Remembering Mets History: (1971) Gary Gentry Tosses A One Hitter
The Mets sent 24-year-old Gary Gentry to the mound to face the Pirates Luke Walker.
Gentry was a fine young pitcher for the Mets starting out in the 1969 Championship season of his rookie year, going 13-12 with a 3.43 ERA. He earned the win the night the Mets clinched the NL East & was the winning pitcher in Game 33 of the World Series.
In New York, Gentry was pitching in the shadows of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman & Nolan Ryan.
Gentry would pitch four seasons for the Mets going 41-42 with a 3.56 ERA. He struck out 563 batters & walked 324 in 789 innings pitched in 131 appearances 9121 starts).
Gary Gentry started out the game getting Dave Cash to line out to Bob Aspromonte at third base. He then got two ground outs to end the inning. He started the 2nd inning off by striking out Willie Stargell then retired Al Oliver & Bob Robertson.
In the top of the 6th inning, Gentry got the first out then walked Ritchie Hebner. Next Roberto Clemente tripled to deep center field scoring Hebner. It was the first Pirate hit of the game & would be their only one. Clemente would score on Willie Stargell's sac fly putting the Pirates up 2-1.
In the bottom of the 8th, Tommie Agee led off & greeted new Pirate pitcher Nellie Briles with a HR giving the Mets a 4-2 lead with some insurance. Agee went 2-4 with a HR & an RBI. Cleon Jones then singled & stole second adding to his big day. He was actually caught off the base but Briles throwing error had him advance to third. Offensively Cleon Jones went 2-3 with a walk, HR, three RBIS & two runs scored.
Gentry was a fine young pitcher for the Mets starting out in the 1969 Championship season of his rookie year, going 13-12 with a 3.43 ERA. He earned the win the night the Mets clinched the NL East & was the winning pitcher in Game 33 of the World Series.
In New York, Gentry was pitching in the shadows of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman & Nolan Ryan.
Gentry would pitch four seasons for the Mets going 41-42 with a 3.56 ERA. He struck out 563 batters & walked 324 in 789 innings pitched in 131 appearances 9121 starts).
Gary Gentry started out the game getting Dave Cash to line out to Bob Aspromonte at third base. He then got two ground outs to end the inning. He started the 2nd inning off by striking out Willie Stargell then retired Al Oliver & Bob Robertson.In the top of the 3rd, his fastball lit up, as he struck out the side.
In the bottom of the inning the Mets gave him a bit of support. Jerry Grote drew a one out walk. After Gentry struck out, Tommie Agee & Bud Harrelson singled to load the bases. Luke Walker then walked Cleon Jones to force in a run.
In the top of the 4th, Gentry retired the side in order. In the 5th he got Willie Stargell to fly out to Agee for the first out. Gentry had retired the first 13 batters, then walked Al Oliver & hit Bob Robertson with a pitch. He then intentionally walked Jackie Hernandez to get to the pitcher Luke Walker. The strategy worked as he ended the inning striking out Walker.
In the top of the 6th inning, Gentry got the first out then walked Ritchie Hebner. Next Roberto Clemente tripled to deep center field scoring Hebner. It was the first Pirate hit of the game & would be their only one. Clemente would score on Willie Stargell's sac fly putting the Pirates up 2-1.
In the home 6th, Bud Harrelson drew a leadoff walk. Cleon Jones then connected with a two run HR putting the Mets back in front 3-2. It was Cleon's second HR of the season.
In the top of the 7th, Gentry got the side in order, striking out Manny Sanguillen for his sixth K of the day. In the top of the 8th, he retired pinch hitter Vic Davalillo & Dave Cash on ground balls to Bud Harrelson at short.
In the top of the 7th, Gentry got the side in order, striking out Manny Sanguillen for his sixth K of the day. In the top of the 8th, he retired pinch hitter Vic Davalillo & Dave Cash on ground balls to Bud Harrelson at short.
In the bottom of the 8th, Tommie Agee led off & greeted new Pirate pitcher Nellie Briles with a HR giving the Mets a 4-2 lead with some insurance. Agee went 2-4 with a HR & an RBI. Cleon Jones then singled & stole second adding to his big day. He was actually caught off the base but Briles throwing error had him advance to third. Offensively Cleon Jones went 2-3 with a walk, HR, three RBIS & two runs scored. The Pirates walked the young Ken Singleton to pitch to short time Mets third baseman Bob Aspromonte. But he added an RBI single to top off the 5-2 scoring.
In the 9th, Gentry got Roberto Clemente to ground out to second base. Willie Stargell popped up & Al Oliver popped up to Bud Harrelson to end the game.
Mets One Hitters: This was the seventh one hitter thrown by a Mets pitcher in team history. Gary Gentry had tossed the previous one hitter on May 13th 1970. Tom Seaver would throw a one hitter in September 1971 as well.
Gary Gentry went the distance, allowing two runs on one hit while striking out six Pirates & walking three. It was Gentry's first win of the year against two losses. He would go 12-11 on the season, second to Tom Seaver on the staff in wins.
Trivia: Gary Gentry ranks third (with Jon Matlack) for most career Mets One Hitters. First Tom Seaver (5) second David Cone (3) & third Gary Gentry & Jon Matlack (2).
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