8/31/14

D-Whit - It Was 45 Years Ago Today...August 31st 1969



August 31st

Seaver wins 19th; Mets split a pair
New York closes out August with a twinbill at Candlestick against the Giants. In the opener, Tom Seaver picks up win #19 with an 11K, CG shutout, as the Mets win 8-0. Offensively, they made the most of 11 singles and Ron Swoboda’s RBI double against four Giant pitchers. In Atlanta, Chicago won by 4 over the Braves. 

The Mets entered the nightcap with a chance to trim another ½ game off the Cubs NL East lead. San Fran scored a pair in the bottom of the 1st off Jim McAndrew but he silenced the Giant bats after that early outburst. The visiting New Yorkers tied it up in the 7th when Cleon Jones led off with a single was driven home two batters later on Swoboda’s 6th longball of 1969. 

In the 11th Tug McGraw put runners on 1st and 2nd with none out and was relieved by Ron Taylor. After a wild pitch and intentional walk, Taylor unintentionally walked Jim Davenport to force in the winning run. The 3-2 loss dropped the Mets 4.5 back entering September. 

During August the Mets (76-54) picked up two games on division leading Chicago (83-52)-rebounding from a mediocre July with a 21-10 mark on the month. 32 games remained on the 1969 regular season schedule, including four against the Cubs.

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