Game One: 09 Mets 5, 69 Mets 1
WP: J Santana (1-0)
LP: Seaver (0-1)
HR: Sheffield (1)
Game Two: 09 Mets 4, 69 Mets 1
WP: Pelfrey (1-0)
LP: Koosman (0-1)
Save: F. Rodriguez (1)
HR: Beltran (1)
Game Three: 69 Mets 9, 09 Mets 5
WP: Gentry (1-0)
LP: Redding (0-1)
Save: Taylor (1)
HR: Shamsky (1), Sheffield (2), Grote (1)
Game Four: 09 Mets 4, 69 Mets 1
WP: Maine (1-0)
LP: Caldwell (0-1)
Save: F. Rodriguez (2)
HR: Francoeur (1)
Game Five: 69 Mets 2, 09 Mets 1
WP: Seaver (1-1)
LP: J Santana (1-1)
HR: Wright (1)
Game Six: 69 Mets 5, 09 Mets 2
WP: Koosman (1-1)
LP: Pelfrey (1-1)
Save: Taylor (1)
HR: Santos (1)
Game Seven: 69 Mets 4, 09 Mets 3
WP: McGraw (1-0)
LP: Feliciano (0-1)
HR: C Jones (1), Wright (2), Schneider (1)
The Miracle Mets of 1969 narrowly avoided a first-round ouster at the hands of their 2009 counterparts, winning the final three games of the series, the last with a run in the bottom of the ninth.
Game One swung on a three-run homer in the fourth inning by Gary Sheffield. That blast broke a scoreless duel between Tom Seaver and Johan Santana. The '09 Mets made it 5-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the eighth inning, and the '69 Mets would only muster a meaningless run in the ninth.
Jerry Koosman spluttered through six innings in Game Two, allowing only one run through six innings despite allowing at least two base runners in five of those innings. But that only left him in a 1-1 duel with Mike Pelfrey, and Koosman's escape act failed in the seventh when Carlos Beltran reached him for a three-run homer. Francisco Rodriguez entered with two on in the ninth to snuff a late rally.
The 09 Mets took their 2-0 series lead to Citi Field and immediately got shelled. The 69 team got a three-run homer from Art Shamsky in the first inning and ripped Tim Redding for eight runs in the first three innings. Sheffield hit a three-run shot of his own off Gary Gentry in the fourth inning, and the '09 team's bullpen held the '69 team to one run in six innings. The '09 team pulled to within four runs, but Ron Taylor came in to douse an eighth-inning rally and retire the five hitters he faced.
John Maine threw a gem in Game Four for the '09 Mets, allowing just four hits in seven innings, three of them by Cleon Jones. Don Cardwell allowed just two runs in seven innings, but that was too many even before Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer off Tug McGraw.
The series turned in a brilliant pitching duel in Game Five. This time Seaver outdueled Santana, although one of the two runs the '69 team plated off the lefty in the third inning was unearned. Seaver went the distance, allowing a homer to David Wright among his six hits. Santana went eight innings, allowing four hits.
The series returned to Shea Stadium for Game Six, and the '69 Mets evened the series behind Koosman (one run in six innings), Nolan Ryan (an unearned run in two innings) and Taylor.
Game Seven was a gem. Redding got a quick hook after allowing two runs in the first, and when Jones homered off Pat Misch to lead off the third, the '69 Mets had a 3-0 lead. But Wright made it 3-2 with a two-run homer off Gentry in the sixth, and Brian Schneider tied it with a solo shot off Gentry in the seventh. Misch, Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano combined to hold the '69 Mets scoreless after Jones' homer until the bottom of the ninth.
Ed Charles pinch hit for Tug McGraw and got his second hit of the series, advancing to second on a throwing error by Luis Castillo. Rodriguez immediately entered and retired Tommy Agee on a tapper to the mound, with Charles holding at second. Bud Harrelson then walked, and Jones ripped a gapper to plate Charles and end the series.
Even though his team lost. Johan Santana is player of the series for his brilliant work: 16 innings in two starts with just one earned run allowed.
Pitcher availability: Koosman can pitch Game Two with the penalty, Game Three without. Gentry can pitch Game Three without penalty,
Projected rotation: Seaver-Koosman (w/ penalty)-Gentry-Caldwell or Ryan-(Seaver)-(Koosman)-(Gentry)
