Saturday, May 11, 2019

Amazin' Date 10/11/1969: Sunday Split Give Mets Series Victory Over Houston

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
AMAZIN'
THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Houston Astros @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium: Double-Header

Houston's Larry Dierker Hushes Shea Stadium Crowd

GAME ONE: Don Cardwell climbed the hill for his sixth start of the season, and was opposed by Houston's Larry Dierker.  Both pitchers appeared sharp during their first respective runs through the lineup.

Houston then achieved liftoff in the fourth and never looked back.  Leading off, Joe Morgan reached safely on Wayne Garrett's error, then promptly stole second base and scored on Norm Miller's single up the middle.  Still with no outs, big Jim Wynn connected off Cardwell for his seventh home run of the season.  With one out, shortstop Denis Menke doubled into the left/center gap, then scored on a fielder's choice for a 4-0 Astros lead.

FINAL
Astros  4
Mets     1

Tommie Agee ruined Larry Dierker's shutout bid when he connected on his fourth home run of the season in the sixth.  But the Mets would score no more.  They failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in the eighth and went down in order in the ninth.  

Dierker improved his record to 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA.  He yielded just the one run on five hits and five walks with a pair of strikeouts.  Don Cardwell, now 1-5 on the season, allowed four runs but only two earned on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  He was also struck by a Larry Dierker pitch in the third.


Houston Astros @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium: Double-Header

Tommie Agee Hits Pair; Mets Win Rubber Game

GAME TWO: Mets bats erupted for twelve hits, with seven going for extra bases in Sunday's game two rubber match at Shea.

After Houston struck for an unearned run in the top of the first, the Mets answered right back against Astros starter Don Wilson and reliever Jim Rey.  Hits from Ken Boswell, J.C. Martin, Amos Otis, and a double from starter Tug McGraw, aided by an array of errors and a wild pitch paved the way to a 6-1 first inning lead.

Jesus Alou's RBI double in the second and Denis Menke's home run in the third cut Houston's deficit to three.  That is ... until Tommie Agee's two run home run in the fourth.  But with long ball in the air, Joe Morgan connected off Mcgraw with a solo shot leading off the 5th making it 8-5 in the Mets favor.  J.C Martin drove in a run in the bottom of the frame.  Then in the sixth, Tommie Agee's second home run of the game and an RBI from Ed Kranepool gave the Mets an 11-5 lead.  The Astros would go on to score a pair off Cal Koonce pitching in relief of Nolan Ryan and Tug McGraw.

FINAL
Astros  7
Mets   11

The Mets nevertheless gain a twin-bill split and series victory over Houston.

Tommie Agee's two home runs give him six for the season.  Two of his three RBI came with two outs.  Over his last four games, Tommie is 5 for 15 (.333) with three home runs.  Cleon Jones was 2 for 2 with four walks to maintain a .411 average.

  • Mets Record:  14-16
  • N.L. East:  3rd: 5.5 GB


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