New York-- The New York Mets were one out away from christening new Shea Stadium the right way. Then everything came apart.
Donn Clendenon muscled a single into right field with two outs in the ninth to tie the game, his third hit of the day, and the Pittsburgh Pirates added four more runs in a horrific six-run frame to overcome the Mets, 8-5, in the Mets' first game in brand new Shea Stadium.
Leading 4-2 going into the ninth, Mets manager Casey Stengel pulled starter Jack Fisher after two one-out singles and a stolen base produced a run.
Reliever Bill Wakefield retired Willie Stargell, leaving Roberto Clemente on second base and edging the Mets (1-2) closer to their second win of the young season.
But Clendenon, who also tripled and homered, came through with his single, and Wakefield surrendered two more singles and a three-run home run by Jim Pagliaroni to blow the game open for the Bucs.
Clendenon had a single, a triple, and a home run to lead the Bucs' attack
It looked like the Mets were going to send the sellout crowd of 50,312 home happy, thanks to a three-run uprising in the sixth that gave them a 4-2 lead. The rally's floodgates were opened after a two-out error by shortstop Dick Schofield was followed by a run-scoring single by Frank Thomas and a two-run single by Jim Hickman.
Hickman also hit a solo homer in the ninth to provide the final margin of victory for the Pirates.
"Well, we had a ninth inning rally in Philadelphia," Stengel said of his team's win on opening night. "I guess it was our turn to suffer one."
Stengel lamented the fact that the Mets couldn't deliver the win in such a historic game.
"We were close," he said. "We just couldn't close the deal. I hope the fans forgive us and come watch the 'Amazin' Mets' tomorrow."
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Mets record: 1-2, .333 (Last 10: 1-2; streak: L-2); Actual: 0-3
Home: 0-1; Away: 1-1
Runs scored: 10
Runs against: 14
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