Amazin' Date 5/31/1969: Ed Charles Stars in Mets Victory Over Giants

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #44: Saturday, May 31,1969 - BR
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Gentry and The Glider Lead Mets in Game Two Victory at Shea

For a fourth time this season, the Mets are winners of three in a row.  On Saturday, they emerged victorious for a second straight game over the visiting San Francisco Giants.

The rookie Gary Gentry climbed the hill at Shea Stadium and was opposed by the wily Gaylord Perry.  All remained quiet through their first respective turns through the line-up.  In the fourth, Willie McCover broke the silence with a long two run home run off Gentry.  But the Mets promptly struck back in the bottom half of the frame.  With two outs, Ed Kranepool singled, and Ron Swoboda followed with a walk.  Ed Charles then connected off Perry on a three run home run.  Charles would provide the Mets with an insurance run in the eighth, plating Wayne Garrett with a one-out base hit to left/center for a 4-2 Mets lead, and ultimate margin of victory.

Gary Gentry evened his record at 4-4 on the season, allowing San Francisco two runs on five hits and three walks, with six strikeouts through seven innings of work.  Tug McGraw pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts en route to his first save of the season.

• Mets Record:  21-23
• N.L. East:  3rd; 9 GB