[hvs1717]

After the opening day loss the Mets got very solid pitching to win 3 of the next 4, only dropping a 4-3 loss at home against the Cubs.

Apr 11, 1980 - New York (N) 2, Chicago (N) 1
Pete Falcone was brilliant in his first start of the season. He only allowed 2 hits over 7 innings of work. He struck out 8 and walked 3. Jeff Reardon pitched the final two innings and wasn't much sharper than Neil Allen was on opening night but he managed to get the save with the tying run on base.

Apr 12, 1980 - Chicago (N) 4, New York (N) 3
New York blew a 3-0 lead, giving up 2 runs in both the 6th and 7th innings to drop to 1-2 on the season. Craig Swan gutted out 6 strong innings giving up only two runs even though he walked 8 batters and gave up 11 base runners total. Roy Lee Jackson came in and immediately gave up the lead with 2 runs in the 7th. Neil Allen at least came in and pitched a better 9th but still walked a batter.

Apr 13, 1980 - New York (N) 10, Chicago (N) 1
New York jumped all over Dennis Lamp from the first batter scoring 5 and sending 10 men to the plate in the first and 2 more runs in the second. The 7-1lead made sure there was no comeback this time. Mark Bomback threw a complete game 3 hitter in his major league debut striking 8 and walking 1. John Stearns drove in 4 runs while going 3 for 4 on the day. Joel Youngblood hit his first HR of the season and drove in 3 runs. And Doug Flynn making his first start of the season drove in 3 runs.

Apr 15, 1980 - New York (N) 5, Montreal 1
Pat Zachry had his second strong start of the season giving up 1 run and 8 hits over 7 innings. Ray Burris and Jeff Reardon closed it out with perfect 8th and 9th innings. Elliott Maddox hit his first home run of the season while driving in two run and rookie 2B Wally Backman went 3 for 4 with a run scored.

Unfortunately that was the last thing to go right for us for awhile as we only win one more game for the rest of April losing the next 9 games and 11 out of 12 to finish the month with 4 wins and 13 losses.

April 27, 1980 - New York (N) 1, Houston 0
In the one win , Craig Swan out dueled Nolan Ryan throwing a complete game shutout on the road in the Astrodome. Swan allowed 3 hits while striking out 6 and walking none. Steve Henderson staked Swanny to a 1-0 lead with first inning triple driving in rookie Wally Backman. It was the only mistake Ryan made but it was the difference in the game as the Mets won 1-0.