Amazin' Date 8/5/1969: Mets Split Twin Bill at Crosley Field

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Games # 104 & 105
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
Crosley Field

GAME ONE: Tuesday, August 5, 1969 - BR 

The Mets lose their second straight at Cincinnati, this time in the first game of Tuesday's twin bill at Crosley Field.  Cincy has the Mets playing catch-up all game scoring runs by pairs in the first, third, fifth, and seventh.  The Mets make it a 2-4 game in the top of the fourth on Art Shamsky's two run home run against starter Gary Nolan.  New York musters three more runs in the eighth on a run batted in from Cleon Jones and a pair of RBI from Wayne Garrett.  Reds reliever Clay Carroll would yield no more.  Starter Tom Seaver is roughed up for four earned runs on five hits, including home runs from catcher Bobby Tolan and Pete Rose, while walking two and fanning just one en rout to his seventh loss of the season.  It's Seaver's fourth loss in his last five decisions, and the second time in his last four starts that he's failed to pitch into the fourth inning.  Cal Koonce and Jack DiLauro fare no better joining to yield four earned runs on seven hits with one walk and a strikeout.  DiLauro surrenders Tony Perez' 28th home run in the seventh.  All told Perez is 2 for 3 on the day including a walk, double, three runs batted in, and a run scored.  Cleon Jones drives in his team leading 62nd run of the season.

GAME TWO: Tuesday, August 5, 1969 - BR 

Whatever it is Gil Hodges said to his team in between games of Tuesday's twin bill - we can only imagine - seems to have worked.  Lest we forget his calculated removal of Cleon Jones from left field during the recent Houston series at Shea.  For the Mets roll towards a 10-1 victory over host Cincinnati in the nightcap.  Getting the start Nolan Ryan goes the distance allowing just one earned runs on seven hits and just two walks with seven strikeouts en rout to his fourth victory of the season.  The Mets get home runs from Donn Clendenon in the third and Tommie Agee in the fifth.  Jerry Grote, Bobby Pheil, Ron Swoboda, Cleon Jones, and even Nolan Ryan all drive in runs for the Mets.

However, net result of the day is the Mets fall another half-game behind the Cubs.  They've now lost 4.5 games in the standings since July 9 when they closed to within 3.5 games of first.

• Mets Record: 59-46 (.562)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 8 GB

Amazin' Date 7/27/1969: Misplays Abound in Mets Loss to Reds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #96: Sunday, July 27, 1969- BR
Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

The Cincinnati Reds build a five run lead from which the Mets do not recover.  Cincy jumps all over Mets starter Don Cardwell with haste.  Pete Rose leads off the game with a double to left and eventually scores when Bobby Tolan grounds into a fielder's choice.  With one out and Tolin the runner at first, Tony Perez connects on his 25th home run of the season for a 3-0 Reds lead.  But the Mets true undoing occurs in the fourth.  Two errors by shortstop Al Weis and another by first baseman Donn Clendenon pave the way towards a pair of unearned runs and a five run deficit.  Don Cardwell is done after 3.1 innings having yielded five runs, three earned, on seven hits.  The Mets finally get on the board with two runs in the sixth on a single from Cleon Jones and a sac-fly from Clendenon.  The teams trade runs in the eighth.  Cincy reliever Wayne Granger finalizes the Reds 6-3 victory with his 13th save of the season.

The game marks the sixth time this season attendance exceeds 50,000 at Shea Stadium.  Sunday's announced crowd of 55,391 is their second largest crowd of the season.

• Mets Record: 55-41 (.573)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB

Amazin' Date 7/25/1969: Mets Take Koosman Off the Hook Against Reds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #94: Friday, July 25, 1969 - BR

Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium

For seven innings Reds starter Jim Maloney and Jerry Koosman duel in game two at Shea Stadium.  Maloney allows just one earned run on five hits and four walks with one strikeout before exiting on the winning side of Friday night's affair.  Koosman on the other hand yields three earned runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts through seven, but with a little help from his friends escapes with a no decision.  A two run home run by J.C. Martin and an RBI from Wayne Garrett in the eighth put the Met ahead en route to a 4-3 final.  Ron Taylor gives up just one hit in two innings for the win, improving his record to 5-2 with a 2.19 ERA.  Art Shamsky goes 1 for 2 with a walk, double, and a run batted in.  Pete Rose goes 1 for 4 with an RBI, and Tony Perez clubs his 28th home run and drives in his 72nd run of the season.  The Mets even the series with Cincy and gain a full game on the Cubs whom lost to the Dodgers earlier this afternoon at Wrigley.

• Mets Record: 54-40
• N.L. East: 2nd; 5 GB