Amazin' Date 6/15/1969: Mets Acquire Donn Clendenon From Expos

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #56: Sunday, June 15, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium

• NEWS: METS ACQUIRE FIRST BASEMAN DONN CLENDENON FROM MONTREAL EXPOS.  Clendenon has averaged 16 home runs over the last six seasons with a career high 28 home runs and 98 RBI in 1966 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The 33-year old appeared in 38 games in his first with the Expos, hitting .240 with four home runs and 14 RBI through 129 at-bats.  Gil Hodges is likely to utilize him in a first base platoon with lefty Ed Kranepool.  Outfielder Amos Otis was sent down to (AAA) Tidewater after Sunday's game against the Dodgers to make room for on the roster for Clendenon.

Mets Lose Rubber Game at Dodger Stadium: Fall Nine Games Back of Cubs

Los Angeles starter Don Drysdale pitched just well enough to turn back the Mets and help lead the Dodgers to victory in the rubber game of their series at Chavez Ravine.  He limited the New Yorkers to a pair of runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts through 5.2 innings pitched.  Jim Brewer arguably pitched better yielding but one hit through 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in relief of Drysdale.  Brewers effort earned his seventh save of the season.

Mets starter Jack DiLauro sustained his first loss of the season after allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout over six innings pitched.  Cal Koonce and Ron Taylor contributed two innings of scoreless relief.

The Mets scored their only two runs in the third on a sac-fly by Wayne Garrett and a RBI hit from Cleon Jones.  Tommie Agee was 3 for 4 with a run scored.  Right fielder Andy Kasko homered for the Dodgers in the second.  Two more runs in the fourth gave Los Angeles their ultimate 3-2 margin of victory.

• Mets Record:  30-26 (.535)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 9 GB