D-Whit - It Was 45 Years Ago Today...Friday August 1st

August 1^st

 

The calendar turned to August and the cinderella Mets (55-44) were in 2^nd place 6 ½ games behind the Chicago Cubs at 55-44. By far their best record ever this late in the season. A year ago under then first-year manager Gil Hodges the team was 49-58 at this time. 

The action started early in this game with the Braves scoring 3 in the opening frame off Don Cardwell. Felix Millan did most of the damage-driving in two runs with a single. Facing an early deficit New York bettered the Braves by 1 run in the bottom of the 1^st thanks to Phil Niekro’s bases loaded walk, Rod Gaspar’s two run single and a passed ball. 

Catcher Jerry Grote added an insurance HR to lead off the 4^th as the Mets held on to win 5-4 behind a clutch performance by Cal Koonce who twirled 6 ½ one-run innings in relief of Cardwell. Ron Taylor added another 2 ½ to notch his 10^th save.

The win allowed the Mets to keep pace with the Cubs, who defeated the expansion Padres 5-2.