Some Notes on two Mets Games in which They Lost Despite Leading by 6 Runs at Home

Yesterday the San Diego Padres overcame a (7-1) deficit and beat the New York Mets at the Mets’ home Citi Field.

Justin Upton’s three run home run transformed a (7-5) Mets’ lead into an (8-7) “S.D.” lead and eventual victory.

Gary Cohen, who passes my difficult test for broadcasting excellence with flying colors, told the audience it was just the third time in Mets’ franchise history they lost a home game in which they led by as many as six runs, the last time being in 1970. It was also only the second time that they have lost after ahead by six runs in the seventh inning or later.

As with shows going to the next one with credits flashed too fast and small, it was infuriating to me that Cohen did not tell us about the 1970 game, at least.

A wise man once talked of this type thing being easy to research on the all encompassing internet. True for TV shows, this a bit more difficult, but I found the 1970 game in which the Mets led by 6 runs or more and lost was on August 26th of that year vs the Atlanta Braves.

Some notes: Both yesterday and in 1970, the Mets dissipated a (7-1) lead and an opposition 9th inning homer put the road team ahead to stay. Each time the opposing relief pitcher hurled a perfect bottom of the ninth to preserve the win.

A good player, Justin Upton beat the Mets yesterday with a ninth inning home run but it was an all time great, Hank Aaron whose two run home run off Gary Gentry, normally a starter, who was hurling in relief, that put Atlanta ahead to stay in 1970. Craig Kimbrel a renowned relief specialist pitched for San Diego yesterday, far less known Bob Priddy pitched the ninth inning for Atlanta in 1970.

As for the other such Mets’ loss; I will play the part of my parents, “you look it up.”

Hank Aaron 1970 Baseball Card