Amazin' Date 4/27/1969: Cleon Jones Blast Sends Shea Crowd Home Happy

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #17: Sunday, April 27, 1969 - BR
Double Header: Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

GAME ONE: Cubs Make Mets Pay for Late Inning Mistakes; Take Third Straight at Shea Stadium.

A mere two outs away from certain victory, the Mets failed to close out the front end of Sunday's double-header against the first place Cubs and as a result paid the price.

The Mets staked starting pitcher Gary Gentry to an early 3-0 lead in the first on runs batted in by Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, and Ron Swoboda.  But Chicago struck back with a pair of runs in the third on a two RBI double off the bat of Ron Santo.  After surrendering consecutive hits to Don Kessinger and Glen Beckert leading off the fifth, left fielder Billy Williams plated the tying run on a fielder's choice.

Cubs starter Dick Selma was chased from the game in the bottom of the fifth.  Upon surrendering consecutive hits to Wayne Garrett and Ken Boswell, Cleon Jones sent Selma heading for the showers with an opposite field double scoring both runners.  Clones would advance to third on Kranepool's sac fly, then scored on Swododa's sac fly to center giving the Mets a 6-3 lead.

Gary Gentry exited the game on the winning side of a 6-3 game after pitching six full innings, while allowing three earned runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  He was lifted for a pinch hitter with one in the home sixth.

Enter Cal Koonce in relief of Gentry  After retiring his first five batters faced, he issued a two out walk to Randy Hundley in the eighth, then yielded Al Spangler's RBI double to left scoring Hundley to bring the Cubs within one.

FINAL

Cubs   8

Mets   6

With Cal Koonce still pitching in the top the ninth, Don Kessinger drew a lead-off walk.  Then with one out Billy William reached safely on an E4 charged to Wayne Garrett.  Next up, Ron Santo likewise reached safely on an E5 charged to Kevin Collins; Kessinger scored.  Ernie Banks followed with a single to score Williams.  Randy Hundley would then deliver the final blow with a three run home run off Koonce for an 8-6 Cubs lead, and ultimate final margin of victory.  Chicago's Phil Regan struck out the side in the ninth to close out the Mets and earn his fourth relief victory of the season.

Cal Koonce is charged with both his second blown save and second loss of the season.  Making an appearance on his throw day, Tom Seaver faced two batters in the ninth, walking one and fanning the other.  Koonce has now surrendered eleven runs (seven earned) on nine hits and 13 walks in 10.1 innings for a 6.10 ERA through seven appearances to date.


Game #18: Sunday, April 27, 1969 - BR
Game Two: Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Game Two: Cleon Jones Ninth Inning Home Run Sends Shea Stadium Crown Home Happy; Mets Gain Split of Twinbill.

After losing game one in heartbreaking fashion, the Met orchestrated a most thrilling game two finish to at least send the Shea Stadium crowd of over 37,000 smiling all the way home.

Making his fifth start of the season, sophomore starter Jim McAndrew toed the rubber in Sunday's series finale, and was opposed by Chicago's Rich Nye.  For the first five innings the two dueled through a scoreless tie.

McAndrew's counterpart reached safely leading off the top of the sixth on an E4 charged to Ken Boswell (his eighth of the season).  When Don Kessinger followed with a sharp hit to right, Manager Hodges turned to his bullpen with haste.  Tug Mcgraw would pitch four scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six.

Rich Nye continued pressing on for the Cubs, and continued shutting out the Mets through eight full innings.  Leading off the ninth, however, Rod Gaspar would make it safely to second on an untimely error by Billy Williams.  From the dugout, Leo Durocher then ordered Ken Boswell be given an intentional pass.  Next up, Ed Charles was retired on a pop foul behind third base.  Then in stepped the red hot Cleon Jones who is presently hitting above the.400 mark.  Yet Leo made no move from the Cubs dugout.  And so with one out and the double play in order, Rich Nye served, and Cleon Jones volleyed Nye's pitch over the left field wall for a three run home run to end the game in most dramatic fashion.

FINAL

Cubs   0

Mets   3

Tommie Agee appeared as a pinch hitter with one out in the eighth.  It marked his first game back since last playing ten days ago against the Pirates.  Cleon Jones continues his hot hitting, going 2 for 4, with three RBI.  He is now batting .443 for the season.