Amazin' Date 9/15/1969: Ron Swoboda Two Home Runs Power Mets Over Cardinals

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #147: Monday, September 15, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium

METS EXTEND LEAD OVER CUBS: JUST 15 GAMES REMAIN IN SEASON

In St. Louis for one game only, Gary Gentry and Tug Mcgraw join to outlast Cardinals left-hander Steve Carlton.

Vida Pinson drives in the first run of the game in the third.  But Ron Swoboda answers with a two run home run in the fourth.  However runs batted in from Curt Flood and Joe Torre give the Cardinals a 3-2 edge after five.  Gentry's duel with Carlton ends after six.  He exits on the losing side after surrendering three earned runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.  Tug McGraw enters the game in relief of Gentry.  With Donn Clendenon on base in the top of the eighth Ron Swoboda connects on his second home run of the game off Steve Carlton giving the Mets a 4-3 final margin of victory.  Tug McGraw allows one hit over three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to pick up his eighth victory of the season against three losses with a 2.36 ERA.

The Expos roll over the Cubs at Jarry Park, and so the Mets gain another game in the standings.  Chicago has now lost 11 of their last 12 games.

• Mets Record: 89-58
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 4.5 Games Up

Amazin' Date 6/21/1969: Cardinals Win Game Two Over Listless Mets

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #62: Saturday, 6/21/1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Cardinals Game Two Victory at Shea Snaps Mets Streak at Three.

Jack DiLauro and the Mets are outdone by Cardinals starter Nelson Briles in game two at Shea Stadium on Saturday.  The two hurlers duel through four scoreless innings until Briles put matters into is own hands with a fifth inning home run off DiLauro.  Soon after yielding a double to Lou Brock, Curt Flood singles off DiLauro giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

Jack DiLauro exits the game after six innings on the losing side of a 2-1 game.

The Cardinals extend their lead in the seventh when second baseman Julian Javier connects for a two run home run off Jim McAndrew pitching in relief of DiLauro.  Art Shamsky cuts the deficit to two with a solo home run in the seventh.  But that was promptly erased by yet another run scoring hit courtesy of pitcher Nelson Briles.

Briles allowed the Mets a third run in the eight on a wild pitch, but finishes the night yielding three runs on just four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts for his sixth victory against five losses.  Jack DiLauro's record falls to 0-2 on the season albeit with a 1.57 ERA.

Art Shamsky collects two of the Mets four hits lifting his average to .344 for the season.  All four of Shamsky's home runs have come within his last seven games.

• Mets Record:  34-28
• N.L. East:  2nd; 6 GB

Amazin' Date 6/20/1969: Mets Defeat Bob Gibson at Packed Shea Stadium

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR.MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #61: Friday, June 20, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets return from successful 8-4 road trip to a heroes welcome as 54,000 fans pack Shea Stadium to express their appreciation. 

On account of Tuesday's twin bill at Philadelphia, Nolan Ryan makes his second start of the season.  He is opposed by Cardinals ace Bob Gibson who straightaway must pitch out of trouble.  The Mets quickly load the bases in the first inning.  Cleon Jones drives home two with a single up the middle, and Art Shamsky follows with a sac fly to left scoring Wayne Garrett from third for a 3-0 lead.  Tommie Agee then leads off the second with a single and scores on Ken Boswell's triple into the right field corner.

St. Louis responds with two runs in the fifth on an RBI hit from Curt Flood, and a sac fly from Vada Pinson.  Nolan Ryan pitches a scoreless sixth and exits the game on the winning side of a 4-2 affair after yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  Making his 16th appearance Tug McGraw surrenders a solo home run in the seventh to Bob Gibson himself cutting the Cardinals deficit to one.  But that's as close as they'd get.  McGraw strikes out the side in the ninth to earn his fifth save.  Ryan improves his record to 3-0 on the season.

With Friday's victory the Mets enter uncharted waters rising seven games above .500 for the first time this season, and their first time ever.

• Mets Record: 34-27
• N.L. East: 2nd; 6 GB