Mets Use 4-Run Ninth to Stun Phillies on Opening Night
Philadelphia-- Phillies fans booed reliever Jack Baldschun off the mound in the ninth inning of last night's baseball opener at Connie Mack Stadium.
"I would have booed me too," Baldschun said afterward.
The third-year New York Mets went over .500 for the first time in their short history, scoring four runs in the ninth inning, turning a 2-1 deficit into a stunning 5-2 win.
Baldschun, who entered the ninth in relief of starter Dennis Bennett, was charged with all four runs before leaving under a rain of boos.
Leading off the ninth, the Mets' Hawk Taylor walked. Joe Christopher doubled Taylor to third. After a shallow fly ball by Rod Kanehl failed to score Taylor, Phillies manager Gene Mauch elected to intentionally walk 19-year-old pinch-hitter Ed Kranepool, loading the bases.
That's when Baldschun, already struggling, surrendered a double to Dick Smith, which plated Taylor and Christopher and sent Kranepool to third, nudging the Mets ahead, 3-2. The booing began in earnest at that point.
Baldschun struck out Amado Samuel, but Ron Hunt, hitless during the game, stroked a two-run single into right field, completing the Mets' stunning four-run rally.
At that point, Baldschun was lifted by Mauch and the pitcher was booed by the announced crowd of 21,016 from the moment he left the mound until he disappeared into the dugout.
Jack Baldschun was roughed up by Mets on Opening Night
The Phillies stirred in their half of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs against reliever Larry Bearnarth, but Tony Gonzalez grounded out to second to end the rally and the game.
"Well, I'll be a son of a gun," Mets manager Casey Stengel said after the game. "We looked dead. Give my boys some credit."
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Mets record: 1-0, 1.000 (Last 10: 1-0; streak: W-1); Actual: 0-1
Home: 0-0; Away: 1-0
Runs scored: 5
Runs against: 2
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