Bobby Bonds wins in 13th for San Francisco Giants in look-back

On August 11th, 1973, the San Francisco Giants defeated the New York Mets, 8-7, when Bobby Bonds connected in the bottom of the thirteenth, with his third hit of the day, a bases-loaded single that sent the Giants home winners.

The Giants’ lineup featured Garry Maddox (CF) leading off, Tito Fuentes (2B), Ed Goodson (3B), Bobby Bonds (RF) batting cleanup, Gary Matthews (LF), Chris Speir (SS), Gary Thomasson (1B), Mike Sadek (C) and pitcher Tom Bradley.  

The Mets lineup included Felix Millan at second base Rusty Staub in right field, Cleon Jones in left field, Ron Hodges at catcher, Don Hahn in center field, George Stone pitching and was managed by the venerable Yogi Berra.

After Don Hahn led off the game for the Mets with his first home run of the season, the Giants came roaring back in the bottom of the first with six runs, on a three-run home run by Bobby Bonds, an RBI-single by Tom Bradley and an error by third baseman Wayne Garrett, which allowed two runner to score unearned runs.

Unfortunately, six runs were not enough as the Mets scored a third-inning run and added four more in the fifth to tie the game at six, three of them coming on a John Milner home run.  The Giants retook the lead in the seventh when Bonds tripled and scored on a groundout by Matthews, but the Mets tied it again when Chris Speier committed an error in the ninth, allowing Tom Seaver, who was pinch-running for Ed Kranepool, to score the tying run.

Then, in the bottom of the thirteenth, with the bases jammed, Bobby Bonds ended it with a single to left field, with Gary Matthews scoring and everyone gong home.

There were some notable moments in this game including Willie Mays making a pinch-hit appearance and starting the ninth-inning rally by doubling for the New York Mets!  Mays was thrown out at the plate trying to score on an infield single by Ed Kranepool, with Kranepool ending up at second base.  And how about pitcher Tom Seaver pinch-running in the ninth?  Would that be as likely to occur today, taking a chance with your best pitcher, by having him run the bases for another player?

I did not watch this game, nor did I listen to it because I was seven thousand miles away, manning a typewriter for the 199th Personnel Service Company, while serving in the US Army in The Republic of South Korea.  

Though the Mets lost to the Giants on this date in Giants History, New York would go on to the World Series that year, losing in seven to the Athletics.