Amazin' Date 7/24/1969: Reds Upend Mets in 12th Inning

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #93: Thursday, July 24, 1969 - BR
Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

The season's second half is officially underway with the Cincinnati Reds in town to play a four game weekend series at Shea Stadium.  Thursday's opener turned into a game of horse of sorts.  Starters Gary Gentry and Jim Merritt traded zeroes for the first five innings.  Then with one out in the sixth, big hitting center fielder Bobby Tolan connects off Gentry for his 18th home run of the season.  With one out in the bottom half of the frame, Donn Clendenon reciprocates with a home run off Merritt.  The Reds strike back two innings later.  Lee May's sac-fly to center scores Pete Rose from third for a 2-1 Reds lead.  However Cleon Jones answers back with a home run leading-off the bottom half of the eighth.  With two outs in the top of the ninth Reds manager Dave Bristol lets his starting pitcher bat.  Merritt rewards his manager's benevolence with a solo home run off Gentry giving himself a 3-2 lead.  But when Al Weis singles leading-off the bottom half of the frame Bristol calls in Wayne Granger from the bullpen.  Tommie Agee greets the Reds reliever with a come-backer but Granger's errant throw allows Weis to advance to third.  Art Shamsky follows with a ground ball to second but Weis is cut down at home; Agee advances to third.  Next in, Wayne Garrett's sac-fly to right scores Agee knotting the game at three.

Both Gentry and Merritt walk off with no decisions.  Gentry yields three runs, two earned, on seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.  Merritt allows three earned runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

Into the twelfth they go.  With Tug McGraw pitching in relief of Gentry slugger Tony Perez connects on his 23rd home run of the season.  The Mets this time have no answer against Pedro Ramos pitching the tenth in relief of Granger.  The Reds prevail by a 4-3 margin over the Mets.

• Mets Record: 53-40
• N.L. East: 2nd; 6 GB