Amazin' Date 7/18/1969: Koosman Goes Distance in Victory Over Expos

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #89: Friday, July 18, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry

With the Mets making their second visit to Parc Jarry, game one pits Jerry Koosman against Montreal's Jerry Roberston.  Art Shamsky opens the scoring in the fourth with his eighth home run of the season.  Expos center fielder Adolfo Phillips returns the favor in the bottom half of the frame when he connects off Koosman with a runner on.  Undeterred, the Mets score twice more in the fifth; Art Shamsky draws a bases loaded walk, and Wayne Garrett's base hit scores Ken Boswell.  However Cleon Jones is thrown out at home in his attempt to score.  Jerry Grote caps off the scoring in the eighth with his second home run of the season.  Jerry Koosman goes the distance, yielding two runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.  He improves to 8-5 on the season with a stellar 1.88 ERA.

With Friday's series opening victory over the Montreal Expos, the Mets win their fourth in a row, and their twelfth game in their last 15 games.  Unfortunately they failed to gain ground on the Cubs whom defeated the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.

• Mets Record: 52-37 (.584)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4 GB