Amazin' Date 8/9/1969: Seaver Edges Out Braves for Victory Number Sixteen

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

Game #109:  Saturday, August 9, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Stadium

On the strength of Tom Seaver's right arm and a 13 hit attack the Mets take game three of their weekend series at Atlanta.  New York jumps out to a 3-0 lead in the third on a home run from Tommy Agee and Wayne Garrett's two RBI single plating Bobby Pheil and Cleon Jones.  In the bottom half of the frame the Mets are reminded whom exactly they're up against when both Hank Aaron and Orlando Cepeda connect on back-to-back home runs off Seaver.  Atlanta then ties the game in the fourth when Seaver's throwing error permits Hank Aaron to score all the way from first.  But Seaver makes up for his misplay with a lead-off base hit in the top of the seventh, then scoring via Cleon Jones' base hit to left.  The Mets pick up an insurance run in the eighth when Braves reliever Paul Doyle issues Ron Swoboda a bases loaded walks en rout to a 5-3 final score. Tom Seaver improves to 16-7 on the season with a 2.66 ERA.  He yields three runs, two earned, on six hits and five walks with three strikeouts through 7.1 innings pitched.  Cal Koonce picks up his seventh save with 1.2 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with a strikeout for his seventh save of the season.  Tommie Agee is 3 for 4 with with a RBI and run scored.  Jones is 2 for 3 with two walks and a double, and a run scored.  Cleon Jones drives home his team leading 65th RBI of the season.

• Mets Record: 61-48
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8.5 games back