Amazin' Date 6/22/1969: Packed Shea Crowd Treated to Twin Bill Sweep Over Redbirds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #63: Sunday, June 22, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/GAME ONE

Gary Gentry's strong performance on the front end of Sunday's double-header gets the Mets back in the win column.  Making his 14th start of the season the Mets impressive rookie limits the Cardinals to just one earned run on six scattered hits and four walks with six strikeouts through 8.1 innings pitched.

Ironically St. Louis opens the scoring in the first inning.  Lou Brock leads off the game with a base hit, and soon scores on Joe Torre's two out single to left.  After which Gentry would hold the Cardinals to just four hits the rest of the way.

The Mets on the other hand treat St. Louis starter Steve Carlton rather rudely, bullying him for five runs on eight hits in just 3.1 innings pitched.  Hits from Cleon Jones and Donn Clendenon in the third stake Gentry to a 2-1 lead.  In the fourth Bud Harrelson drives in the Mets third run, and Tommie Agee drives in two more giving the Mets a 5-1 lead and final margin of victory.  Donn Clendenon drives in his first run as a member of the Mets.  Meanwhile the top three hitter's in the line-up (Harrelson, Agee, Jones) join to go 8 for 12 with four runs batted in and three runs scored.

Gary Gentry improves his record to 7-5 and lowers his ERA back down to a 3.21 mark.


Game #64: Sunday, June 22, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/GAME TWO

The largest crowd in attendance at Shea Stadium this season is not only treated to a double-header sweep and series victory over the Cardinals.  Fan witness another near masterpiece authored by Jerry Koosman.  Game two fast evolves into a classic pitcher's duel.  Both Koosman and Cardinals starter Mike Torrez trade zeroes through the first six innings until the Amazins finally break through in the home seventh.  With two outs Buddy Harrelson triples into the right/center gap.  Next up, Tommie Agee's double into the opposite gap sends Harrelson trotting home with the game's only run.

Mike Torrez lasts seven innings allowing the one run on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts.  He falls to 1-4 on the season.  Jerry Koosman improves to 5-4 and further shaves his ERA to a stingy 1.42 mark.

The second place Mets are now a franchise all-time best eight games above the .500 mark, and with Sunday's pair of victories close to within five games of the N.L. East leading Cubs whom sport a league best 43-25 record.

• Mets Record: 36-28 (.562)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 5 GB