Remembering Mets History (1969) NLCS Game #2: Mets Romp Braves 11-6 To Go Up Two Games to None

Sunday October 5, 1969 - NLCS Game #2 - Atlanta Fulton County Stadium: Game One was not the low scoring pitcher's duel as it was anticipated to be. The Mets put up nine runs, something they had done just 15 times during the regular season.

Now ahead one game to none in the series, Manager Gil Hodges sent his second All Star pitcher to the mound, Jerry Koosman (17-9 / 2.28 ERA /180 Ks).

Kooz Trivia: From August 17th thru the end of the season, Koosman went 8-1 with 2.35 ERA.

 Kooz went up against Atlanta's Ron Reed (18-10 / 3.47 ERA / 160 Ks). In September, Reed had won five of his last six decisions.

50,270 fans filled Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. 

The game time was moved up to 4:00 PM in order for NBC to air earlier NFL Football games. 

TV Sports Trivia: The game time move was something new in 1969. It was unprecedented that
MLB was off setting its schedule for NFL football. But the viewing audience was changing, a new sports era was just beginning to explode into huge bucks for television. Many people were opposed to the move, especially since the late afternoon shadows from the sun would affect the playing field for making it difficult for both offensive & defensive players.

Quotes- Casey Stengel: "They should never change the game like this. This here four o'clock start is twilight baseball, that's what it is & don't you think it doesn't change the game." 

In the top of the 1st, Tommie Agee led off the game with a single. Wayne Garrett walked & then Tommie Agee who had stolen 12 bases during the season, stole third. 

Ron Reed then walked Cleon Jones to load the bases with nobody out.The Mets were looking for a big inning, but Ron Reed struck out both Art Shamsky & Ken Boswell. Then, original Ed Kranepool singled to right field bringing in Tommie Agee with the Mets first run. 

Kranepool Trivia: Ed was the longest tenured Met having come up with the club for three games in their inaugural 1962 season.

In the bottom of the 1st, Jerry Koosman gave the Braves a leadoff walk but then struck out Tony Gonzalez & got Hank Aaron to hit into a double play to Bud Harrelson at short to end the inning.

In the top of the 2nd, Jerry Koosman drew a one out walk. Tommie Agee, then connected with his second hit of the game, a two run HR putting the Mets up 3-0. 

Agee Trivia: Agee was one of the Mets consistent & key offensive players all year long, leading the Mets in HRs (26) & RBIs (76) during the regular season.

Next, Cleon Jones would double to left field & score on Art Shamsky's RBI base hit giving the Mets a 4-0 lead.

Braves manager, Lum Harris removed his starter, Ron Reed in favor of reliever Paul Doyle. In 1.2 innings Reed gave up four runs on five hits with three walks.

In the top of the 3rd inning, with one out, Jerry Grote reached on an Orlando Cepeda error at first base. Bud Harrelson, followed with a double to left field scoring Grote making it 5-0 Mets. Harrelson had hit safely in the first two playoff games & now had three RBIs.

Tommie Agee was walked intentionally then rookie Wayne Garrett added an RBI single to left field scoring Bud Harrelson as the Mets were rolling along with a 6-0 lead. 

Braves manager, Lum Harris went to his bullpen for his third pitcher in as many innings, as Milt Pappas came in to relieve Paul Doyle, as he allowed two runs in one inning.

In the top of the 4th inning, the Mets continued scoring, Art Shamsky singled to right field to lead off the inning. Then second baseman Ken Boswell blasted a two run HR, blowing it wide open, making it 8-0 Mets

In the bottom of the 4th, Jerry Koosman gave up a double to Rico Carty & RBI single to Orlando Cepeda single, giving Atlanta their first run. 

In the top of the 5th inning, with two outs Wayne Garrett doubled collecting his second hit of the day. Then Cleon Jones collected his second hit with an RBI single to right field scoring Garrett making it 9-1 Mets.

In the bottom of the 5th, Jerry Koosman retired the first two batters, then had a nightmare of an inning. Felix Millan singled & Tony Gonzalez reached on a walk. Koosman then gave up a three run HR to Hank Aaron making it 9-4. It was Aaron's second HR in as many games & he now had five RBIs.

Next Rico Carty walked & Orlando Cepeda doubled with his second hit of the game. Clete Boyer then collected a base hit scoring Carty & Cepeda narrowing the Mets lead to 9-6.

In the inning, Koosman faced eight batters allowing five runs, on four hits, a double & a HR
while issuing two walks. 

Kooz Trivia: Jerry Koosman had not given up five runs in a game since August 12th & had only allowed five or more runs in game three times on the season. From here thru the rest of the post season, Kooz would be fantastic.

Gil Hodges went to Ron Taylor in the bullpen for the second game in a row. Taylor ended the inning, as catcher Bob Dider lined out to second. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Taylor pitched a scoreless inning collecting a pair of strike outs.  

In the top of the 6th, the Mets failed to score off Jim Britton & Cecil Upshaw, the Braves fifth pitcher of the game. 

In the top of the 7th, Tommie Agee walked, then stole his second base of the game. He advanced to third base of Wayne Garrett's fly ball to center.



While on third base, Agee was getting ready to steal home when he almost lost his head, as Cleon Jones ripped a screaming line drive down third base just missing Agee.

Quotes- Tommie Agee: "Damn, that ball just grazed my head. No there was no sign, I was on my own".

Quotes- Cleon Jones: "I didn't see him, but I heard him coming in & I saw the pitcher speed up his wind up. I didn't want to hit the ball, just swinging to keep the catcher occupied."  

Cleon's Multi-Hit / Multi-RBI Game: Cleon Jones then hit a two run HR, collecting his third hit & his third RBI of the game making it 11-6 Mets. Cleon also scored two runs & drew a walk. It was also his fourth RBI of the game. 

For Agee it was his third run scored in the game, as he also collected a pair of hits & a pair of walks.

Tug McGraw came on & blanked the Braves in the next two innings. In the top of the 9th, Felix Millan led off with a walk. For Millan he collected two hits with three walks & a run scored in the game.  Tony Gonzalez collected a hit to put two on with no one out. 

But Tug McGraw got down to business, striking out Henry Aaron looking at a third strike then getting Rico Carty to ground into a double play, Ken Boswell - Bud Harrelson - Donn Clendenon.

The Mets were sitting pretty with a 2-0 Series lead on their way back home to an excited New York City & an insane Shea Stadium