The Mets trailed the Cardinals 2-1 going into the bottom of the eighth, but Art Shamsky singled in Tommie Agee to tie the game.  Four innings of scoreless relief from Tug McGraw carried the game into the bottom of the eleventh. Ron Swoboda singled off starter Bob Gibson with one out, Jerry Grote’s hit moved him to second, and Bud Harrelson punched a single into leftfield to score Swoboda with the winning run. New York’s Jim McAndrew started and gave up just two unearned runs in seven innings before leaving in favor of a pinch-hitter.

With the win and Chicago’s loss, the Mets’s magic number is down to 1.

Mets 3, Cardinals 2 (11 inn.).  W: McGraw (9-3)  L: Gibson (18-13)

Ken Holtzman’s second-half struggles continued, as he lasted just three innings and gave up five runs to visiting Montreal. Bob Bailey drove in three runs, and both Rusty Staub and Ron Fairly went deep for the Expos.

Expos 7, Cubs 3.  W: Stoneman (11-18)  L: Holtzman (17-12)

***

NL EAST                              W    L    T   PCT    GB    M#
New York Mets                  95   61    0  .609     -       1
Chicago Cubs                    89   67    1  .571   6.0     -

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The Mets may be in first place, but the Pirates are looking like the top team in the East right now.

Bob Moose threw a no-hitter at Shea, giving Pirates their third win in two days against New York. Moose walked 3 and struck out 6. After walking Rod Gaspar to lead off the ninth, Moose got Tommie Agee to pop up, retired Wayne Garrett on a ground out to third, and then secured the no-hitter when Art Shamsky grounded out to second.

Pirates 4, Mets 0. W: Moose (12-3)  L: Gentry (11-12) 

Errors by All-Stars Ron Santo and Glenn Beckert opened the door for four Cardinals runs as St. Louis emerged with a victory in Wrigley, despite a triple and home run from Jim Hickman.

Cardinals 4, Cubs 1.  W: Carlton (17-10)  L: Hands (18-14)  SV: Grant (7)

Friday, September 19, 1969

Looking for something to build off next year, the improving Pittsburgh Pirates jumped on the streaking New York Mets to sweep a doubleheader at Shea. Matty Alou led the charge in game one by going 4 for 4 with 3 RBI, and Willie Stargell was 3 for 5 with a home run and 2 RBI in the second game. New York’s Al Weis went a combined 4 for 7 on the day and Jerry Grote a combined 3 for 6.

Pirates 8, Mets 2 (1).  W: Veale (13-12)  L: Ryan (6-3)

Pirates 8, Mets 0 (2). W: Walker (3-6)  L: McAndrew (6-7)

Both Ken Holtzman and Bob Gibson recorded extra-inning complete games in the front end of a doubleheader at Wrigley, and Jim Hickman touched Gibson for a double with two outs bottom of tenth to drive in Billy Williams with the winning run.  The Cardinals struck back with 5 runs, 3 unearned, off the Chicago bullpen to pull away in game two.

Cubs 2, Cardinals 1 (1, 10 inn.).  W: Holtzman (17-11)  L: Gibson (18-12)

Cardinals 7, Cubs 2.  W: Torrez (9-4)  L: Selma (12-9)

***

STANDINGS AT CLOSE OF PLAY ON 9/20/69

NL EAST                              W    L    T   PCT    GB 
New York Mets                   91   61    0  .599     - 
Chicago Cubs                    88   66    1  .571   4.0
Pittsburgh Pirates              82   70    0  .539   9.0 
St. Louis Cardinals             82   70    0  .539   9.0
Philadelphia Phillies           61   91    0  .401  30.0 
Montreal Expos                  50  104    0  .325  42.0

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The unthinkable has happened.  The New York Mets are in first place.

The Mets began play a half-game behind Chicago, which had been in first place in the National League East since the very first day of the season, and had as recently as August 13 led New York by 9 1/2 games in the standings.

The Shea Stadium crowd cheered the Amazins Wednesday evening as the home took the field for the first game of a doubleheader against the last-place Montreal Expos. New York’s Jim McAndrew worked through a rocky first and second innings, giving up a single run in each, before settling into a groove and turning in a heroic, 11-inning gem – allowing just one hit over his last nine frames. At the same time, Expos starter Mike Wegener was just as good, lasting 11 innings himself and allowing just two runs himself – one on a first-inning Art Shamsky single that scored Tommie Agee, and another when Wegener balked in Agee from third in the fifth inning.

From there, it was a nail-biting test of endurance, with neither team crossing the plate in the next six innings. Ron Taylor relieved McAndrew in the top of the 12th, and Agee threw out Remy Hermoso at the plate for the last out of the inning. In the bottom half of the 12th, the Expos’ Bill Stoneman came on for a rare relief appearance. Cleon Jones singled with two outs and moved to second on Rod Gaspar’s walk, and Ken Boswell proved the hero with a game-winning RBI single.

Mets 3, Expos 2 (1, 12 inn.).  W: Taylor (8-4)  L: Stoneman (9-17)

Meanwhile, the slumping Chicago Cubs were on their way to another loss. Starter Ken Holtzman left after seven innings with his team trailing 3-2, and reliever Phil Regan poured gasoline on the fire by allowing three more runs without recording a single out. After winning 10 of his first 11 decisions, Holtzman has now lost nine of his last 15.  Rick Wise tossed a complete game for the Phils, allowing just one unearned run.

Phillies 6, Cubs 2.  W: Wise (13-11)  L: Holtzman (16-10)

With the second game of the Mets-Expos doubleheader underway, the home fans took to watching the out-of-town scoreboard. When the electronic “F” flashed to signal the end of the Cubs game, the Mets fans began to dance in the aisles.  Regardless of the outcome of the nightcap, the Mets were now assured of waking up the next morning in first place. The scoreboard operator ran a celebratory message that seemed aimed just as much to the rest of the league as it was to the Shea faithful: LOOK WHO’S NO. 1.

In the third inning of game two, Jerry Grote’s leadoff double sparked a 6-run rally, and Nolan Ryan made the lead hold up en route to a 7-1 blowout. Ken Boswell recorded three hits, with Art Shamsky and Bud Harrelson each tallying two. When John Bateman flied out to Rod Gaspar for the final out, the Mets had moved into a full-game lead in the National League East.

Mets 7, Expos 1 (2).  W: Ryan (6-1)  L: Reed (6-6)

NL EAST STANDINGS

                                                 W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
New York Mets                   84   57    0  .596     -   565  494
Chicago Cubs                     84   59    1  .587   1.0   656  532

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Billy Williams had a monster day for the Cubs, going 4 for 4 with two home runs. Unfortunately for Chicago, Pirates starter Steve Blass no-hit the rest of the lineup as his team routed the Cubs. Blass himself provided the biggest punch in the Pittsburgh lineup, as he went 4 for 5, homered, and drove in three runs. Don Kessinger was the only Cubs player beside Williams to reach base – twice on walks.

Pirates 9, Cubs 2.  W: Blass (14-8)  L: Holtzman (16-9)

Tom Seaver won his 20th game of the season and Jerry Grote hit a two-run home in Game One against the Phillies at Shea. Seaver and Al Weis also notched RBIs.

Rick Wise outpitched Jim McAndrew in Game Two, striking out 11 Mets in 9 innings.

Mets 5, Phillies 1 (1).  W: Seaver (20-7)  L: Jackson (12-14)

Phillies 4, Mets 2 (2).  W: Wise (12-11)  L: McAndrew (6-6)

***

NL EAST STANDINGS

                                               W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
Chicago Cubs                    84   54    1  .609     -   642  496
New York Mets                  78   57    0  .578   4.5   533  485

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The surging New York Mets swept a doubleheader from the San Diego Padres to move within just three games of the first place Cubs and just one behind Chicago in the loss column.

In the first game, Don Clendenon struck a two-run homer and Ron Swoboda added his own roundtripper. Tommie Agee and Bobby Pfeil both had two hits and Cleon Jones drove in two. Tom Seaver went the distance to record his 18th win of the season.

Jim McAndrew kept the San Diego bats silent in the second game with a complete-game shutout, giving up just five hits and no walks while striking out six. Agee went 3 for 4, giving him five hits on the day, while Art Shamsky, Ken Boswell, and Swoboda each collected two hits.

Mets 8, Padres 4 (1).  W: Seaver (18-7)  L: Sisk (0-9)

Mets 3, Padres 0 (2). W: McAndrew (6-5)  L: Niekro (7-12)

For the second straight day, a Cubs comeback fell just short against the Reds.  Ernie Banks, Don Young, and Glenn Beckert (his first of the season) each hit home runs for Chicago, but it all came down to Ron Santo, who grounded out to third with the tying run on third and two outs in the ninth. Starter Dick Selma had a rough outing, lasting just one inning and giving up five earned runs.

Reds 8, Cubs 7.  W: Merritt (15-5)  L: Selma (12-6)  SV: Granger (17)

                                               W    L    T   PCT    GB  
Chicago Cubs                    78   51    1  .605     -  
New York Mets                  73   52    0  .584   3.0

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The Mets turned in a dominant performance against San Francisco at Shea, as Jim McAndrew evened his record with a 2-hit shutout against the potent Giants lineup and Art Shamsky had a 3-run homer and 4 total RBI. Bobby Pfeil went 3 for 4 and scored twice, and Bud Harrelson had a triple and single.

Mets 6, Giants 0.  W: McAndrew (5-5) L: Perry (15-10)

***

At Wrigley, Atlanta’s Rico Carty doubled and homered to lead the Braves over Fergie Jenkins and the Cubs. Tony Gonzalez and Hank Aaron each got two hits for Atlanta, who are currently in third place in the West. Don Kessinger, Glenn Beckert, Ernie Banks, and Gene Oliver all collected two hits apiece for Chicago, and Ron Santo knocked in two runs in the loss.

Braves 6, Cubs 2.  W: Reed (12-8)  L: Jenkins (17-11)

NL EAST STANDINGS

Team                             W    L    T   PCT    GB 
Chicago Cubs                    76   46    1  .623     -  
New York Mets                   68   51    0  .571   6.5 

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The Cubs let things get away in their first game back at Wrigley.

RBI singles from Paul Popvich and Glenn Beckert gave Chicago a 5-3 lead over the Phillies going into the top of the 9th. But after reliever Hank Aguirre was greeted with a home run by Johnny Briggs, his second in consecutive at-bats, Ted Abernathy came in and poured gasoline on the fire by giving up hits to 4 of the 5 batters he faced, including a roundtripper to Ron Stone.

Billy Williams went 3 for 5 and both Don Kessinger and Beckert went 2 for 4, who lost despite pounding out 11 hits.

Phillies 7, Cubs 5. W: Boozer (1-0)  L: Abernathy (4-2)  SV: B. Wilson (4)

***

Jim McAndrew, Danny Frisella, and Jack DiLauro combined for the dubious distinction of surrendering 11 runs on 15 hits to the expansion Montreal Expos at Shea. Art Shamsky went 2 for 3 with a home run, and rookie Bobby Pfeil also had 2 hits for New York.  Expos starting pitcher Mike Wegener not only got the win but was his team’s hitting star, going 3 for 4 with 4 RBI.

Expos 11, Mets 4. W: Wegener (4-7)  L: McAndrew (2-3)  SV: Radatz (2)

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Trailing 6-1 after just 2 innings, the New York Mets rallied back in Pittsburgh to win 8-7.  Don Clendenon’s 3-run homer capped a 4-run rally in the 6th inning.

After starter Jim McAndrew had lasted just 2/3 of an inning and Nolan Ryan went just as long, the combination of Danny Frisella, Ron Taylor, and Cal Koonce kept the Mets in the game. Jerry Grote had 2 hits and an RBI, as did Ron Swoboda off the bench.

With Chicago’s doubleheader loss, the Mets pulled back to within 5 games of the Cubs.

Mets 8, Pirates 7.  W: Taylor (4-2)  L: Hartenstein (2-4)  SV: Koonce (6)

***

The Cubs were scoreless in 16 of 18 innings of a doubleheader in St. Louis as they were swept by the Cardinals.

In the first game, Steve Carlton scattered 8 hits over 8-plus innings as the Cards carried a 4-0 lead into the 9th. Ernie Banks went 3-for-3, and Ron Santo and Randy Hundley had 2 hits apiece for the Cubs. Steve Huntz’s 2-run single in the 4th proved to be the difference.

In the second game, Rich Nye gave up 5 runs in just 3 innings. St. Louis starter Mike Torrez yielded 3 unearned runs in 2 2/3, but Chuck Taylor came out of the pen to throw 6 1/3 shutout innings. Mike Shannon’s 3-run homer and Joe Torre’s 2-run roundtripper powered the Cardinals’ attack in game 2. Jim Qualls was 2 for 4 with 2 ribbies for Chicago.

Cardinals 4, Cubs 2 (1).  W: Carlton (10-5)  L: Hands (9-7)  SV: Hoerner (9)

Cardinals 6, Cubs 5 (2). W: C. Taylor (1-0)  L: Nye (1-4)

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                    52   31    1  .627     -
New York Mets                   45   34    0  .570   5.0

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A pair of 5-run rallies in the 2nd and 3rd powered the Expos over the Cubs at Jarry Park. Ken Holtzman took just his 3rd loss of the season after surrendering 9 hits and getting charged with 9 runs (2 unearned) in just 3 2/3 innings.  Bob Bailey doubled twice and had 3 RBI for Montreal, while Gary Sutherland scored three times and knocked in 2.  Don Kessinger and Willie Smith each went 3 for 5 in a losing effort.

Expos 11, Cubs 4.  W: Renko (1-1)  L: Holtzman (10-3)  SV: Face (4) 

The Mets dropped a doubleheader in St. Louis. Steve Carlton pitched the Cards to a 4-1 win in the opener, allowing just 3 hits while striking out 9. Nolan Ryan had trouble finding the plate, walking 7 and suffering his first loss of the year.

In the nightcap, the Mets scored 3 runs off starter Mike Torrez in the 1st inning, but St. Louis charged back with 8 runs off starter Jack DiLauro and reliever Don Cardwell. Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky, Wayne Garrett and Don Clendenon each recorded 2 hits in the second game.

Cardinals 3, Mets 1 (1).  W: Carlton (9-5)  L: Ryan (3-1)

Cardinals 8, Mets 5 (2).  W: Torrez (2-4)  L: DiLauro (0-3)  SV: Hoerner (8)

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB
Chicago Cubs                    49   28    1  .636     -
New York Mets                   40   34    0  .541   7.5

Monday, June 30, 1969

Dave Lemonds took the loss in his first start for Chicago after leaving with 2 outs in the 3rd.  The rookie gave up just 2 runs but allowed 4 hits and 3 walks to the host Expos before departing. Phil Regan and Ted Abernathy yielded another 3 runs over the next 3 innings, as Coco Laboy led the Montreal charge with 2 hits and 3 RBI.

Expos 5, Cubs 2.  W: H. Reed (3-1)  L: Lemonds (0-1)  SV: McGinn (3)

Jerry Grote’s 3-run blast highlighted a 6-run Mets rally in the opening innning in St. Louis. Rod Gaspar went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI, and  Art Shamsky added a home run. Jim McAndrew started and finished the game for New York, allowing 2 runs on just 3 hits and while also singling in 2 runs in the 6th inning.

Mets 10, Cardinals 2.  W: McAndrew (2-2)  L: Briles (6-7)

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Tom Seaver gave up just one run, on a solo shot by Larry Hisle, through nine innings in pitching the Mets to a 2-1 win in game one of a doubleheader at Shea.  Bud Harrelson accounted for both Met runs when he tripled in Al Weis in the 3rd inning and then scored on Cleon Jones’s single.  Woody Fryman struck out 10 New York batters but still took the loss.

Jim McAndrew took the baton in the second game and earned his first win of the year by pitching eight shutout innings for New York. Tommie Agee led a 9-hit Mets attack with a home run and two singles.

Mets 2, Phillies 1 (1).  W: Seaver (11-3)  L: Fryman (6-4)

Mets 5, Phillies 0 (2). W: McAndrew (1-2)  L: J. Johnson (3-7)  SV: Taylor (6)

***

Ron Santo’s 3-run blast powered the Cubs over Jim Bunning and the Pirates at Wrigley.  Bill Hands went the distance to improve his record to 7-6.

Cubs 3, Pirates 2.  W: Hands (7-6)  L: Bunning (6-5)

NL EAST

Team Name                        W    L    T   PCT    GB   
Chicago Cubs                    44   25    1  .638     -  
New York Mets                   38   28     0  .576   4.5

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