Remembering Mets History: (1978) Bobby Valentine Drives In Mets Winning Runs

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Tuesday April 18th 1978: This one is a blast from the past to honor Bobby Valentine as  a player. Remembering a game winning hit he had in the late seventies having his moment in the sun......

Early on in this season the Joe Torre's New York Mets (7-5) were in first place as they visited St. Louis to play Vern Rapp's Cardinals (5-6). A small crowd of 5,728 showed up at Bush Stadium to see the Mets Mike Bruhert go against Eric Rasmussen.

Starting Lineups

New York Mets       St. Louis Cardinals
1Lenny Randle3B1Jim DwyerRF
2Doug Flynn2B2Garry TempletonSS
3Bruce BoisclairRF3Jerry MoralesCF
4Steve HendersonLF4Ted SimmonsC
5Willie Montanez1B5Keith Hernandez1B
6Lee MazzilliCF6Ken Reitz3B
7John StearnsC7Dane IorgLF
8Tim FoliSS8Mike Tyson2B
9Mike BruhertP9Eric RasmussenP

The Cards struck first as the pitcher Eric Rasmussen singled & moved on to second after a base hit by Jim Dwyer. Gary Templeton then doubled him in making it 1-0.

In the top of the 5th, Willie Montanez singled for the Mets & went to third on Lee Mazzilli's double. Then Tim Foli grounded out to short but Montanez did score to tie it up. The game stayed that way until the 7th inning.

Montanez doubled to left field with one out. Mazzilli walked & with two outs pinch hitter Ed Kranepool was walked intentionally. With the pitcher Bruhert due up, Joe Torre sent Bobby Valentine in to pinch hit. Valentine doubled to left field bringing in both runners putting the Mets ahead for good 3-1. His hit was the game winner, the only one Valentine had as a Mets player.

The Cards scored a run on reliever Skip Lockwood but he notched a save & Bruhert got the win as the Mets won their third straight. The rest of the season did not go so well.

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