Amazin' Date 9/19/1969: Bucs Sweep Twin Bill at Shea Stadium

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

The Pittsburgh Pirates refuse to go down quietly evidenced by their double-header sweep over the Mets at Shea Stadium on Friday.  Despite entering the day in fourth place and twelve games out of first, they appear no less determined to impact this season's first ever chase for a N.L. East division flag.  In town for a five game weekend set, next week they play the Chicago Cubs in the penultimate series of the regular season at Forbes Field.

• GAME ONE: Friday, September 19, 1969 - BR

Starter Nolan Ryan is knocked out of the box with haste as Pittsburgh takes a 3-0 lead in the second.  With the bases loaded in the seventh reliever Cal Koonce strikes Willie Stargell with a pitch with the bases loaded forcing in Pittsburgh's fourth run.  Amos Otis finally gets New York on the board in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI hit through the middle.  But the Pirates pile on with two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth against Mets reliever Les Rohr.  Ken Boswell drives in the Mets second and last run of the game in the bottom half of the ninth making it an 8-2 final in favor of Pittsburgh.

• GAME TWO: Friday, September 19, 1969 - BR

In a make-up game dating back to April Pirates starter Luke Walker allows no runs on just six scattered hits and four walks with three strikeouts in a complete game shutout performance.  Mets pitchers yield another eight runs, seven by starter Jim McAndrew.  Making his 15th start of the season, McAndrew allows seven earned runs on eleven hits and one walks with five strikeouts though five innings pitched.  He is tagged with his seventh loss of the season against six victories with a 3.66 RA.  This marks Cleon Jones ninth game missing from the line-up.

The Chicago Cubs split a twin bill with the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley.  They gain one game on the Mets cutting their deficit to four.  Chicago has nine games left in their season, but New York still has eleven games left to play.

Advantage Mets.

• Mets Record: 91-60
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 4 Games Up