Amazin' Date 9/23/1969: Mets Clinch Tie for N.L. East Division Title

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #156: Tuesday, September 23, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

METS CLINCH A TIE FOR NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST TITLE

Bud Harrelson Drives Home Game Winning Run Off Bob Gibson in 11th Inning at Shea

With Tuesday's victory over St. Louis, the New York Mets increase their division lead to six games over the Cubs with six games left in the season, assuring themselves of at least a tie for the N.L. East pennant.  Meanwhile fading Chicago loses to the Expos at Wrigley Field.  It's their 15th loss in their last 21 games.

Jim McAndrew and Tug McGraw duel Bob Gibson for eleven innings.  The Mets open the scoring in the third on Wayne Garrett's run batted in.  Ken Boswell's error in the fourth contributes to a pair of unearned St. Louis runs in the fifth.  But the Mets tie the game at two on Art Shamsky's base hit scoring Tommie Agee in the eighth.

Into extra innings they go.  Bob Gibson stays in the game to pitch a scoreless tenth.  Tug McGraw retires the Cardinals in order in the top of the eleventh inning.  With one out in the bottom half of the frame, Ron Swoboda and Jerry Grote each reach on consecutive singles.  Buddy Harrelson then slaps a third straight single against Gibson scoring Swoboda from second base.

Jim McAndrew allows no earned runs on nine hits and no walks with three strikeouts.  Tug Mcgraw earns his ninth victory of the season in relief of McAndrew, allowing just three hits through four scoreless innings.

It's the Mets fourth straight victory and their 19th of September against just seven losses.

• Mets Record: 95-61 (.609)
• N.L. East: Clinch Tie for First Place
• Magic Number: ONE

Amazin' Date 9/19/1969: Bucs Sweep Twin Bill at Shea Stadium

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

The Pittsburgh Pirates refuse to go down quietly evidenced by their double-header sweep over the Mets at Shea Stadium on Friday.  Despite entering the day in fourth place and twelve games out of first, they appear no less determined to impact this season's first ever chase for a N.L. East division flag.  In town for a five game weekend set, next week they play the Chicago Cubs in the penultimate series of the regular season at Forbes Field.

• GAME ONE: Friday, September 19, 1969 - BR

Starter Nolan Ryan is knocked out of the box with haste as Pittsburgh takes a 3-0 lead in the second.  With the bases loaded in the seventh reliever Cal Koonce strikes Willie Stargell with a pitch with the bases loaded forcing in Pittsburgh's fourth run.  Amos Otis finally gets New York on the board in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI hit through the middle.  But the Pirates pile on with two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth against Mets reliever Les Rohr.  Ken Boswell drives in the Mets second and last run of the game in the bottom half of the ninth making it an 8-2 final in favor of Pittsburgh.

• GAME TWO: Friday, September 19, 1969 - BR

In a make-up game dating back to April Pirates starter Luke Walker allows no runs on just six scattered hits and four walks with three strikeouts in a complete game shutout performance.  Mets pitchers yield another eight runs, seven by starter Jim McAndrew.  Making his 15th start of the season, McAndrew allows seven earned runs on eleven hits and one walks with five strikeouts though five innings pitched.  He is tagged with his seventh loss of the season against six victories with a 3.66 RA.  This marks Cleon Jones ninth game missing from the line-up.

The Chicago Cubs split a twin bill with the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley.  They gain one game on the Mets cutting their deficit to four.  Chicago has nine games left in their season, but New York still has eleven games left to play.

Advantage Mets.

• Mets Record: 91-60
• N.L. East: 1st Place; 4 Games Up

Amazin' Date 9/10/1969: Mets Overtake First Place

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Montreal Expos @ New York Mets
Double-Header
Shea Stadium

The New York Mets overtake Chicago in the National League East standings.  The Mets!  They're in first place for the first time in their history.

With an extra-inning victory over Montreal in Wednesday's first game of a twi-night double-header, coupled with Chicago's seventh straight loss, the Mets amazingly take a one game lead over the Cubs in the N.L. East standings with just 21 games remaining in the regular season.

LOOK WHO'S NUMBER ONE!

• GAME ONE: Wednesday, September 10, 1969 - BR

After trading runs in the first, the Expos take a 2-1 lead in frame two.  However Montreal loses their bearing in the bottom of the fifth.  With two outs Tommie Agree reaches safely on Coco Laboy's error at third and Wayne Garrett's single puts runners on the corners.  Cleon Jones then draws a walk to load the bases.  With Art Shamsky at the plate, Expos starter Mike Wegener commits a balk plating Agee from third and knotting the game at two.  They remain tied through the ninth, and into extra-innings they go.  After dueling for eleven innings Jim McAndrew and Expos starter Mike Wegener finally exit to no decisions.  McAndrew allows two earned runs on just four hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.  Ron Taylor in relief of McAndrews retires Montreal in the top of the twelfth in order.  Then with two outs in the bottom of the frame Ken Boswell comes through with a two out base hit plating Cleon Jones with the game winning run.  Ron Taylor is credited with his eighth victory of the season.  With still another game to play, bedlam breaks loose in the stands led by club matriarch and chief booster Joan Payson.

• GAME TWO: Wednesday, September 10, 1969 - BR

New York takes the nightcap and sweeps Wednesday's double-header at Shea.  The victory is the Mets sixth in a row.  Making only his seventh start Nolan Ryan hurls his first complete game victory of the season.  He yields one run on just three hits and four walks with a season high 11 strikeouts, improving his record to 6-1 with a 2.95 ERA.  Bud Harrelson's error in the second leads to Montreal's lone run of the game.  Jerry Grote's double leading off the third kick starts a six run outburst.  Ken Boswell is 3 for 4 with a triple and a run scored in the seventh, and a run batted in.

• Mets Record: 84-57
• N.L. EAST: FIRST PLACE; ONE GAME UP

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

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

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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 8/31/1969: Tom Seaver Defeats Giants for 19th Victory of Season

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Games #129 and #130
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park

Giants Salvage Series Split at Candlestick Park

• GAME ONE: Sunday, August 31, 1969 - BR

With a five run outburst in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth New York rolls to an 8-0 whitewashing of the Giants.  Ron Swoboda, Jerry Grote, and Al Weis, each drive in a pair of runs apiece.  Bud Harrelson is 2 for 5 with an RBI, and starter Tom Seaver helps his own cause with a hit and an RBI; his fourth of the season.  On the mound Tom Seaver allows just seven hits and three walks with eleven strikeouts for the complete game shutout.  He improves to 19-8 with a 2.54 ERA.  It's the fourth time this season Seaver fans double-digits, and now gives him 175 for the season.

• GAME TWO: Sunday, August 31, 1969 - BR

The Giants salvage game two and gain a four game split as the Mets lose a heart-breaker in extra innings at Candlestick Park.  San Francisco scores straightaway against starter Jim McAndrew on Don Mason's lead-off hit, Ken Henderson's one-out triple to right, and Jim Ray Hart's RBI hit for a 2-0 first inning lead.  The Mets eventually strike back in the seventh when Ron Swoboda connects on his sixth home run of the season with Cleon Jones aboard.  The game remains deadlocked at two after nine, and into extra innings they go.  Pitching into the bottom of the eleventh, Tug McGraw issues a lead-off walk, and a hit by Willie McCovey.  Manager Hodges opts for Ron Taylor whom intentionally walks Bobby Bonds loading the bases.  However with Jim Davenport at the plate Taylor issues a second straight walk forcing in the game winning run in from third.  Jim McAndrew puts forth a fine performance allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through nine innings full.  But it's Tug McGraw whom incurs his third loss of the season.

The Mets lose a half-game in the standings, as Ken Holtzman and the Cubs again defeat Phil Niekro and the Braves at Atlanta.  However the Mets close out the month of August with a stellar 21-10 record and enter September winners of 13 of their last 16 games.  The Cubs close out August with an 18-10 record.

• Mets Record: 76-54
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4.5 GB

Amazin' Date 8/26/1969: Mets Sweep Double-Header at San Diego

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

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

After closing out a stellar 9-1 home stand, the Mets are back on the west coast where on Tuesday they opened a three game series with a twi-night double-header against the Padres at San Diego Stadium.

• GAME ONE: Tuesday, August 26, 1969 - BR

Bolstered by eight runs Tom Seaver wins his 18th decision of the season against seven losses.  He limits the Padres to three earned runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts through nine complete innings.  Padres center fielder Cito Gaston inflicts the most damage going 2 for 3 with a triple, home run, and three runs batted in.  The Mets get home runs from Donn Clendenon and Ron Swoboda.  Tommie Agee is 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored, and a run batted in, and Cleon Jones plates his team leading 70th run batted in of the season.

• GAME TWO: Tuesday, August 26, 1969 - BR

New York sweeps the night away with a 3-0 whitewashing of the Padres.  Jim McAndrew and Joe Niekro duel through five scoreless innings until Al Weis finally breaks through with an RBI hit in the sixth.  Art Shamsky makes it a 2-0 game with an RBI single in the seventh.  Cleon Jones scores from third on a passed ball charged to catcher Chris Cannizzaro in the ninth giving the Mets a 3-0 final margin of victory.  McAndrew turns in perhaps his finest outing of the season allowing no runs on just five hits and no walks with six strikeouts.

The Mets are now an amazing 21-games above the .500 mark.  With their double-header sweep of the Padres they gain two full games on the Cubs whom on Tuesday lose their second straight against the Cincinnati Reds.  Chicago has now lost ten of their last 18 games.

• Mets Record: 73-52 (.576)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 3.5 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

Amazin' Date 8/11/1969: Astros Defeat the Mets, Again

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #111: Monday, August 11, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Houston Astros
Astrodome

Look what the Houston Astros did to the Mets, again!  Monday's series opening defeat at the Astrodome makes it seven straight losses for the Mets against their expansion brothers.  This time Houston starter Tom Griffin gets the best of the visiting New Yorkers, limiting them to just four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts through eight innings for the victory.  Fred Gladding pitches a scoreless ninth en route to completing the shutout and picking his 24th save of the season.  Ed Kranepool accounts for two of the Mets five hits.  Jim McAndrew yields three earned runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts through six innings pitched for the loss.

• Mets Record: 62-49
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB

Amazin' Date 8/6/1969: Johnny Bench Home Run Sinks Mets

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #106: Wednesday, August 6, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
Crosley Field

The Mets jump out to an early lead but fail to protect it.  Tommie Agee and Cleon Jones kick start a first inning rally with a pair of hits.  With two outs Ed Charles drives home Agee and Ron Swoboda drives in Jones.  Cincinnati gets one back in the bottom half of the frame.  Pete Rose leads-off with a triple and scores on Alex Johnson's sac-fly.  In the third Pete Rose doubles home Chico Ruiz knotting the game at two.  Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Johnny Bench connects on his 14th home run of the season putting the Reds ahead for good.  Cincinnati starter Jim Merritt goes the distance yielding two runs on ten hits and no walks with six strikeouts for his eleventh victory of the season.  Jim McAndrew allows three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts through eight innings pitched.  He falls to 3-4 on the season with a 4.85 ERA.  The Mets lose the series to the Reds three games to one and now find themselves nine games out of first place.

• Mets Record: 59-47 (.556)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 9 GB

Amazin' Date 8/2/1969: McAndrew and McGraw Join to Whitewash Braves

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #101: Saturday, August 2, 1969 - BR
Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

METS TAKE SECOND STRAIGHT FROM N.L. WEST LEADING ATLANTA BRAVES

The dog days of summer are upon us.  A crowd of 37,000+ fans in attendance at Shea Stadium on Saturday night are either witness to lethargy, adroit pitching, or a little of both.  Jim McAndrew toes the rubber for New York and is opposed by Atlanta's Ron Reed.  Both duel to a scoreless tie through six.  In the bottom of the seventh Reed commits one of the cardinal sins of pitching: do not walk the lead-off batter.  Ron Swoboda takes his base and is promptly bunted successfully to second.  When Jerry Grote grounds to short, Swoboda runs behind the throw advancing to third.  Pinch hitting, Cleon Jones strokes a clean single up the middle scoring Swoboda with the lone run of the game.  Ron Reed yields the one run on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts through seven innings for the loss.  Hank Aaron triples of McAndrew in the first but is left stranded.  McAndrew goes on to complete seven scoreless innings of three hit ball with just two walks and seven strikeouts en rout to his third win of the season.  Tug McGraw closes out the Braves over final two frames completing the shutout and earning his sixth save.  Tom Seaver appears as a pinch runner.

• Mets Record: 57-44 (.564)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 6.5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/19/1969: Expos Upend Seaver in Game Two

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #90: Saturday, July 19, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Montreal Expos
Parc Jarry

Tom Seaver losses back to back decisions for the first time this season.  Expos third baseman Coco Laboy opens the scoring with a lead-off home run in the second.  Then with two outs and runners on the corners Remy Hermoso singles home Montreal's second run.  Center fielder Mack Jones doubles leading-off the third and first baseman Bob Bailey singles to right giving the Expos a 3-0 lead.  It is then manager Gil Hodges decides Seaver just doesn't have it.  Jim McAndrew enters in relief and with one out yields a run scoring single to catcher Ron Brand.  Easily his worst outing of the season, Seaver is charged with four runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts through two official innings pitched.  Coco Laboy drives in his second run of the game in the fifth off McAndrew for a 5-0 Montreal lead.  The Expos seemingly try giving the game away in the seventh.  The Mets capitalize best they can on Montreal fielding errors in left field and at shortstop along with run scoring hits off the bats of Wayne Garrett, Ed Kranepool, and Ron Swoboda.  Starter Bill Stoneham regroups to earn a complete game victory.  He yields four runs, none earned, on six hits and one walk with ten strikeouts through nine full innings pitched.

• Mets Record: 52-38
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4 GB

Amazin' Date 6/24/1969: Mets Sweep Second Straight Double-Header at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Mets win their third and fourth games in a row upon sweeping Tuesday's double-header against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium.

Game #66: Tuesday, June 24, 1969 - BR
Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/ GAME ONE

With two runs in the third off Phillies starter Woodie Fryman, the Mets hold on to win game one by a slim 2-1 margin.  In the third, Bud Harrelson triples home Al Weis, and Cleon Jones singles home Harrelson.  Tom Seaver goes the distance, yielding seven hits including a fifth inning home run to Larry Hisle, while walking one and fanning nine for his 11th victory of the season against three losses.

Game #67: Tuesday, June 24, 1969 - BR 
Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/GAME TWO

Jim McAndrew and Ron Taylor join to whitewash the Phillies in the night-cap.  McAndrew tosses a gem yielding just two hits and no walks with two strikeouts through eight innings en route to his first victory of the season.  Ron Taylor pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts for his sixth save of the season.  The Mets score four times in the fourth on runs batted in from Art Shamsky, Wayne Garrett, Ed Kranepool, and even Jim McAndrew.  Tommie Agee hit his tenth home run of the season in the eighth.  The Mets knocked Phillies starter Jerry Johnson out of the box after 3.1 innings pitched.

That's back-to-back double-header sweeps for the Mets (Cardinals/Phillies).  Don't look now ... but the Mets are ten games above the .500 mark.

• Mets Record: 38-28
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 4/20/1969: Mets Complete Sweep Over Cardinals

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #12: Sunday, April 20, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium

Mets Bats Strike Back; Lift Nolan Ryan to Victory

The Mets complete their first sweep of the season, albeit a two game set, and gain a measure of revenge against the defending N.L. champion St. Louis Cardinals.

But it was the Cardinals whom jumped out to an early lead off Mets starter Jim McAndrew.  Joe Torre connected on a two-run home run, and third baseman Mike Shannon delivered a run scoring double to left giving host St. Louis a 3-0 first inning lead.

McAndrew was relieved after three innings in favor of hard throwing Nolan Ryan.  After which the Mets bats were enlivened.  With an RBI double by Jerry Grote in the second, and a five run outburst in the fifth a home run by third baseman fill-in Kevin Collins, and RBI's from Ed Kranepool and Ron Swoboda, the Mets placed Ryan on the winning side of the equation.  Kranepool and Swoboda would again drive in another run apiece in the seventh inning.  And with the bases loaded in the ninth, Jerry Grote capped off the Mets scoring with a bases clearing double.

FINAL

Mets        11

Cardinals  3

Nolan Ryan picked up his first victory of the season, allowing no runs on just one hit and three walks, with four strikeouts.  Cal Koonce pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of Ryan for his third save of the season.

Mets Record:  5-7
N.L. East:  3rd; 5.5 BG

Amazin' Dates 4/14/1969: Slugger Dick Allen Powers Phillies to Victory Over Mets

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game Seven: Monday, April 14, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies
Connie Mack Stadium

Mets Open Road Trip With Loss to Phillies; Extend Skid to Four.

It wasn't long after the Mets arrival in Philadelphia when they slammed into their first pothole, Phillies starter Woodie Fryman, whom would stymie the Mets through nine complete innings at Connie Mack Stadium - or Shibe Park to another generation.  But whatever the venue, a loss by any other name is still a loss.  And as a result of Monday's series opening defeat, the New York Metropolitans have now bowed to their opponents in four straight games.

For a fleeting moment the first inning left many with the impression Fryman was surely destined for an early shower.  With one gone in the top of the first, Rod Gaspar singled to left, and with two outs Ed Carles drew a walk.  Ron Swoboda then lined a base hit up the middle, scoring Gaspar.  But Fryman escaped further damage, and for all intent and purpose his troubles ended there.  He limited the Mets the rest of the way to just a pair of scattered hits; a double by his counterpart Jim McAndrew in the fifth; and an inconsequential base hit by Amos Otis in the seventh.  In all, Woodie Fryman surrendered the one earned run on just four hits and three walks, with six strikeouts en route to the complete game victory.

Perennial slugger Dick Allen went 2 for 2, with a home run and two RBI; shortstop Don Money was 1 for 3, with another pair of runs batted in.

Mets loser Jim McAndrew lasted just 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits (two home runs) and four walks, with six strikeouts.  Ron Taylor and Nolan Ryan joined on 2.2 innings of scoreless, no hit relief.

Monday marked both the Mets first road, and night game of the new season.

• Mets Record: 2-5
• N.L. East: 5th; 4 GB