Amazin' Date 4/20/1969: Mets Complete Sweep Over Cardinals

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #12: Sunday, April 20, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium

Mets Bats Strike Back; Lift Nolan Ryan to Victory

The Mets complete their first sweep of the season, albeit a two game set, and gain a measure of revenge against the defending N.L. champion St. Louis Cardinals.

But it was the Cardinals whom jumped out to an early lead off Mets starter Jim McAndrew.  Joe Torre connected on a two-run home run, and third baseman Mike Shannon delivered a run scoring double to left giving host St. Louis a 3-0 first inning lead.

McAndrew was relieved after three innings in favor of hard throwing Nolan Ryan.  After which the Mets bats were enlivened.  With an RBI double by Jerry Grote in the second, and a five run outburst in the fifth a home run by third baseman fill-in Kevin Collins, and RBI's from Ed Kranepool and Ron Swoboda, the Mets placed Ryan on the winning side of the equation.  Kranepool and Swoboda would again drive in another run apiece in the seventh inning.  And with the bases loaded in the ninth, Jerry Grote capped off the Mets scoring with a bases clearing double.

FINAL

Mets        11

Cardinals  3

Nolan Ryan picked up his first victory of the season, allowing no runs on just one hit and three walks, with four strikeouts.  Cal Koonce pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of Ryan for his third save of the season.

Mets Record:  5-7
N.L. East:  3rd; 5.5 BG