Amazin' Date 7/6/1969: Mets Sweep Pirates Series at Forbes Field

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #79: Sunday, July 6, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Forbes Field

After a day off, the Mets pick up where they leave off on Friday.  Donn Clendenon opens the scoring with a first inning double scoring Bobby Pheil.  However, the Mets find themselves trailing 6-1 after two innings of play.  Starter Jim McAndrew can not pitch out of the first upon surrendering four runs on Roberto Clemente's RBI, and three run home run from catcher Jerry May.  Clemente drives in another two runs in the second.

The Mets comeback commences in the fourth with runs batted in from Jerry Grote and Ron Swoboda.  Ed Charles then homers off Pirates starter Luke Walker in the fifth.  An inning later Cleon Jones knocks in his 51st run of the season, and Donn Clendenin follows with a big three run home run off Bucs reliever Chuck Hartenstein giving the Mets an 8-6 lead.  Cal Koonce yields a run in the bottom half of the sixth but otherwise yields just three hits and no walks with six strikeouts over the final four innings of play.  Ron Taylor is credited with the victory, and Koonce earns his sixth save.

With Sunday's 8-7 victory the Mets complete a three game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field.  They outscore the heavy hitting Bucs through three games by a 28-15 margin.  The Mets are now winners of five in a row and close out the road trip with a 6-2 record.

The Mets are heading home where they'll face the first place Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium.

• Mets Record: 45-34
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5.5 GB