August 21, 1973: Milner's Single in 9th Wins It

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Date: August 21, 1973

Mets starter: Ray Sadecki

Mets: 2

Dodgers: 1

Winning pitcher: Ray Sadecki

Key player(s): John Milner

Key play: Milner's single in 9th

The Mets played the Dodgers on a Tuesday night at Shea Stadium. The game went quickly as it lasted less than two hours. The result was a 2-1 Mets win on a run-scoring single by John Milner in the ninth inning.

Mets' starter Ray Sadecki held Los Angeles to four hits in pitching a complete game. A home run by Bill Russell in the top of the fifth inning was the only run against Ray. The Dodgers' Don Sutton faced the minimum 18 batters through the first six innings and shut down the Mets again in the seventh.

Milner walked to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning. Ed Kranepool followed with a single and Jerry Grote's sacrifice bunt advanced pinch-runner Bud Harrelson and Milner to second and third. Don Hahn hit a sacrifice fly to score Milner and tie the game at 1-1. Sutton then got Ted Martinez on a ground ball to end the inning.

After Sadecki pitched a perfect top of the ninth, Sutton walked Wayne Garrett with one out in the bottom half. Garrett moved to second on Felix Millan's ground out and Rusty Staub was intentionally walked. Milner then delivered a single to center field to bring home Garrett with the winning run. The Mets had come up with an exciting victory.