August 21, 1972: Beauchamp's Birthday Blasts

From The Met Wiki

Date: August 21, 1972

Mets starter: Jon Matlack

Mets: 4

Astros: 2

Winning pitcher: Jon Matlack

Key player(s): Jim Beauchamp

Key play: Beauchamp’s two home runs

On a Monday night, the Mets and Astros played the first game of a three-game series at Shea Stadium. The Mets won, 4-2, as Jon Matlack pitched a complete game for his 11th win of the year. Jim Beauchamp hit his first two home runs of the season on his 33rd birthday to lead the Mets to victory.

The game was tied, 1-1, after six innings. Ted Martinez got a single to lead off the third against Houston starter Jerry Reuss. Martinez stole second and scored on a single by Lute Barnes. The Astros tied it up on Cesar Cedeno’s home run off Matlack in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, Beauchamp homered off Reuss to put the Mets ahead, 2-1. The Astros responded in the eighth when Cedeno hit a double to bring home Roger Metzger from first base, tying the game. Matlack escaped further damage by getting Lee May to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Houston reliever Jim Ray pitched a scoreless eighth inning before walking John Milner with two out in the ninth. Beauchamp then came to bat and blasted his second home run of the game (and season) to win it for New York. It was the only two-homer game for the birthday-celebrating Beauchamp in his 10-year major league career.