Amazin' Date 6/22/1969: Packed Shea Crowd Treated to Twin Bill Sweep Over Redbirds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #63: Sunday, June 22, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/GAME ONE

Gary Gentry's strong performance on the front end of Sunday's double-header gets the Mets back in the win column.  Making his 14th start of the season the Mets impressive rookie limits the Cardinals to just one earned run on six scattered hits and four walks with six strikeouts through 8.1 innings pitched.

Ironically St. Louis opens the scoring in the first inning.  Lou Brock leads off the game with a base hit, and soon scores on Joe Torre's two out single to left.  After which Gentry would hold the Cardinals to just four hits the rest of the way.

The Mets on the other hand treat St. Louis starter Steve Carlton rather rudely, bullying him for five runs on eight hits in just 3.1 innings pitched.  Hits from Cleon Jones and Donn Clendenon in the third stake Gentry to a 2-1 lead.  In the fourth Bud Harrelson drives in the Mets third run, and Tommie Agee drives in two more giving the Mets a 5-1 lead and final margin of victory.  Donn Clendenon drives in his first run as a member of the Mets.  Meanwhile the top three hitter's in the line-up (Harrelson, Agee, Jones) join to go 8 for 12 with four runs batted in and three runs scored.

Gary Gentry improves his record to 7-5 and lowers his ERA back down to a 3.21 mark.


Game #64: Sunday, June 22, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium/GAME TWO

The largest crowd in attendance at Shea Stadium this season is not only treated to a double-header sweep and series victory over the Cardinals.  Fan witness another near masterpiece authored by Jerry Koosman.  Game two fast evolves into a classic pitcher's duel.  Both Koosman and Cardinals starter Mike Torrez trade zeroes through the first six innings until the Amazins finally break through in the home seventh.  With two outs Buddy Harrelson triples into the right/center gap.  Next up, Tommie Agee's double into the opposite gap sends Harrelson trotting home with the game's only run.

Mike Torrez lasts seven innings allowing the one run on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts.  He falls to 1-4 on the season.  Jerry Koosman improves to 5-4 and further shaves his ERA to a stingy 1.42 mark.

The second place Mets are now a franchise all-time best eight games above the .500 mark, and with Sunday's pair of victories close to within five games of the N.L. East leading Cubs whom sport a league best 43-25 record.

• Mets Record: 36-28 (.562)
• 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