Remembering Mets History (1971) Cleon Jones Hits Walk Off HRs Two Saturdays In a Row
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The Mets had been in first place in May & although they fell to second later that month, were still withing reasonable reach of first place in early July. But now at eleven games back things were looking grim for another divisional title.
This was a typical Tom Seaver game, a low scoring pitcher's duel as San Diego's Dave Roberts matched Seaver along the way. After four scoreless innings, the Padres Ed Spiezio hit a solo HR in the top of the 5th, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the 9th, Larry Stahl walked & stole second. Tom Seaver then got "Downtown" Ollie Brown to line out to Cleon in left field for the second out. He then got Ed Spiezio to fly out to right fielder Ken Singleton ending the inning.
Tom Seaver gave up one run on six hits, striking out eight & walking two earning his 14th win. He was posting one of the league's best ERAs at 1.96. Seaver would end the year leading the league in ERA (1.76) the only season he posted an ERA under one & strikes outs (289) for the second straight year.
Saturday August 28th, 1971: The Mets (64-64) had just gotten to the .500 mark. This afternoon, Gil Hodges Mets hosted Walter Alston's second place Los Angeles Dodgers (69-63) in a double header. The Dodgers would finish second on the season, just one game behind the San Francisco Giants.
In the night cap, the starters were Gary Gentry (10-9) for New York & the Dodgers Don Sutton (12-10).
But Gray Gentry was just as tough on Dodger hitters as he held them scoreless thru seven innings.
In the bottom of the 8th Jim Brewer relived Sutton. Brewer retired the first two batters but then catcher Duffy Dyer doubled to center field. Tommie Agee then singled to left field scoring Dyer tying up the game 1-1.
In the bottom of the 9th, Jim Brewer got the first two Mets outs, as Bud Harrelson popped up & Wayne Garrett flied to right.
This afternoon they hosted Preston Gomez's, last place San Diego Padres (47-80). The Padres sent Dave Roberts (11-12) to the hill up against Seaver in front of 26,584 fans at Shea Stadium.
Trivia: Ed Spiezio hit 39 career HRs in 1544 at bats. He is the father of former 2002 World Champion Anaheim Angel Scott Spiezio.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, Cleon Jones led off with his fifth triple of the season. Cleon would led the Mets along with Bud Harrelson with six triples that season. Tommie Agee brought Jones in with a sac fly tying up the game at one.
The score remained tied until the 9th inning.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Mets Ted Martinez grounded out & Ken Boswell flew out for the second out.
Cleon Jones then stepped in & was the hero of the day, as he hit a walk off HR off Dave Roberts to end the game, giving the Shea fans a big thrill.
Cleon Jones then stepped in & was the hero of the day, as he hit a walk off HR off Dave Roberts to end the game, giving the Shea fans a big thrill.
Cleon Jones Trivia: At the time Cleon Jones was batting .327 with one of the best averages in the NL. It was his 12th HR & his 57th RBI of the season. He would finish the season batting .319 (seventh best in the NL) In the 1969 Championship season he had hit .340 setting a franchise record finishing third in the NL.
Dave Roberts took the loss, giving up the two runs on just three hits while sig out seven. Roberts would post a 2.10 ERA that season, second best to Tom Seaver. He won 14 games for the last place Padre team that won just 61 games.
In the first game the Mets defeated the Dodgers 9-2. Tom Seaver won his 15th game (15-9- 1.96 ERA) beating Claude Osteen. Seaver pitched the entire game allowing two runs, eight hits, six strike outs & two walks.
The offense was led by Donn Clendenon, as he hit his 10th HR of the year & drove in four runs. Jerry Grote drove in two runs, with Tommie Agee, Bob Aspromonte & Cleon Jones all adding RBI hits.
In the night cap, the starters were Gary Gentry (10-9) for New York & the Dodgers Don Sutton (12-10).Both starters were outstanding, for L.A. Don Sutton shut out the Mets through seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six.
But Gray Gentry was just as tough on Dodger hitters as he held them scoreless thru seven innings.
In the top of the 8th, catcher Duke Sims doubled to right field. A young Bobby Valentine was brought in to pinch run for him. Next, pinch hitter Tom Haller lined a base hit to right, scoring Valentine with the game's first run.
In the bottom of the 8th Jim Brewer relived Sutton. Brewer retired the first two batters but then catcher Duffy Dyer doubled to center field. Tommie Agee then singled to left field scoring Dyer tying up the game 1-1.
Gary Gentry exited the game after eight innings, allowing just the one run on six hits, with six K's & a pair of walks. In the top of the 9th, Tug McGraw came on & pitched a scoreless inning.
Cleon Jones stepped in & was the hero once again. Cleon hit another walk off game winning HR, thrilling the crowd of 43,492 with a 2-1 Mets win.
It was Cleon's 13th HR of the year & his second walk off HR of the week. It was also his second career walk off HR off Jim Brewer. He now had reached the 60 RBI mark & was batting .328.
Cleon Jones Walk Off Trivia: In his Mets career Cleon Jones had six walk off hits with four walk off HRs. In 1966 he hit his first off the Cubs Ken Holtzman. In 1970 he hit his second walk off HR the first of two of the Dodgers Jim Brewer.
Tug McGraw earned the victory bringing him to 9-5 on the year, while holding a 1.83 ERA.