Ultimate Mets Database: Game of May 5, 1970

Feat Fan
July 4, 2004
We went to this one, it was a weeknight game. Some of my favorite baseball names were part of this one.

I remember filling in the scoresheet names like Von Joshua, Sandy Vance, Billy Grabarkewitz, Bill Sudakis, Andy Kosco, Joe Foy and Nolan Ryan.

For some reason, the speedy young Dodger leadoff hitter, Joshua impressed us. Might have been a nice running catch or a baserunning deal but this game and his play stayed with me.

Joshua put together a few good years and was a similar but not as good version of another great sounding name, Al Bumbry!

But,say hey, What's In A Name?

Dave VW
October 3, 2024
This game took place 10 years prior to my existence, so I hadn't heard of almost any of the players that started for the Dodgers on this day. The only one that rang a bell was Maury Wills. The lineup was really a hodgepodge of youngsters and journeymen, but they found a way to win 87 games in 1970, not to mention score 4 times off Nolan Ryan and beat him for the second time in 10 days.

Ryan gave up more hits in this game (8) than he had in his first three starts combined (6). It didn't seem like he had his best stuff, as he allowed 4 doubles and only struck out 5 over 7 innings, with his last strikeout coming in the 4th inning. He didn't strike out any of the final 17 batters he faced.

Despite allowing 2 runs in the 6th and ending the inning at over 120 pitches, Ryan stayed in to pitch the 7th. He allowed 2 more to score before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. I know this was a different time, but in hindsight the management of the pitching staff back in the day is a constant source of consternation for someone like me. I just can't get over the laissez-faire attitude managers had for their starting pitching.

It was the combination of Sandy Vance and Fred Norman who shutout the Mets. Norman went the final 4 to pick up his only save of the season. To this point the Mets had been goose-egged three times in 1970, all at the hands of Dodger pitching.

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