Remembering Mets History: (1969) Ed Kranepool Hits Two HRs In Tom Seaver's Two Hitter

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Tuesday, June 3rd 1969: Tonight was a milestone in Mets history, it was the latest point in the season in club history that the team was above .500.

The Amazing Mets were tied for second place, with the Pittsburgh Pirates,  8 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs. Tonight, Gil Hodges Mets (24-23) hosted Walter Alston's second place Los Angeles Dodgers (28-20) just 1 1/2 games out of first.

On the mound was the 1969 Cy Young winner; Tom Seaver against L.A.'s Alan Foster.

Starting Lineups

Los Angeles Dodgers       New York Mets
1Willie CrawfordLF1Bud HarrelsonSS
2Willie DavisCF2Tommie AgeeCF
3Wes Parker1B3Wayne Garrett3B
4Andy KoscoRF4Cleon JonesLF
5Tom HallerC5Ed Kranepool1B
6Bill Sudakis3B6Ron SwobodaRF
7Jim Lefebvre2B7Jerry GroteC
8Ted SizemoreSS8Al Weis2B
9Alan FosterP9Tom SeaverP

In the 1st inning, The Dodgers Willie Crawford was thrown out at second base trying to stretch Tommie Agee's error in centerfield into a two base error. The next batter, Willie Davis then singled to left field. That was to be the only hit Tom Seaver was to allow until the 7th inning.

That hit was a two run HR to Andy Kosco. Seaver would pitch eight innings, give up two runs & allow just two hits. Along the way he struck out nine Dodgers & walked two. The win got him to 8-3 with a 2.51 ERA. Tug McGraw pitched the 9th & earned his second save of the year.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Ed Kranepool led off with a solo HR making it 1-0. In the 6th inning, Wayne Garrett singled & scored when Cleon Jones tripled to left field. At the time Jones was batting .358 amongst the best in the league.

The hot hitting Ed Kranepool followed with his second HR of the night. Kranepool would have two multi HR games on the year, hitting 11 HRs in 353 at bats in 1969.

Wayne Garrett finished off the Mets scoring by stealing home in the 8th inning. Of course Ed Kranepool was at bat when he did that.

The win was the Mets fourth in a row. The next night they would beat the Dodgers 1-0 in a 15 inning contest in front of 31, 331 at Shea Stadium. Mets starter Jack DiLauro pitched nine scoreless innings in his first career start. The walk off hit was provided by Wayne Garrett who singled home Tommie Agee. Agee had scored all the way from first base, hustling after Willie Davis made an error in centerfield. The Mets went on to win six straight during this streak.

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