Amazin' Date 6/3/1969: Tom Seaver Hurls Mets to Second Straight Win Over Dodgers

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #47:  Tuesday, June 3, 1969 - BR
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets Climb Above .500 and Into Second Place of National League East

The Amazins' hit the trifecta on Tuesday at Shea Stadium.  On the strength of Tom Seaver's right arm, the Mets not only take their second straight from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and extend their winning streak to six games, but the game marks the first time they've risen above .500 this deep into the regular season for the first time in their now eight year existence.

Seaver was staked to a 4-0 lead after six, with all runs coming off Dodgers starter Alan Foster whom yielded five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over a seven inning losing effort.  Ed Kranepool connected on his fourth home run of the season in the fifth.  And with two outs in the sixth, Wayne Garrett singled, then scored when Cleon Jones tripled to right.  Next in, Ed Kranepool promptly followed with his second home run of the game off Foster.

Right fielder Andy Kosco cut the Dodgers deficit by half in the seventh with a two run home run off Seaver.  But the Mets recouped a run in the bottom half of the frame, when, with Ed Kranepool at the plate Wayne Garrett stole home for a 5-2 Mets lead an ultimate final margin of victory.

Tom Seaver improved his record to 8-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to a 2.51 mark, yielding two earned runs on a mere three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.  Tug McGraw, fast emerging as manager Gil Hodges go-to-guy out of the bullpen, pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.

Despite their win streak and resulting ascension into second place for the first time this season, the Mets still continue having trouble gaining ground on the division leading Cubs who presently are in the midst of their own five game winning streak, and thus still hold an 8.5 game lead over the Mets.  The Cubs posted a 16-9 record in May whereas the Mets at least played up to par with a 12-12 record.

• Mets Record:  24-23 (.510)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 8.5 GB