D-Whit - It Was 45 Years Ago Today...Wednesday July 30th

July 30^th

 

After Cincinnati departed the Mets wouldn’t play a major league game again until mid-week. On the 28^th New York played an exhibition game against AAA Tidewater and rain washed away the first of a 3 game series against the Houston Astros. So they played two on the 30^th. The Mets (55-41) entered their series with Houston (51-49), in 2^nd place, still trailing the Cubs by 5. After this doubleheader at Shea their deficit would be 5 ½ games. The Mets came back rusty after two days off as the Astros blasted New York 16-3 and 11-5. 

In the first game a 5-2 Astro lead ballooned to 16-2 after the visitors crossed the plate 11 times against the ineffective relief tandem of Cal Koonce and Ron Taylor. Twin Grand Slams in the 9^th from Jimmy Wynn and Dennis Menke accounted for most of the damage. Things didn’t go much better in the nightcap as the Mets were done in yet again by the big inning courtesy of a 10-run Astro 3^rd that chased starter Gary Gentry. 

While the Astros and Mets were putting up football-like scores Chicago was getting beat 6-3 by the Giants at Wrigley Field.