July 23, 1968: Kranepool and Swoboda Slug Braves
From The Met Wiki
| Date: July 23, 1968 |
| Mets starter: Tom Seaver |
| Mets: 2 |
| Braves: 1 |
| Winning pitcher: Tom Seaver |
| Key player(s): Ed Kranepool, Ron Swoboda |
| Key play: Kranepool's & Swoboda's home runs |
The Mets played the Braves on a Tuesday night in Atlanta. It was a quick-moving game as it lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes. Home runs by Ed Kranepool and Ron Swoboda provided all the offense for the Mets as they came out with a 2-1 win.
Tom Seaver started the game by shutting down the Braves for five innings. He allowed four hits while striking out three hitters. Tom was staked to a 1-0 lead on Kranepool's homer off Atlanta starter Pat Jarvis in the second.
In the top of the sixth, Swoboda homered off Jarvis for the Mets' second run of the game. The Braves loaded the bases with three leadoff singles in the bottom of the inning. Seaver answered the challenge by getting Tommie Aaron to hit into a double play on which Tito Francona scored. Tom then retired Felix Millan on a pop-up to shortstop Bud Harrelson for the final out of the inning.
Seaver and Jarvis each pitched a perfect seventh inning. In the eighth, Jarvis retired the Mets in order again and Mike Lum led off the bottom half with a single for Atlanta. Cal Koonce came in to relieve Seaver and held the Braves without a run. The Mets then failed to score in the top of the ninth, despite a leadoff double by Swoboda.
Koonce retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Mets had triumphed to extend their winning streak to three games. The slugging of Kranepool and Swoboda lifted the team to victory.
