Amazin' Date 8/5/1969: Mets Split Twin Bill at Crosley Field

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Games # 104 & 105
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
Crosley Field

GAME ONE: Tuesday, August 5, 1969 - BR 

The Mets lose their second straight at Cincinnati, this time in the first game of Tuesday's twin bill at Crosley Field.  Cincy has the Mets playing catch-up all game scoring runs by pairs in the first, third, fifth, and seventh.  The Mets make it a 2-4 game in the top of the fourth on Art Shamsky's two run home run against starter Gary Nolan.  New York musters three more runs in the eighth on a run batted in from Cleon Jones and a pair of RBI from Wayne Garrett.  Reds reliever Clay Carroll would yield no more.  Starter Tom Seaver is roughed up for four earned runs on five hits, including home runs from catcher Bobby Tolan and Pete Rose, while walking two and fanning just one en rout to his seventh loss of the season.  It's Seaver's fourth loss in his last five decisions, and the second time in his last four starts that he's failed to pitch into the fourth inning.  Cal Koonce and Jack DiLauro fare no better joining to yield four earned runs on seven hits with one walk and a strikeout.  DiLauro surrenders Tony Perez' 28th home run in the seventh.  All told Perez is 2 for 3 on the day including a walk, double, three runs batted in, and a run scored.  Cleon Jones drives in his team leading 62nd run of the season.

GAME TWO: Tuesday, August 5, 1969 - BR 

Whatever it is Gil Hodges said to his team in between games of Tuesday's twin bill - we can only imagine - seems to have worked.  Lest we forget his calculated removal of Cleon Jones from left field during the recent Houston series at Shea.  For the Mets roll towards a 10-1 victory over host Cincinnati in the nightcap.  Getting the start Nolan Ryan goes the distance allowing just one earned runs on seven hits and just two walks with seven strikeouts en rout to his fourth victory of the season.  The Mets get home runs from Donn Clendenon in the third and Tommie Agee in the fifth.  Jerry Grote, Bobby Pheil, Ron Swoboda, Cleon Jones, and even Nolan Ryan all drive in runs for the Mets.

However, net result of the day is the Mets fall another half-game behind the Cubs.  They've now lost 4.5 games in the standings since July 9 when they closed to within 3.5 games of first.

• Mets Record: 59-46 (.562)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB