Amazin' Date 9/3/1969: Dodgers Rally For Ninth Inning Victory Over Mets

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #133: Wednesday, September 3, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium

After being held scoreless through seven innings the Mets erase a four run deficit in the top of the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium, only to surrender the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Jerry Koosman surrenders four runs, three earned, on nine hits and one walk with four strikeouts through six innings pitched, but does not factor in the decision.  Cal Koonce pitches a scoreless seventh in relief of Koosman.  In the top of the eighth Tommie Agee and Donn Clendenon each hit two-run home runs off Dodgers starter Claude Osteen tying the game at four.  Nolan Ryan retires the Dodgers with two strikeouts in the bottom half of the frame.  Los Angeles reliever Pete Mikkelsen then pitches a scoreless top half of the ninth.  With Jack DiLauro pitching in relief of Ryan, Maury Wills leads-off the bottom half of the ninth with a hit.  Manny Mota successfully bunts Wills over to second, who then scores the game winning run on Willie Davis' double to left.  Jack DiLauro is tagged with the loss, while Pete Mikkelsen wins his seventh game of the season.

Los Angeles wins the series but the Mets close out the road trip with a 6-4 record.  Chicago has their five game win streak snapped by the Reds at Crosley Field, and so the Mets lose no ground.

• Mets Record: 77-56
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/20/1969: Bobby Pheil Bunt Saves the Day

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Sunday, July 20, 1969
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry

GAME ONE #91

The Mets strike first with a pair of runs in the second, but in the fourth the Expos strike back with three.  And therein lies your final score in game one of Sunday's twin bill at Parc Jarry.  Both starting pitchers go the distance.  J.C. Martin draws a one-out walk against Montreal's Gary Waslewski, whom then yields a double to Al Weis.  With two outs Tommie Agee's hit to left delivers home both runners for a 2-0 lead that would last through the third.  Meanwhile Waslewski would surrender no more.  Montreal puts him on the winning side of the ledger in the fourth as left fielder Mack Jones, first baseman Bob Bailey, and shortstop Bobby Wine all connect for solo home runs off Mets starter Gary Gentry.  Otherwise Gentry yields just two other hits and four walks with four strikeouts in a losing eight inning effort.  His record now stands at 9-8 with a 3.36 ERA.  Gary Waslewski allows two runs on five hits and eight walks with six strikeouts over nine full innings for only his second victory of the season.  The Mets go 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

GAME TWO #92

With one out in the top of the ninth and the game knotted at two, Jerry Grote is pinch hit for by Cleon Jones whom draws a bases loaded walk to put the Mets ahead.  But Coco Laboy's home run off Ron Taylor in the bottom half of the frame sends the game into extra innings.  With two outs in the top of the tenth inning, Ron Swoboda doubles to left field off Expos relief ace Roy Face and advances all the way to third on an error by center fielder Adolfo Phillips.  Pinch hitting for pitcher Ron Taylor, Bobby Pheil then lays a bunt down the third base line scoring Swoboda with the go-ahead run.  Jack DiLauro earns the victory with a scoreless frame in relief of Taylor.  Starter Don Cardwell pitches very well, again, but walks off to another no-decision after yielding two runs, one earned, on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts through 7.1 innings.  Swoboda is 3 for 4 with a walk, double, RBI, and two runs scored.  Cleon Jones and Wayne Garrett also drive in a run apiece en route to New York's 4-3 victory.  With a split of Sunday's double-header the Mets likewise salvage a four-game split at Montreal.

• Mets Record: 53-39
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

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 6/15/1969: Mets Acquire Donn Clendenon From Expos

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #56: Sunday, June 15, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium

• NEWS: METS ACQUIRE FIRST BASEMAN DONN CLENDENON FROM MONTREAL EXPOS.  Clendenon has averaged 16 home runs over the last six seasons with a career high 28 home runs and 98 RBI in 1966 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The 33-year old appeared in 38 games in his first with the Expos, hitting .240 with four home runs and 14 RBI through 129 at-bats.  Gil Hodges is likely to utilize him in a first base platoon with lefty Ed Kranepool.  Outfielder Amos Otis was sent down to (AAA) Tidewater after Sunday's game against the Dodgers to make room for on the roster for Clendenon.

Mets Lose Rubber Game at Dodger Stadium: Fall Nine Games Back of Cubs

Los Angeles starter Don Drysdale pitched just well enough to turn back the Mets and help lead the Dodgers to victory in the rubber game of their series at Chavez Ravine.  He limited the New Yorkers to a pair of runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts through 5.2 innings pitched.  Jim Brewer arguably pitched better yielding but one hit through 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in relief of Drysdale.  Brewers effort earned his seventh save of the season.

Mets starter Jack DiLauro sustained his first loss of the season after allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout over six innings pitched.  Cal Koonce and Ron Taylor contributed two innings of scoreless relief.

The Mets scored their only two runs in the third on a sac-fly by Wayne Garrett and a RBI hit from Cleon Jones.  Tommie Agee was 3 for 4 with a run scored.  Right fielder Andy Kasko homered for the Dodgers in the second.  Two more runs in the fourth gave Los Angeles their ultimate 3-2 margin of victory.

• Mets Record:  30-26 (.535)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 9 GB

Amazin' Date 6/4/1969: Mets Win in 15th; Complete Sweep of Dodgers

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #48: Wednesday, June 4, 1969 - BR
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets Extend Winning Streak to Seven With Marathon Victory Over Dodgers

Appearing in only his fourth game of the season and making his first start for the Mets, 26-year old southpaw Jack DiLauro held the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless through nine full innings, allowing just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Starting for Los Angeles Bill Singer also pitched nine full innings yielding just two hits, no walks, and striking out ten.  In fact, he faced just two batters over the minimum, no-hitting the Mets through six innings until Buddy Harrelson's lead-off base hit in the seventh.

For all their respective work both pitchers walked off with no decisions.  And into extra innings went Wednesday night's game at Shea Stadium.

Tug McGraw kept the Dodgers quiet through the 14th inning.  Ron Taylor pitched a scoreless 15th inning in relief of McGraw.

Facing Dodgers reliever Pete Mikkelsen in the bottom half of the frame, Bud Harrelson drew a lead-off walk.  Cleon Jones replaced Harrelson on the bases upon grounding into a fielder's choice.  Wayne Garrett then followed with a single up the middle.  A misplay by center fielder Willie Davis allowed Cleon Jones to scamper all the way home with the winning run.

In playing their longest game of the season to date, the Mets improve to 25-23 on the season and extend their winning streak to seven games which ties the franchise record set two seasons ago.

• Mets Record:  25-23
• N.L. East:  2nd; 8.5 GB