Amazin' Date 6/28/1969: Bucs Extend Mets Skid to Four

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #70: Saturday, June 28, 1969 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets rookie Gary Gentry duels veteran and perhaps one day Hall of Famer Jim Bunning through seven innings during which each pitcher yields two runs.  Ed Kranepool opens the scoring with a home run in the second plating Cleon Jones for a 2-0 lead.  The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates strike back in the fourth.  With two outs, left fielder Jose Pagan doubles home Manny Sanguillen.  Then with Bill Mazeroski at the plate, Gentry unleashes a wild pitch permitting first baseman Al Oliver to score the tying run from third.

When Gentry walks Willie Stargell leading off the eighth manager Gil Hodges summons Tug McGraw from the bullpen.  After which Bunning becomes the beneficiary of a five run eighth, two of the unearned variety.  Ed Kranepool's error and another wild pitch unleashed by McGraw are contributing factors.

The Mets would rally for two runs in the ninth on a Cleon Jones home run and a run batted in from Al Weis, but ultimately fall short in a 7-4 final.  Gentry's sees his record fall to 7-6 with a 3.26 ERA.

The Pirates take their second straight at Shea and extend the Mets losing streak to four.  While still in second place the Mets have lost three games in the standings in their last four games.

• Mets Record:  38-32
• N.L. East:  2nd; 8 GB