Amazin' Date 9/8/1969: Mets Defeat Cubs; Close In On First Place

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

 AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #138: Monday, September 8, 1969 - BR
Chicago Cubs @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

METS NOW JUST 1.5 GAMES OUT OF FIRST PLACE!

With Joan Payson in attendance among an announced crowd exceeding 43,000 plus, the surging Metropolitans hold on for a tightly contested victory in Monday evening's game one showdown against the Cubs at Shea Stadium.  Jerry Koosman makes his 27th start of the season and is opposed by Chicago's Bill Hand.  Tommie Agee breaks the ice with a two run home run scoring Bud Harrelson in the fourth.  Undeterred, Chicago's Don Kessinger and Glenn Beckert open the sixth with consecutive singles.  Next up Billy Williams drives in Chicago's first run with a third straight hit to right.  Beckert scores on Ron Santo's sac fly to left tying the game at two.  But the Mets answer back on Tommie Agee's lead-off double and Wayne Garrett's run scoring single to right/center in the bottom half of the frame.  Jerry Koosman takes care of the rest.  The Mets southpaw allows two runs on seven hits and just two walks with 13 strikeouts en rout to his 13th victory of the season against nine losses with a 2.48 ERA.  Koosman achieves double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season.  Bill Hand surrenders three earned runs on just five Mets hits and two walks with five strikeouts through eight innings pitched.  Tommie Agee continues pounding opposing pitchers with another 2 for 3 day with a double, home run, and two runs batted in.

• Mets Record: 81-57
• N.L. East: 2nd; 1.5 GB