Remembering Mets History (1969) Jerry Koosman Strikes Out 15 Setting A New Mets Record
The Padres were one of four new expansion teams in 1969, the first year of divisional play. The Padres joined the Montreal Expos in the NL. The AL got the Kansas City Royals & the Seattle Pilots.
It was the Padres first trip to New York, they had beaten the Mets in the series opener the previous night. The Mets were on a five-game losing streak, their longest losing streak of the 1969 season.
On this night the Mets young left hander, Jerry Koosman took the mound on just three days rest. Koosman had missed a month of action from April 29th to May 24th, with a shoulder issue. This was his second start after his return. On May 24th, although he had only given up two runs, he took a 3-1 loss to the Astros. Tonight, his opponent was the friars, Clay Kirby.
In the top if the 1st, Koosman started out the game fanning Tommy Dean, then after a fly ball out, he struck out "Downtown" Ollie Brown.
From that point on Jerry Koosman retired 21 of the next 22 batters. In the top of the 3rd, he collected another strike. In the top of the 4th inning, he got Nate Colbert & Al Ferrara both looking.
In the top of the 5th, after allowing a double to Cito Gaston Chris Cannizzaro lined out to Ron Swoboda. Next the pitcher Kirby went down looking at a third strike for the second time. Tommy Dean then flew out to end the inning.
Kooz collected strike outs in both the 7th & 8th innings to get to eleven Ks on the night. It was the first of three times that Championship season he would reach double figures in strike outs.
In the top of the 9th, Nate Colbert collected a two out single, but Kooz retired Al Ferrara on a grounder to Wayne Garrett at third base.
New Franchise K Record: With the game still scoreless in the 10th, Roberto Pena led off with a base hit. But Koosman got Cito Gaston to pop out to the mound, then Chris Cannizzaro lined out to Tommie Agee in center field. Kooz then struck out pinch hitter Ivan Murrell setting a new franchise record for single game strike outs at the time.
On this night, Jerry Koosman shut out the Padres thru ten innings, allowing four hits with 15 strike outs & two walks. The 15 strike outs were the most in the NL that season, up to that point in time.
After his return from the injury Koosman would allow just four earned runs in sixty innings pitched. The Mets season turned around as they went on an 18-7 run then continued their winning ways thru the rest of the season.
In the bottom of the 10th, Tommie Sisk came on to pitch for San Diego. Sisk walked the leadoff man, pinch hitter Art Shamsky. Amos Otis came in to pinch run for Art. Tommie Agee dropped a bunt but Tommie Sisk threw Amos Otis out at second. Billy McCool came on to pitch & intentionally walked "The Glider" Ed Charles. With two on, Ken Boswell lined out to second baseman John Sipin who doubled up Ed& Charles to end the inning.
In the top of the 11th, Tug McGraw put two Padres on with walks but struck out slugger Nate Colbert to end the inning.
After Ed Kranepool struck out, Ron Swoboda singled to center sending Cleon Jones to third. Reberger intentionally walked Jerry Grote to get to Bud Harrelson with the bases loaded.
Harrelson responded with a base hit to left center field scoring Jones with the games walk off winning run. It was Harrelson tenth RBI of the season.
Buddy Trivia: Bud Harrelson, was one of the most valuable players on the 1969 Mets as well as all the Mets teams he played on. It was usually because of his glove on defense. Tom Seaver always commented on how many base hits Harrelson took away from opponents. But Buddy also contributed with his speed, good base running &occasional key hits at times like this. Harrelson was also a two time starting All Star.