GENTRY BLANKS EXPOS, METS NOW 2 GAMES AHEAD
Thursday, September 11, 1969
The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are like two ships passing each other in the National League East. The Mets are sailing upward while the Cubs are steadily sinking.
The Mets downed the Expos for the third time in two days at Shea, this time behind a dominant performance by Gary Gentry. The 22-year-old righthander hurled a six-hit shutout, striking out nine while walking only two to even his season record. Meanwhile, New York’s leadoff man Tommie Agee collected two hits and scored twice, fellow Alabama native Cleon Jones also crossed the plate twice, and Ken Boswell, yesterday’s extra-inning hero, went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Mets 4, Expos 0. W: Gentry (11-11) L: Robertson (5-13)
Meanwhile, the Cubs remained in a rut in Philly. Dick Selma carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 8th inning, but Tony Taylor collected his third hit of the day with a leadoff double, John Briggs followed with a double to tie the game, and then slugger Dick Allen struck a home run to put the home team up by two. Willie Smith homered in the top of the ninth off starter Jeff James (who made his first appearance of the season) to draw Chicago within one, but Grant Jackson came on to get the final out.
Phillies 4, Cubs 3. W: James (1-0) L: Selma (12-7) SV: Jackson (1)
Since August 13, when the Mets were in third place in the division and 9 1/2 games behind Chicago, New York has won 23 of 29 games while the Cubs have struggled at a pace of 10-17.
NL EAST
W L T PCT GB
New York Mets 85 57 0 .599 -
Chicago Cubs 84 60 1 .583 2.0
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Tags: 1969, Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Cleon Jones, Dick Selma, Gary Gentry, Ken Boswell, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Rob Kirkpatrick, Shea Stadium, Tommie Agee, Willie Smith
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