The miracle march by the Mets ended in heartbreaking form, as the Pirates prevailed, 6-3, in 11 innings to win the NL East and move on to face the Reds for the '82 pennant.
Once again, the Mets clawed back from a hole but not before grabbing a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Pittsburgh responded with one in the second and two in the fourth on a great hunch by manager, who sent up pinch-hitter Orlando Gonzalez to replace SS Tim Foli, who had doubled in a run in his first at bat. Gonzalez did him one better, launching a two-run double over Kirk Gibson's head in center to give the Buccos a 3-1 advantage.
We got two back in the sixth on a RBI double from Jim Rice and Joe Carter's run-scoring single, evening the contest at 3-3.
In the 11th, Orel Hershiser simply ran out of gas. With two outs and the bases loaded, Tack Wilson - who the Pirates were shopping around hard at the trade deadline - proved his value with a bases-clearing double into the left field corner.
Game - and season - over. It was fun while it lasted.
