This week, the Mets have been engaged in a big series at Busch Stadium with the defending World Champion, but currently third place Cardinals, whom they held a 3-1/2 game lead heading into the four game set. Accordingly, New York has taken the first three games of the series to open up a 6-1/2 game lead.
In the series opener, Jerry Koosman bested Nellie Briles, 3-1. Wayne Garrett was the offensive star with a homer (10th) and a triple. Art Shamsky also homered (12th) for the visitors.
Tuesday's affair took 11 innings for New York to come out on top, 4-2, despite a 15 hit attack from the home team. Bud Harrelson was the hero in this tilt with a two run triple in the second extra frame after St. Louis tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on Lou Brock's two out, bases empty home run off Ron Herbel, who had just been acquired from the Padres. Gibson went 7 innings, giving up two runs.
Wednesday was Tom Seaver's turn in the rotation, who took his 20-6 and 1.91 league leading ERA to the mound. Like the Cards' ace the night before, Seaver would leave with no decision, giving up a pair of runs over 7 innings of work before being lifted for a pinch hitter. It would take extra innings again after the guests tied the score in the 8th at 2-2. Cleon Jones got the big hit in the 10th with a two out single for the gamewinner.
The hosts avoided the sweep in the finale with a complete game from lefty Steve Carlton, cruising to a 6-1 win. Joe Torre smacked two homers that drove in 4 runs to pace St. Louis. Gary Gentry went the distance for New York while taking it on the chin for his 8th loss in 19 decisions. Nevertheless, the Mets left town with more distance than they arrived with at 5-1/2 games over the third place Cardinals.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment