Amazin' Date 8/29/1969: Juan Marichal Blanks Mets at Candlestick

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

GAME #130: Friday, August 29, 1969
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park

Juan Marichal is indeed the Dominican Dandy.  The Giants starter pitches a gem in Friday's opening game of a weekend series at Candlestick Park.  He limits the Mets to just four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in a complete game shutout performance.  Marichal improves to 16-9 with a 2.28 ERA.  Bobby Pheil accounts for two of the Mets four hits off Marichal.

Willie McCovey drives in San Francisco's first run of the game and Bobby Bonds jolts a three run home run off Mets starter Gary Gentry all in the first inning.  The Giants pick up another unearned run off Jack DiLauro in the sixth for a 5-0 margin of victory.

Gary Gentry allows four earned runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts through five innings.  It's his third straight road loss in August during which he has yielded 16 earned runs through 34.2 innings for a 4.21 ERA.

Yesterday's off day coupled with Chicago's victory over the Atlanta Braves drops the Mets four games behind the Cubs.

• Mets Record: 73-57
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4 GB

Amazin' Date 8/20/1969: Jim McAndrew Whitewashes San Francisco Giants at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #119: Wednesday, August 20, 1969 - BR

San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

The Mets win their sixth in a row and record their second straight shutout over the San Francisco Giants.  Another packed house at Shea Stadium witness Jim McAndrew pitch his finest game of the season.  Making his 21st appearance, McAndrew allows just two hits and three walks with six strikeouts en route to a complete game shutout and his fifth victory of the season.  Giants starter Gaylord Perry fails to pitch out of the fifth.  Despite seven strikeouts, the Mets rough him up for six runs, five earned, on nine hits and a walk through 4.1 innings.  The Mets strike for six extra-base hits including a triple from Bud Harrelson and a fifth inning three run home run from Art Shamsky.  Bobby Pheil continues getting starts in place of the injured Ken Boswell.  He goes 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.  Art Shamsky is 2 for 4 with a double, his aforementioned tenth home run of the season, with four RBI.  The Mets improve to 13-7 in August.  The Mets gain a game in the standings as Atlanta defeats the Cubs.

• Mets Record: 68-51
• N.L. East: 2nd; 7 GB

Amazin' Date 8/16/1969: Mets Sweep Twin Bill Against San Diego at Shea Stadium

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

San Diego Padres @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

The Mets return home from a disappointing 4-7 road trip.  They now open a ten game home stand beginning with this weekend's duel twin-bills against the San Diego Padres.

• GAME ONE 8/16/69 - BR  #114

Back atop the mound at Shea Stadium Tom Seaver hurls eight scoreless innings allowing San Diego just four hits and two walks with four strikeouts through eight innings pitched.  Ron Taylor pitches a scoreless ninth to seal Saturday's opening game shutout victory along with earning his eleventh save of the season.  Tom Seaver helps his own cause in the fifth with a successful sacrifice bunt which advances Bud Harrelon into scoring position.  Tommie Agee then delivers home Harrelson with the only run Seaver would need.  Bobby Pheil drives in an insurance run in the seventh.  Making the start at third base Bobby Pheil goes 3 for 4, and Bud Harrelson goes 2 for 3 with a run scored.  Together the two account for five of the Mets nine hits.  Tom Seaver wins his 17th decision of the season against seven losses with a 2.55 ERA.

• GAME TWO 8/16/69 - BR  #115

San Diego takes an early one run lead on Larry Stahl's home run in the second inning.  However the Padres would muster nothing more against starter Jim McAndrew and Tug McGraw.  The Mets tie the game at one when Cleon Jones connects off Padres starter Dick Kelley in the fourth.  Jerry Grote provides insurance in the seventh with an RBI hit scoring Ron Swoboda.  Jim McAndrew allows one run on just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through seven innings for his fourth victory.  Tug McGraw picks up his eighth save with two scoreless innings in relief of McAndrew.

The Mets are back in second place.  However despite sweeping Saturday's double-header they gain but one game on the Cubs whom with Saturday's victory over San Francisco have now won 11 of their last 14 games.

• Mets Record: 64-51
• N.L. East: 2nd; 9 GB