  Pittsburgh finished with just 6 hits in
the victory.  
 
Jerry Reuss(5-6) was the loser.  'He came out with good stuff,' Bill Virdon
said about Moose. 'He threw the ball good from the first pitch on.'
 

 
PHILADELPHIA AT SAN DIEGO
Phillies........ 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  2  0
Padres.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  1 0    -  1  2  0
Win:Norman(5-4) Loss:Brett(3-1)
Homeruns- N.Colbert(9th)
 
Fred Norman took a no-hitter into the 7th inning at San Diego Stadium where
the San Diego Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1 to 0.
 
Norman(5-4) was simply too much for the Philadelphia batters.  He gave up just
2 hits and 3 walks in 9 innings.  Norman racked up 10 strikeouts lowering his
ERA from 2.90 to 2.58.  The left-handed Norman lost his no-hit bid when Greg
Luzinski doubled with nobody out in the 7th inning.  Philadelphia proved to
be no trouble in the 9th.  
 
Ken Brett(3-1) was the losing pitcher.  He allowed just 2 hits and 1 walk in 8
innings.  Danny Ozark was upset after the game.  'I don't like to complain
but did you see that umpires strike zone?', he said.  'Maybe they ought to
start calling the strike zone the way it's printed in the rule book.'
 
 
CHICAGO AT CINCINNATI
Cubs............ 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  4  1
Reds............ 0 0 0  0 0 1  0 0    -  1  5  0
Win:Gullett(5-1) Loss:Reuschel(5-3)
 
Don Gullett went 9 solid innings and Bobby Tolan had 2 base hits as the
Cincinnati Reds bested the Chicago Cubs 1 to 0 at Riverfront Stadium.
 
The game's only run was scored in the 6th inning.  Cincinnati had only 5 hits
for the game.  It was the 2nd shutout of the year for Gullett(5-1). Rick
Reuschel(5-3) was tagged with the loss.  He surrendered 5 hits and 4 walks in
8 innings.  
 
Whitey Lockman was obviously impressed with the pitching of Gullett, 'That guy
made us look a little silly out there tonight.  We just couldn't get to him
at all - everything was working for him.  I just hope that he got that kinda
performance out of his system.'