On this Independence Day double header they went to Pittsburgh's Forbes Field to take on Larry Shepard's Pirates (38-41).
Former Pirates Ralph Kiner, now a Mets broadcaster & Donn Clendenon enjoyed returning to see their former team & friends.

Starting Lineups
1 | Tommie Agee | CF |
2 | Bobby Pfeil | 2B |
3 | Cleon Jones | LF |
4 | Donn Clendenon | 1B |
5 | Ed Charles | 3B |
6 | Rod Gaspar | RF |
7 | Jerry Grote | C |
8 | Al Weis | SS |
9 | Tom Seaver | P |
1 | Matty Alou | CF |
2 | Jose Pagan | 3B |
3 | Willie Stargell | LF |
4 | Roberto Clemente | RF |
5 | Al Oliver | 1B |
6 | Bill Mazeroski | 2B |
7 | Gene Alley | SS |
8 | Jerry May | C |
9 | Bob Veale | P |

The Pirates tied it in the 4th, as slugger Willie Stargell hit his 12th HR of the year & catcher Jerry May hit an RBI sac fly.
In the 5th, Cleon Jones & Don Clendenon had back to back doubles, putting the Mets ahead. Veale gave way to reliever, Bruce Dal Canton. Later in the inning, Al Weis drove in Jones & Wayne Garrett who had drawn a walk, making it 6-2 New York.
In the 8th, Seaver led off with a walk& then Tommie Agee hit his 12th HR of the year, making it 8-2.
In the home 8th, Seaver tired, allowing two runs on three hits, giving way to reliever Cal Koonce. Koonce would allow a 9th inning RBI double to Roberto Clemente, but by then the Mets lead had grown to 11-4.
The Mets beat up the five Pirate pitchers in this game, getting Veale for four runs, Dal Canton for two runs, Lou Marone for two runs & Bob Moose for three more runs in the 9th.
In the 9th, Grote walked, Weis singled & then three consecutive singles from Koonce, Agee & Pfiel.
Seaver earned his 13th win to go 13-2.

Starting Lineups
1 | Tommie Agee | CF |
2 | Ken Boswell | 2B |
3 | Cleon Jones | LF |
4 | Art Shamsky | RF |
5 | Wayne Garrett | 3B |
6 | Ed Kranepool | 1B |
7 | J.C. Martin | C |
8 | Al Weis | SS |
9 | Don Cardwell | P |
1 | Matty Alou | CF |
2 | Manny Sanguillen | C |
3 | Willie Stargell | 1B |
4 | Roberto Clemente | RF |
5 | Al Oliver | LF |
6 | Richie Hebner | 3B |
7 | Jose Martinez | 2B |
8 | Freddie Patek | SS |
9 | Dock Ellis | P |
The Mets bats started right away, in the 1st, Tommie Agee led off with a single & with two outs Art Shamsky walked. Wayne Garrett singled to load the bases. Ellis then walked Ed Kranepool & surrendered a single to J.C. Martin. Next Al Weis tripled, clearing the bases making it 5-0 Mets.
In the 2nd, Art Shamsky drove in Tommie Agee for the sixth run. In the 3rd, J.C. Martin hit his 3rd HR of the year making it 7-2. In the 9th, four straight Mets singles made it 9-2, as Shamsky got another RBI & Wayne Garrett an RBI as well.
The Mets swept the twin bill, improving to ten games above .500 (44-34) 7 1/2 games behind Chicago, fourth best record in the NL.
The usually light hitting Al Weis had himself a big day with the bat, as he collected five hits, two doubles, a triple & five RBIs.
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