Remembering Mets History (1969) Mets Pitchers Allow Just Three Earned Runs In 54 Innings Over Six Games
In the National League that year, pitching coach Rube Walker's staff would finish first in wins (100) first in shut outs (16) second in innings (1468) second in ERA (2.99) second in lowest runs allowed (541) third in saves (35) & fourth in strike outs (1012).
From August 16th to August 19th, in a six-game span over four days that including two double headers, the Mets pitching staff allowed just three earned runs in 54 innings pitched, while throwing three shutouts.
The Mets Tom Seaver (16-6) took the mound, against Tommie Sisk (0-6). Seaver shut out the Padres for eight innings, giving up just four hits posting four strike outs. In the 9th, Ron Taylor closed the door earning his 11th save of season, securing Seaver's 17th win (17-7).
Tom Seaver Trivia: It was Seaver's second straight winning decision & he would finish the regular season winning his last ten decisions, posting a 1.34 ERA & 62 strike outs in 94.1 innings in eleven starts.
In the bottom of the 5th, Bud Harrelson collected a one out single, then advanced to second on Tom Seaver's sacrifice. Tommie Agee singled to right field scoring Harrelson with the Mets first run.
In the bottom of the 5th, Bud Harrelson collected a one out single, then advanced to second on Tom Seaver's sacrifice. Tommie Agee singled to right field scoring Harrelson with the Mets first run.
Saturday August 16th, 1969: In the night cap of the double header, 25-year-old Jim McAndrew (3-5) took the mound against the Padres Dick Kelley (4-8).
Jim McAndrew put in another fine Mets pitching performance, going seven innings allowing one run, a HR to Larry Stahl. McAndrew gave up just three hits, as he struck out a season high seven batters & walked two.
McAndrew was on a personal three game win streak & he would match his season high seven K's four times on the season. Tug McGraw came on for two scoreless innings of relief sealing the Mets double header sweep.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Mets Cleon Jones who was among the league's leaders in batting, hit his 12th HR of the year tying up the game at one. The game was tied going into the bottom of the 7th inning, when Ron Swoboda hit a grounder to the pitcher Gary Ross. Ross threw wildly to first base as & Swoboda reached safely. Later with two outs, Bud Harrelson drew a walk. Preston Gomez changed pitchers bringing in Dave Roberts. Jerry Grote singled to right field bringing in Swoboda in what was the game's winning run 2-1.
Jim McAndrew Trivia: In his next two starts, Jim McAndrew would throw back-to back complete game shutouts. He would pitch three complete games in a row & allowed just two runs over 34 innings from August 16 to September 5th.
Sunday August 17th, 1969- first game:
As the Woodstock Festival was going into its third day in Upstate New York, back in Queens, the Mets once again hosted the expansion Padres in an afternoon doubleheader at Shea Stadium in front of 35,711 fans.
As the Woodstock Festival was going into its third day in Upstate New York, back in Queens, the Mets once again hosted the expansion Padres in an afternoon doubleheader at Shea Stadium in front of 35,711 fans.In the first game it was Jerry Koosman (9--8) on the mound for the Mets. Koosman, was coming off his worst start of the year, where he had given up six earned runs at Houston. Koosman had lost three of his last four decisions as well. Tonight, he faced San Diego's Joe Niekro (6-10).
Kooz got back on track in this start, as he went on to throw a complete game victory, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five & walking two. Jerry earned his tenth win of the year, to get into double figures in wins for the second straight season.
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In the top of the 1st inning, Roberto Pena singled & Ollie Brown doubled for the Padres. Koosman then intentionally walked Al Ferrara to load the bases. As Ivan Murrell grounded out to short Pena scored the first run. But Koosman got Ed Spiezio to ground out to short to end the inning.In the top of the 5th, Koosman walked Tommy Dean who was sacrificed over to second by the pitcher Joe Niekro. Jose Arcia's single to right drove in Tommy Dean giving the Padres a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th Donn Clendenon & Bud Harrelson both reached with base hits. Next catcher Duffy Dyer hit his second HR of the season, the three-run shot put the Mets up 3-2. It was all the offense needed as Koosman rolled along retiring eleven batters in a row after the 5th inning. In the 9th, he gave up a base hit but then struck out Ivan Murrell to end the game.
Sunday August 17th, 1969- second game: In the night cap, the old man of the Mets staff, Don Cardwell (4-9) at 33 years old, took the mound against rookie Clay Kirby (3-15).
Kirby would lead the NL with twenty losses that season, although his ERA was just 3.80 on a Padre team that lost 110 games. Two years later in 1971, he would be a 15-game winner.
Don Cardwell had his best outing of the year up to that point, as he shut out the Padres for seven innings, allowing eight hits, with three K's & three walks.
It was a fine pitcher's duel as Cardwell & Kirby shut out their opponents thru six innings.
Next, Jerry Grote walked. Bud Harrelson followed with a triple to centerfield, his fourth triple of the season clearing the bases as Weis & Grote broke the scoreless tie giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Manager Gil Hodges sent in J.C. Martin to pinch hit & he delivered with a sac fly to center scoring Harrelson with the Mets third run.
In the top of the 8th, Cal Koonce came on to pitch for New York. Ollie Brown hit a grounder to second that Wayne Garrett misplayed allowing Ollie to reach safely.
Al Ferrara followed with a single to right field. John Sipin came in to pinch run. Larry Stahl singled scoring Brown with an unearned run.
Gil Hodges went to Ron Taylor in the bullpen. Taylor got to ground ball outs but John Sipin scored on the out making it a 3-2 game. Pinch hitter Roberto Pena popped up to Don Clendenon in foul territory to end the inning.
In the 9th, Ron Taylor retired the side in order for six outs in a row as he earned his 12th save on the season.
Over the two double headers over the weekend, the Mets pitching staff had allowed just three earned runs in 36 innings.
Tuesday August 19th, 1969:
The Mets were now 15 games over .500 at 66-51 but still eight games behind the Chicago Cubs. Tonight, they hosted Clyde King's third place San Francisco Giants (64-56) for a mid-week series. As usual, all the old New York Giants fans came out to see their old team, as a big crowd of 48,968 settled in for what was to be a great pitcher's game.
Tuesday August 19th, 1969:
The Mets were now 15 games over .500 at 66-51 but still eight games behind the Chicago Cubs. Tonight, they hosted Clyde King's third place San Francisco Giants (64-56) for a mid-week series. As usual, all the old New York Giants fans came out to see their old team, as a big crowd of 48,968 settled in for what was to be a great pitcher's game. The Mets sent young another young pitcher, rookie Gary Gentry (9-10) to the mound to face off against future Hall of Famer; Juan Marichal (14-8).
Gentry had not earned a win since July 15th, although he had shut out the Braves for nine innings on August 8th the Mets took a 1-0 extra inning loss on Felipe Alou's Walk off RBI single.
But tonight, Gentry was outstanding, in one of his best performances of the regular season. He went a season high ten innings, shutting out the mighty Giants lineup on just four scattered hits. He also walked four & struck out five. Three of his five strike outs were the bats of Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays & Willie McCovey.
In the bottom of the 14th inning, Marichal retired Rod Gaspar for the first out. Then Tommie Agee stepped in & hit a dramatic walk off HR off the future Hall of Famer giving the Mets an exciting win. It was Agee's 21st HR of the year & his 58th RBI.
Agee Trivia: From August 9th to August 26th, Agee hit .338 with 22 hits, 4 doubles 5 HRs 15 RBIs & scored 11 runs with a 1.034 OPS in 16 games.
Wednesday August 20th, 1969: Tonight, Gil Hodges' gave the ball to Jim McAndrew (4-5) as he went up against another Giants Hall of Famer, Gaylord Perry (15-9).
In the bottom of the 2nd, Bud Harrelson singled & Duffy Dyer reached on an error by Dave Mason at second. After Jim McAndrew went down on strikes, Tommie Agee singled to left field bringing in Harrelson for a 2-0 lead.
In the 5th, Bobby Pfeil & Cleon Jones both reached with one out single. Art Shamsky then hit his tenth HR of the season, a three-run shot off Perry for a 5-0 Mets lead.
Art Shamsky Trivia: For Shamsky it was a season best multi-four RBI games
As Wayne Garrett followed with a double, Gaylord Perry was done as manager Red Schoendienst brought in Ray Sadecki to pitch. Bud Harrelson greeted him with his fifth triple of the year, giving the Mets a 6-0 lead.
On the mound Jim McAndrew was outstanding, having his best outing of the year. He continued the Mets amazing week of fine pitching, as he threw a complete game two hit shut out over the Giants. The only hits he gave up in the game were both to Don Mason. In the top of the 1st inning, he reached on a double, then in the 3rd inning he collected a triple. McAndrew retired 18 of the next 21 batters including retiring the last ten batters of the in a row.
McAndrew collected six strike outs, with three walks, as he bested his record to 5-5.
In the week of dominating Mets pitching, the staff allowed just three earned runs over 54 innings of work.
The Mets were on a six-game win streak & they would go on to win 14 of 16 games going into the month of September getting to within four games behind the fading Chicago Cubs.