Remembering Mets History (1969) World Series Game #2: Kooz Takes a No Hitter into the 7th Inning
The O's felt they were right where they were supposed to be. Baltimore & rest of the world believed that the Mets had run out of gas having now met their match against their mighty lineup.
In the first game, Baltimore beat the Mets ace Tom Seaver, that years NL Cy Young winner scoring four runs on six hits in five innings of work.
Mike Cuellar held the Mets to one run, a sac fly from Al Weis, on six hits.
McNally won twenty games for four straight seasons, having gone 20-7 that season. In the ALCS he pitched an 11 inning three hit shut out over the Twins. One of the best pitchers of his era, McNally lost his fastball by 1975 & retired.
In the top of the 1st, Dave McNally started the game striking out Tommie Agee. He then retired Bud Harrelson & Cleon Jones.
In the top of the 4th inning, Donn Clendenon led off the inning with a solo HR over the right field fence putting New York on the board first.
In the top of the 9th, Dave McNally started out the by striking out Donn Clendenon. Ron Swoboda then grounded out to Boog Powell at first who tossed over to McNally for the out.
With two outs, "The Glider" Ed Charles got his second hit of the day, a single into left field.
Al Weis Trivia: The Long Island born Mets infielder was a .215 hitter during the regular season; Weis had his second hit of the game & drove in what was to be the games winning run. Weis would bat .455 (5-11) in the World Series earning the moniker "mighty might" from Mets broadcaster Lindsey Nelson.
But with two outs, Kooz who had only issued two walks in the game, walked Frank Robinson & Boog Powell. Orioles' manager Earl Weaver put Merv Rettenmund to pinch run.
Ron Taylor had been the Mets top reliever in 1969, going 9-4 with 13 saves & a 2.72 ERA.
Jerry Koosman was coming off a rough NLCS start, where he gave up six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings although the Mets still went on to the 11-6 win.
A crowd of 50,850 came out to Memorial Stadium for the second game of the 1969 World Series.
In the bottom of the 1st, Jerry Koosman struck out Orioles leadoff batter Don Buford, to set the tone for his game. Don Buford & Paul Blair both hit fly ball outs to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Koosman struck out slugger Boog Powell to start the inning. After Brooks Robinson popped up to Bud Harrelson, Kooz walked Davey Johnson then got Andy Etchebarren to fly out to Tommie Agee to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Koosman struck out slugger Boog Powell to start the inning. After Brooks Robinson popped up to Bud Harrelson, Kooz walked Davey Johnson then got Andy Etchebarren to fly out to Tommie Agee to end the inning.
In the top of the 3rd inning, Al Weis led off with the Mets first hit a single to centerfield. With two outs, Bud Harrelson drew a walk putting two men on for the Mets best hitter, Cleon Jones. But Cleon lined out to left field to end the inning.
Clendenon Trivia: Donn had not played in the NLCS due to his platoon with Ed Kranepool at first base. In Game One of the World Series, he collected two hits. This was Clendenon's first of three World Series HRs on his way to the MVP Award.
Dave McNally struck out Ron Swoboda then retired Ed Charles & Jerry Grote on ground balls to keep it at a 1-0 Mets lead.
After his second inning walk, Jerry Koosman retired 13 batters in a row, keeping the Orioles without a hit thru the first six innings.
After his second inning walk, Jerry Koosman retired 13 batters in a row, keeping the Orioles without a hit thru the first six innings.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, Paul Blair led off the inning with a base hit into left field, spoiling Koosman's no hit bid. Koosman got Frank Robinson to line out to Tommie Agee in center field & then Boog Powell to pop out to Bud Harrelson at short for the second out.
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An excited Mets dugout congratulates Donn Clendenon on HR
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Paul Blair stole second base & with two outs Brooks Robinson came to bat. The future Hall of Famer singled to centerfield scoring Paul Blair with the Orioles first run of the game tying it up at one.
The next batter was Davey Johnson, Koosman got him to ground out to Ed Charles at third who got the force at second finishing off the inning tied at 1-1.
In the top of the 8th, the Mets went down in order. Since the Clendenon HR in the 4th inning, Dave McNally was cruising along very nicely himself, having only allowed one to hit a double to Ed Charles in the 7th.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Koosman came out to pitch another inning, he got Andy Etchebarren to line out to Al Weis. Kooz then struck out Mark Belanger looking & got the pitcher McNally to fly out to left field for the third out.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Koosman came out to pitch another inning, he got Andy Etchebarren to line out to Al Weis. Kooz then struck out Mark Belanger looking & got the pitcher McNally to fly out to left field for the third out.
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| "The Glider" Ed Charles singles & slides safely into second base after Jerry Grote's base hit |
With two outs, "The Glider" Ed Charles got his second hit of the day, a single into left field.
The Glider Trivia: Veteran Ed Charles was the oldest Met in the line up at 36 years old. The eight-year veteran had played parts of six seasons with the Kansas City A's, coming to the Mets in 1967 & never played on a winning ball club until this season.
Mets catcher Jerry Grote hit safely for his third straight post season game with a base hit into left field, putting two men on for New York.
Next up was Al Weis, singled to left field, scoring Ed Charles, as the Glider crossed the plate putting the Mets up 2-1.
Next up was Al Weis, singled to left field, scoring Ed Charles, as the Glider crossed the plate putting the Mets up 2-1.
With two outs in the inning, Mets manager Gil Hodges stuck with his left hander sending Jerry Koosman to bat with runners on first & third, but he grounded out to Mark Belanger at short to end the inning.
In the top of the 9th inning, Koosman came on to pitch & started out getting Don Buford to fly out to Ron Swoboda in right field for the first out. Kooz then got Paul Bair to ground out to Bud Harrelson at short for the second out.
Mets Manager Gil Hodges felt Koosman had enough. He went to the mound & took the ball from Kooz, calling for his right-handed reliever; Ron Taylor to get the last out.
Jerry Koosman pitched 8.2 innings, allowing one run on just two hits with three walks, while striking out four, to earn his first World Series victory.
As Koosman exited after his outstanding pitching performance, the Baltimore fans gave him a nice ovation as he walked to the Mets dugout.
Ron Taylor got Brooks Robinson to ground out to Ed Charles at third base for the one out save ending the game. The Mets had won their first World Series game in franchise history, taking the thriller in Baltimore 2-1.
For the Orioles, Dave McNally had pitched himself a good game going the full nine innings, allowing two runs on six hits, giving up three walks while striking out seven Mets, while taking the loss. It was his first career post season loss in four games.
