4/7/73: Here comes Mr. Lee, Pads stun Dodgers 2-1

Padre LF Leron Lee's 2-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th off Andy Messersmith gave the Padres a stunning 2-1 win over the Dodgers in front of a delirious San Diego Stadium crowd.

It was 1-0 Dodgers, with Messersmith firing a 1-hitter when the Padres made their dramatic rally. PH Dave Marshall took a called strike 3, then PH Fred Kendall slugged a double to center. Enzo Hernandez singled to center, Kendall holding at 3rd, then Johnny Grubb drew a walk from Messersmith, loading the bases. It was Messersmith's 5th walk of the game. Messersmith still had his shutout, so Alston left him in to pitch to Leron Lee. Lee was "W" power, the roll was on Messersmith's card, a 5-2 ballpark check home run which because of Lee's "W", became a go-ahead 2-run single.

Messersmith then gave way to righty reliever Charlie Hough, who got Nate Colbert to bounce into an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP. Fred Norman, who allowed an RBI single to Willie Crawford for the lone Dodger run and struck out 8 "Blue Boys," could only watch from the dugout as Vicente Romo came on in relief. Crawford bounced to Colbert at 1B to start the 9th, then Ken McMullen singled. Davey Lopes ran for McMullen and stole 2nd, but could only watch as Bill Russell bounced to 3rd and PH Von Joshua struck out swinging to end the thriller.

SDP (1-1) 2-4-0 LAD (1-1) 1-8-1 WP-Norman (1-0) LP-Messersmith (0-1) SV-Romo (1)  

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