Game 1
SL 5 NY 0
Nelson
Briles was sensational as the Cardinals right hander pitched a complete
game 2 hit shutout against the Mets, at Busch Stadium. Briles walked
only 1 and struck out in fashioning his gem. Nellie goes to 3-1 on the
season with a sensational 1.29 ERA. The only Mets hits were from
starting 2B Bobby Pfeil and a pinch hitter for him, Ken Boswell, as
Briles took a 1 hitter into the 8th.
Don
Cardwell did not have it today for the Mets as the spot starter allowed
5 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings as he lost his first decision of the
year. SL scored 1 in the third on a Curt Flood double and added two more
in the 4th on a single by Mike Shannon. In the 5th, the Cards put things out of reach when Tim McCarver hit a 2 run HR off Cardwell.
Game 2
NY 7 SL 5 (10 innings)
The Mets win this one in dramatic fashion as they rally for 3 runs in the 9th, tying the game with 2 outs. They went on to win it in the 10th.
It was a see saw affair as SL took the early lead 2-0 on a 2 run HR by
Julian Javier (8) in the second inning off Mets starter Gary Gentry. In
the 4th, Donn Clendenon came through with a big pinch hit 2
run HR (3) to tie the game. The blast came off “Little Lefty” Al
Jackson, who was in the opposing 69 Mets dugout while he started for the
67 Cardinals.
In
the fourth, the Cards broke the tie when McCarver homered (2) for the
second straight day, as Gentry’s season long struggles continue. In the 6th, Roger Maris singled home Cepeda to get the Cards a big insurance run against Gentry.
In the 7th,
the Cards loaded the bases against Ron Taylor but Jack DiLauro came on
and got McCarver to line out and then fanned Javier to end the threat
and keep the game in reach at 4-2.
In the 8th,
Shannon tripled with one out and after Maxvill lined out, Manager
Raylesberg removed a tired DiLauro and brought in lefty Tug McGraw. Alex
Johnson came up to pinch hit for reliever Willis and McGraw promptly
threw a wild pitch to allow the fifth run to cross the plate.
Joe Hoerner came on in the 9th
to try to save it with a 5-2 lead. But the Mets rallied in dramatic
fashion Grote led off with a walk. PH Bob Heise then singled through
the hole to left. PH Gaspar then flied out and Agee struck out and the
Mets were down to their last out. But they were not to be denied. Ken
Boswell- having a spectacular season – singled to left scoring Grote and
sending Heise to 3rd. 5-3. Up came Cleon Jones. Manager
Stokes left Hoerner in to face the righty hitting OF and Cleon came
through big time with a double off the wall in left center, plating two
runs as the Busch Stadium crowd sat in stunned silence. That was all for
Hoerner as Jack Lamabe came on in relief and ended the threat.
Lamabe didn’t have it in the 10th,however.
With one out, Jerry Grote doubled off the wall in right center. Heise
drew a walk. Two on and one out and pitcher Jim McAndrew up. The Mets
bullpen was exhausted so Manager Raylesberg decided to let McAndrew bat
for himself. The righthander from Morning Sun Iowa put down a beautiful
sacrifice bunt moving the runners to 2d and 3d now with two out. Now it
was Tommie Agee’s turn and the CF singled in the first base hole to
score two runs and put the Mets ahead!
McAndrew (2-1) retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 10th
before Roger Maris brought the crowd to its feet with a double to right
center. Now it was up to Shannon but he popped one into short RF where
Shamsky grabbed it and the Mets had a dramatic come from behind win.
Grote
was 3-4 with 2 doubles and Heise, who came in to the game as a pinch
hitter, was 2-2. Dal Maxvill made three great plays in the field for the
Cardinals.
Game 3
The
teams traveled to Shea Stadium for the final game of the series. Jerry
Koosman took the mound for the Mets. Kooz has been the only effective
starter for the Mets this season but having left the last game early
with an injury there was a question about his effectiveness
particularly as he was pitching on short rest. The rust showed as
Koosman gave up 2 runs in the second on a Shannon RBI double and a
Maxvill RBI single. Then in the 5th the roof caved in on a
tiring Koosman. The Cards sent 9 men to the plate and scored 4
times,including 2 wild pitches each of which brought a run home. Julian
Javier singled in a run in the frame, extending his hit streak to 13.
Meanwhile, Cards starter Ray Washburn (1-2) was cruising as he took a shutout into the 8th,
leading 6-0. The Mets rallied in the frame as they sent 8 men to the
plate. After Harrelson grounded out, PH Gaspar, Agee and Martin all
singled to load the bases for Cleon Jones. Were the Miracle Mets going
to pull out a miracle win for the second day in a row? Manager Stokes
left Washburn in, concerned about going to a pen that had blown the
prior day’s game. Jones came through with a single as the sellout crowd
at Shea went wild. Bases still loaded and now 6-1. Eddie Kranepool at
the plate. Stokes stays in the dugout and leaves the righty Washburn in
to face the lefty swinger. Kranepool hits it in the gap – to right
center – and in comes Agee and Martin with Jones stopping at third. Its
6-3, the fans are going crazy, and the tying run is at the plate in the
person of the slugging Ron Swoboda. Stokes stays in the dugout and
Washburn stays on the mound – and he walks Swoboda and the bases are
loaded once again. Now its lefty hitting Art Shamsky- another of the few
Mets who is putting together a good season. Bases loaded one out and
Washburn is still in there – and Shamsky hits a grounder the opposite
way to third. 543- A DOUBLE PLAY and the Cards get out of the inning!
In the 9th, Washburn got his “second wind” as he retired the Mets 1-2-3. There would be no more miracles tonight.
Next
up: The Mets play four against the 62 Giants, starting with two at
Shea. The Giants are 1 game behind 53 Brooklyn for the Continental
Division lead. The 67 Cards, still in the Continental Division race,
will play the 69 Cubs starting with two at Wrigley.
--submitted by Alan Raylesburg--
--submitted by Alan Raylesburg--
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