Remembering Mets History: (1981) Pete Falcone HRs, Drives in Three Runs & Tosses A Shut Out

Tuesday September 29th, 1981: In the crazy year of the 1981 MLB Strike, the New York Mets were a bit better in the second half  of the year (24-28) than the first half (17-34). That year the season was divided by the strike as the half way point.

On this date, Joe Torre's Mets were in Philadelphia playing Dallas Green's Phillies in front of 20,110 at Veterans Stadium. The Mets Pete Falcone went up against Mark Davis. Since the strike Falcone, a local Brooklyn born, Italian American pitcher was 2-0 being used as a starter & reliever. Falcone had lowered his ERA at 3.03 & was pitching well. This was to be his best outing of the year & one of his best in his four years with the Mets.

Starting Lineups

	New York Mets				Philadelphia Phillies
1	Mookie Wilson	CF		1	Lonnie Smith	CF
2	Lee Mazzilli	LF		2	Pete Rose	1B
3	Hubie Brooks	3B		3	Gary Matthews	LF
4	Dave Kingman	1B		4	Mike Schmidt	3B
5	Ellis Valentine	RF		5	Keith Moreland	C
6	John Stearns	C		6	Dick Davis	RF
7	Doug Flynn	2B		7	Larry Bowa	SS
8	Ron Gardenhire	SS		8	Manny Trillo	2B
9	Pete Falcone	P		9	Mark Davis	P

Falcone allowed just four hits & two walks on the night, as no Phillies baserunner even reached second base. Falcone only struck out one batter on the night but kept the Phils in check recording 17 fly ball outs. On top of that Falcone had a great night at the plate too.

In the top of the 3rd inning he hit a solo HR, the only HR of his career in 416 at bats. Later in the 6th inning with New York already up 5-0, Falcone lined a single to right field with the bases loaded, scoring John Stearns & Doug Flynn.

Falcone drove in three of his season career high five RBIs that night. He bested his record to 4-3 & lowered his ERA to 2.71. Falcone was a pretty good pitcher on four years of worth of bad Mets teams.

The Mets offense supplied him with a total of nine runs, Falcone drove in three of them, also Dave Kingman hit his 22nd HR of the year. John Stearns & Ron Gardenhire supplied RBIs as well.