Amazin' Date 9/26/1969: Koosman Whitewashes Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium

From the desk of: HEADBUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #158: Friday, September 26, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies
Connie Mack Stadium

Jerry Koosman Hurls Seventh Shutout of Season

The National League East champs open their final road trip of the season at Philadelphia.  Making his 31st start of the season, Jerry Koosman wins his fifth straight decision, and tosses his third shutout in his last four starts.  He allows just four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in a complete game whitewashing of the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.  Its his seventh shutout of the season.  Jerry    Koosman improves to 17-9 with a 2.21 RA.

The Mets inflict all their damage against Phillies starter Woodie Fryman who allows five runs, four earned, on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts through five innings pitched.  In the first inning Donn Clendenon hits his third home run in his last two games giving the Mets an instant 2-0 lead.  Duffy Dyer doubles and comes around to score in the second.  In the fifth Amos Otis and Bobby Pfeil each drive in a run apiece en route to a 5-0 Mets victory.

It's the Mets sixth straight win and their 97th of the season.  Four games remain on the schedule.

• Mets Record: 97-61
• N.L. East: 7 Games Up

Amazin' Date 9/21/1969: Mets Closer to Clinching with Twin Bill Sweep Against Bucs

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

New York Mets Snap Three Game Skid;
Sweep Double-Header From Pirates at Shea Stadium

MAGIC NUMBER

4

• GAME ONE: Sunday, September 21, 1969 - BR

Jerry Koosman improves to 16-9 with a 2.30 ERA after limiting the Pirates to three earned runs on six hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in a complete game performance.  Pirates third baseman Jose Pagan homers off Koosman in the fourth, whom also yields runs batted in by Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell.  Ron Swoboda is 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.  Duffy Dyer also drives in a pair.  Art Shamsky caps off the scoring in the seventh with his 14th home run of the season.

• GAME TWO: Sunday, September 21, 1969 - BR

Don Cardwell pitches a gem in game two.  He allows seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts through nine complete innings.  Willie Stargell's home run in the fourth accounts for Pittsburgh's only run.  The Mets score three in the first en route to a 6-1 victory and a Sunday sweep.  The Pirates commit four errors in the field and wind up surrendering four unearned runs.  Cleon Jones marks his return to action with a run batted in as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning.  Wayne Garrett and Art Shamsky drive in a run apiece.

New York extends their first place lead to 4.5 games over the Cubs who were victorious over the Cardinals at Wrigley for only their fifth win in their last 19 games.

• Mets Record: 93-61
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 4.5 Games Up
• Magic Number: 4

Amazin' Date 9/5/1969: Tom Seaver Earns 20th Win of Season

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

The Amazin's open what is easily the most important home stand of their eight history featuring the much anticipated two game showdown against the first place Chicago Cubs.  Before then New York hosts Philadelphia in a four game weekend series at Shea Stadium, while the Cubs have their hands full hosting the third place Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

TOM SEAVER WINS 20th GAME OF SEASON

• GAME ONE: Friday, September 5, 1969 - BR

Tom Seaver wins twenty games for the first time in his marvelous three year career.  Making his 31st start of the season the 1967 rookie of the year limits the Phillies to just one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts through nine innings pitched.  His ERA is now 2.48 and falling fast.  Seaver also helps himself out the plate with a hit and run batted in.  Phillies center fielder John Briggs goes 3 for 4 off Seaver with a double, and triple.  The Mets score three unearned runs against starter Grant Jackson who otherwise surrenders four hits and three walks in seven innings pitched.  Al Weis is 1 for 3 with a run batted in.  Jerry Grote's two run home run off reliever John Boozer in the eighth gives the Mets a 5-1 final margin of victory.

• GAME TWO: Friday, September 5, 1969 - BR

The Mets surrender two late runs and drop the nightcap by a 4-2 final score.  Philadelphia opens the game with consecutive hits off starter Jim McAndrew.  Johnny Callison plates the game's first run with a sac-fly to right.  The Phillies then connect for consecutive extra-base hits in the fourth but New York limits the damage to one run when Art Shamsky throws out Johnny Callison at third.  The Mets tie the game with runs batted in from Duffy Dyer and Bub Harrelson in the fifth.  Philadelphia scores a third time off McAndrew in the seventh, then pick up an insurance run against Ron Taylor on John Brigg's base hit in the eighth.  The Mets strand two base runners in the ninth.

Chicago gets battered at Wrigley Field, 9-2, by the Pirates.  As a result of the extra contest, the Mets gain one-half game on the Cubs to end the day just 4.5 games back of first.

• Mets Record: 78-57
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4.5 GB

Amazin' Date 9/1/1969: Mets Lose Opening Game at Los Angeles

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #131: Monday, September 1, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium

New York kicks off September play with a loss in Monday's series opener at Dodger Stadium.  Despite propping up Jerry Koosman with two first inning runs, the sunny California sky comes crashing down upon the Mets as the Dodgers mount a 9-2 lead through four.  The Mets chip away with two runs in the sixth, and two more in the seventh.  In fact they knock Bunning out of the box after yielding six runs, five earned, on nine hits, and one walk.  However the Dodgers score one more time in the home seventh giving them an even ten runs for the game.  Koosman surrenders four earned runs on three hits and a walk before ever recording a second out.  Manager Hodges summons Cal Koonce from the bullpen, whom proceeds to yield another five earned runs on ten hits and one walk through the next 5.2 innings.  Not to feel left out, Jack DiLauro surrenders Dodgers run number ten.  Tommie Agee is 4 for 4 with his 23rd home run of the season.  Duffy Dyer is 1 for 4 with his third home run and two runs batted in.

• Mets Record: 76-55
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 8/17/1969: Mets Sweep Consecutive Twin Bills From Padres

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

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

• GAME ONE; Sunday, Aug. 17, 1969 - BR

San Diego takes a 2-0 lead after four and a half on runs batted in from center fielder Ivan Murrell and second baseman Jose Arcia.  In the bottom half of the fifth Duffy Dyer connects off Padres starter Joe Niekro with two men on, and just like that the Mets give Jerry Koosman a 3-2 lead.  Koosman goes the distance allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts en route to his tenth victory of the season against eight losses with a stellar 2.23 ERA.

• GAME TWO; Sunday Aug. 17, 1969 - BR

How do you put a 4-7 road trip in the rear view mirror?  Answer: win four games in the span of two days at home.  The Mets do just that with back-to-back double-header sweeps this weekend against the expansion Padres.

Mets starter Don Cardwell and San Diego's Clay Kirby duel through six scoreless innings.  Ed Kranepool opens the bottom of the seventh with a single to right, and is replaced with pinch-runner Al Weis.  After Jerry Grote draws a base on balls, Bud Harrelson clears the bases with a triple to right/center.  Still with no outs J.C. Martin lofts a sac-fly to center scoring Harrelson.  Cardwell exits on the winning side of a three run game, having allowed no runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts through seven full.  However San Diego strikes for a pair in the eighth off Cal Koonce whom faces three batters and fails to record an out.  Manager Hodges summons Ron Taylor to put out the fire.  Taylor obliges with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball for his 12th save.  Cardwell earns his fifth victory.  The Mets gain one game on the first place Cubs.

• Mets Record:
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB