April 11, 1971: Grote Homers in 11th

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Date: April 11, 1971

Mets starter: Tom Seaver

Mets: 1

Reds: 0

Winning pitcher: Tug McGraw

Key player(s): Jerry Grote, Tom Seaver

Key play: Grote's home run

The Mets and Reds faced each other on a Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The teams had a scoreless battle that went into extra innings. Jerry Grote hit a home run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Mets a 1-0 win over Cincinnati.

Mets' starter Tom Seaver pitched five-hit shutout ball through the first nine innings of the game. Seaver recorded ten strikeouts and two double play grounders in keeping the defending National League Champions from scoring. For Cincinnati, starter Greg Garrett shut down the Mets on three hits for five innings and Milt Wilcox fanned Seaver with the bases loaded to end the sixth. Reds' reliever Clay Carroll pitched three scoreless innings from the seventh to the ninth. In the tenth, Tug McGraw and Cincinnati's Wayne Granger each hurled a scoreless inning of relief.

McGraw retired the Reds in order in the top of the 11th inning. In the bottom half, Grote came up to lead off against Granger. Jerry homered to end the game. The Mets had a dramatic victory.