Posts Tagged ‘Montreal Expos’
METS WIN IN 11, MAGIC NUMBER DOWN TO 1
Tuesday, September 23, 1969
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)
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NL EAST W L T PCT GB M#
New York Mets 95 61 0 .609 - 1
Chicago Cubs 89 67 1 .571 6.0 -
SEAVER SHUTOUT MOVES METS 5 GAMES UP
Thursday, August 18, 1969
Tom Seaver stayed in his groove, going the distance in a five-hit shutout while striking out nine Expos hitters. Ed Kranepool homered and singled to drive in both runs of the game. Seaver has now won eight consecutive games while lowering his season ERA to 2.33.
Mets 2, Expos 0. W: Seaver (23-7) L: Stoneman (10-18)
The Cubs strung together 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh to temporarily take the lead, only to see Philadelphia answer back with 3 runs in the top of the eighth off Rich Nye and Phil Regan to regain the lead. Chicago rookie Joe Decker started and gave up two runs in six solid innings.
Phillies 5, Cubs 3. W: Jackson (16-13) L: Regan (12-6)
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NL EAST W L T PCT GB
New York Mets 91 58 0 .611 -
Chicago Cubs 87 64 1 .576 5.0
JENKINS WINS 20TH, KOOSMAN TOSSES SHUTOUT
Wednesday, September 17, 1969
Fergie Jenkins recorded his 20th win of the season despite allowing 12 hits and 4 walks in 7 1/3 innings to the Phillies at Wrigley. The Cubs seemed to break open a tie game with 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Jenkins’ own triple with the bases loaded, and another in the seventh. But Philly struck back with 4 in the top of the eighth before Rich Nye righted the ship with 1 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game. Ron Santo went 3 for 3 with a 2-run homer and 3 RBI, and Billy Williams was 3 for 4 with a home run and scored three times.
Cubs 9, Phillies 7. W: Jenkins (20-14) L: Champion (5-10) SV: Nye (3)
Jerry Koosman was untouchable on the mound in Montreal, tossing a six-hit shutout against the Expos. Leadoff man Wayne Garrett had two hits and two RBI for the Mets, Ken Boswell was 2 for 3 and scored a run, and Al Weis was 2 for 5 and knocked in a run.
Mets 5, Expos 0. W: Koosman (15-9) L: Waslewski (2-9)
NL EAST W L T PCT GB
New York Mets 90 58 0 .608 -
Chicago Cubs 87 63 1 .580 4.0
WILLIAMS AND GAMBLE GO DEEP, REGAN AND HUNDLEY SAVE IT FOR CHICAGO
Tuesday, September 16, 1969
Someone old and someone new helped make Expos fans blue.
Billy Williams, owner of the National League consecutive games record, struck a two-run shot and rookie Oscar Gamble hit his first Major League home run as the Cubs edged Montreal. Glenn Beckert also went 3 for 5 for Chicago.
Bill Hands pitched well for seven innings but gave up a two-run home run by Mack Jones to cut the Chicago lead to one run and then walked ex-Met Kevin Collins to put the trying run on first. But after Phil Regan came on in relief, catcher Randy Hundley caught pinch-runner Remy Hermoso stealing, and Regan then retired the next four Expos hitters to close out the game.
Cubs 5, Expos 4. W: Hands (18-13) L: Robertson (5-14) SV: Regan (17)
The first-place Mets were idle today.
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NL EAST W L T PCT GB New York Mets 89 58 0 .605 - Chicago Cubs 86 63 1 .577 4.0
SWOBODA’S HOMERS LIFT METS IN ST. LOUIS, NEW YORK LEADS EAST BY 4 1/2 GAMES
Monday, September 15, 1969
Dick Selma lost his fourth straight decision as the host Expos, who sit in the NL East cellar with 100 losses, pummeled the second-place Cubs. First baseman Ron Fairly went 3 for 3 with a home run and 4 RBI, and second baseman Gary Sutherland was 4 for 5.
Expos 8, Cubs 2. W: Wegener (5-12) L: Selma (12-8)
Two days after hitting a game-winning grand slam, Ron Swoboda clubbed a pair of two-run homers to lead the Mets over the Cardinals in St. Louis. His second blast came in the eighth inning off starter Steve Carlton to give New York the lead for good. Tug McGraw took over for Gary Gentry in the seventh and pitched three shutout innings for the win.
Mets 4, Cards 3. W: McGraw (8-3) L: Carlton (16-10)
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NL EAST W L T PCT GB RS RA New York Mets 89 58 0 .605 - 583 504 Chicago Cubs 85 63 1 .574 4.5 671 554 St. Louis Cardinals 79 68 0 .537 10.0 539 495 Pittsburgh Pirates 77 69 0 .527 11.5 644 600 Philadelphia Phillies 59 87 0 .404 29.5 584 663 Montreal Expos 48 100 0 .324 41.5 536 722
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
‘LOOK WHO’S NO. 1′…METS MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE FOR FIRST TIME IN CLUB HISTORY
Wednesday, September 10, 1969.
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
CUBS, METS BOTH LOSE AT HOME
Friday, July 11, 1969
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)
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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)
CUBS AND METS LEAVE WITH SERIES WINS
Thursday, July 3, 1969
Seven was the lucky number as Chicago’s 7-run, 7th-inning outburst led them to victory in Montreal. Don Kessinger’s double, Billy Williams’s single, and Ron Santo’s home run each drove in two runs in the rally. Dick Selma gave up 3 runs, 1 earned, through 6 innings to record his 9th win of the season.
Cubs 8, Expos 4. W: Selma (9-3) L: Wegener (3-6)
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Gary Gentry looked great in St. Louis, giving up just 1 run on 5 hits in 9 full innings against the Cardinals. Tommie Agee also kept up his hot hitting with a home run and 2 RBI. Cleon Jones was 2 for 3, and Don Clendenon went 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Former Expos opening-day starter Mudcat Grant took the loss for St. Louis.
Mets 8, Cardinals 1. W: Gentry (8-6) L: Grant (4-9)
Wednesday, July 2, 1969
Jimmy Qualls had 2 doubles and triple and drove in 2 runs as Bill Hands went the distance in Montreal. Glenn Beckert went 3 for 5, giving him 5 hits in his first two games back after missing a month with a broken writst. Pete Reiser managed the Cubs bench in place of the ailing Leo Durocher.
Cubs 4, Expos 2. W: Hands (9-6) L: Stoneman (4-11)
A long one at Busch Stadium as the Mets prevailed over the Cardinals in 14 innings.
New York led 4-0 with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the 8th. But starter Jerry Koosman proceeded to walk the bases loaded and gave way to reliever Ron Taylor, who was greeted by pinch-hitter Vic Davaillo’s game-tying grand slam.
St. Louis loaded the bases in the 10th but couldn’t score. The game remaining scoreless until Tommie Agee collected his 4th hit of the game in the top of the 14th, stole second, and was singled in by Ken Boswell. Later, Wayne Garrett, the hitting star with 4 hits and 4 RBI, walked to force in Boswell with an insurance run. Tug McGraw more than earned the win, pitching 6 scoreless innings in relief.
Mets 6, Cards 4 (14 inn.). W: McGraw (5-1) L: Willis (1-2)
CUBS, METS STRUGGLE ON THE ROAD
Tuesday, July 1, 1969
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)