1978 Hall of Fame Game

For the fifth time in the history of the annual Hall of Fame Game, rain cut the contest short, and the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers played six innings and finished in a 4-4 tie.

The Mets took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh when Bruce Bosclair hit a solo home run.

But when it began raining, the game was called and the score reverted to the last complete inning.

Designated hitter Milt May gave Detroit a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a solo home run, but the Mets would come back to tie it in the next inning when Tom Grieve hit a solo home run.

In the bottom of the third, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker walked for the Tigers, then May doubled, scoring Trammell.

Whitaker scored on a Jason Thompson single to give Detroit a two-run lead.

New York retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Ron Hodges drew a walk and Frank Pignatano singled, then Lenny Randle hit a three-run home run to put the Mets up 4-3.

May hit his second home run of the day to knot the score at four, and the game was called in the top of the seventh after a scoreless sixth inning.

Randle led all Mets hitters with two hits and three RBI, and May’s two home runs and RBI double accounted for three of the four Tigers runs.