D-Whit - It Was 45 Years Ago Today...Sunday September 14th 1969

September 14^th

Charles scores tying run, but Mets fall to Pirates 5-3.

The Mets wrapped up their road series at Forbes Field against the Pirates. Nolan Ryan started and retired 9 of the first 10 batters he faced. That changed in the 4^th when Al Oliver stroked a triple to RF, driving in Jose Pagan and Willie Stargell. One batter later Manny Sanguillien’s groundout to SS Buddy Harrelson scored Oliver. 

New York came right back in the top of the 5^th-loading the bases with one out-when Tommie Agee’s infield single brought Jerry Grote home. Art Shamsky followed with a sac fly-brining the Mets within a run. Ryan’s RBI single the following inning tied it up at 3 a piece, but he couldn’t hold the lead. 

Oliver led off the 7^th for the Pirates with a single. Sanguillen sacrificed him to 2^nd base. Two batters later manager Gil Hodges elected to intentionally walk Freddie Patek in order to face Buc starter Steve Blass. The strategy failed. Blass singled in Oliver and the next batter, Matt Alou, followed with a single of his own to drive in Patek. Blass silenced the Met bats the final two frames, giving Pittsburgh a 5-3 victory. 

Luckily, St. Louis defeated Chicago, so the Mets remained 3.5 games up on the Cubs in the NL East