Expos take 2 of 3 from Amazin's at Big Shea

10/2/1981 - Shea Stadium
Burris (3-4, 3.90) vs R.Jones (1-8, 7.99)
Expos 5, Mets 4

After 3 shutout innings Randy Jones reverted back to the losing ways, which he has exhibited all season for the Amazin's.  Jones, the 1976 NL Cy Young Award Winner, has fallen on had times since he was the top hurler in the NL just 5 short years before.  Montreal's "big 4th innings" was aided by 3 walks issued by Jones along with an RBI single from Warren Cromartie and a RBI double from Elis Valentine, who is doing double duty today by performing for both squads.  Andre Dawson, who is vying for the NL MVP Award, singled home Rodney Scott, who walked and stole second with 2 out to make it 4-1 Expos.  Knowing that Montreal's pen is at best suspect Dawson launched a solo shot in the 8th, his 21st of the season, to give the Expos what would turn out to be a very much needed insurance run.  With the Amazin's rallying for 3 big runs in the bottom of the 8th, thanks to Burris tiring and reliever Elias Sosa's generosity, we now had a 1 run game.  A bases clearing double by "double duty" Ellis Valentine , off of Sosa made the 5,000 fans in Flushing leap to their seat.  Some were actually already up off their seats and heading to the parking lot.  Those that weren't hung tight.  After the Expos went quietly in the top of the 9th closer Jeff Reardon, also doing double duty, came on to close it out.  After the first 2 Met batter went easily, young Hubie Brooks a September call up, strode to the plate.  Reardon, not having a book on Brooks, decided to test the youngster with off speed stuff.  Reardon hung a curve that Brooks hit deep into the right center gap that none other than Ellis Valentine caught against the 8 foot blue wall, to end the game.

10/3/1981
Rogers (6-3, 2.79) vs Zachry (2-4, 3.00)
Expos 4, Mets 2

Once again the Amazin's perpetrated a comeback that was too little and too late.  For 8 strong innings Expo ace, Steve Rogers, blanked New York.  Entering the 9th the hope was to get 1 more inning out of Rogers, who was in search of the complete game shutout.  This hope was a pipe dream considering that Rogers labored through the 8th inning, but got out of a bases loaded jam by getting Mazzilli to fly out to center.  After walking slugger Dave Kingman to lead off the 9th, Rogers gave up a clean single to "The Dude" John Stearns.  Frank Taveras grounded out back to the box for the first out.  Ellis Valentine, who was not pulling double duty today, lined a single up the middle past his former teammate (Rogers) to plate "Kong" and the "Dude" to make it a 4-2 ball game.  With the shutout now gone, Rogers was lifted from the game in favor of former Met Reardon, who got Doug Flynn to ground into a 6-3 DP to end the game.  Reardon notched his 10th save of the season.  Montreal's offense, which built a 4-0 lead for Rogers was paced by "the Rock" Tim Raines going 2 for 4 and stealing his 21st and 2nd bases.  Raines scored 2 runs on the day and was knocked in both time by "The Hawk" Andre Dawson who had 3 RBI's and his league leading 22nd homer.

10/4/1981
Lea (3-5, 5.16) vs Scott (5-2, 2.97)

Mets 4, Expos 2

Both teams were anxious to get this one done quickly.  Call this a classic "getaway day" season finale.  Montreal served up sacrificial lamb Charlie Lea, who gave up 4 runs in just over 4 innings of quick work.  Mike Scott, who has been the anchor of the Mets rotation this season, gave up just 1 run as he exited with 2 out in the 6th.  Craig Swan, who has been trying to fight against career ending injuries turned the clock back and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to bridge the gap from Scott to closer Neil Allen.  New York's up and down close was up today as evidenced by his perfect 9th inning, which afforded him his 10th save of the season.  Montreal had a 2-1 lead after 4 1/2 innings of play.  The Amazin's had another breakout inning (5th), where they scored 3 runs to double up the Expos 4-2.  Lee Mazzilli's RBI double scored the man who has supplanted the Brooklyn native in centerfield (Mookie Wilson).  Kong hit a high fly to left that got lost in the clouds, but eventually wound up in Raines' glove on the warning track.  That long fly ball was more than enough to score Brooks from third to make it 3-2.  Frank Taveras' rare two out hit, a double to right center, scored Maz to make it 4-2.