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 8/19/1969: Tommie Agee Spoils Juan Marichal Gem in 14th Inning

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #118: Tuesday, August 19, 1969 - BR
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

New York City fans old and new pack Shea Stadium once again for game one of a mid-week series against the San Francisco Giants.  They do not leave disappointed, although they may have arrived home a little late.  That's because the Mets and Giants battle into the 14th inning Tuesday evening before a victor is decided.  Both Gary Gentry and Giants starter Juan Marichal work over time.  Gary Gentry allows no runs on just four hits with four walks and five strikeouts through ten innings pitched.  He does not factor in the decision.  However, his mound opponent does.  Juan Marichal whitewashes the Mets through the game's first 13 innings of play.  With one out in the bottom half of the 14th Marichal yields only his sixth hit, but it's a game ending home run off the bat of Tommie Agee.  Tug McGraw completes the shutout in relief of Gentry with four innings of one-hit ball to earn his sixth victory of the season.  Cleon Jones lifts his average back upwards of .350 with three hits in five at-bats, accounting for half of the Mets six hits.  Since getting swept at Houston the Mets are winners of five in a row.  This game ties for their second longest of the season.

The first place Chicago Cubs blank the Atlanta Braves and improve to 12-4 in August.

• Mets Record: 68-51
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB