June 3, 1969: Mets Go Over .500 Mark
From The Met Wiki
| Date: June 3, 1969 |
| Mets starter: Tom Seaver |
| Mets: 5 |
| Dodgers: 2 |
| Winning pitcher: Tom Seaver |
| Key player(s): Ed Kranepool, Tom Seaver |
| Key play: Kranepool's two homers, Jones' triple, Garrett's steal of home |
The Mets faced the Dodgers at Shea Stadium on a Tuesday night. Ed Kranepool led an offensive attack with two home runs in a 5-2 Mets win. The victory gave the Mets a record of 24-23, putting them above the .500 mark.
In the fifth inning, the Mets took a 1-0 lead on Kranepool's homer off Los Angeles starter Alan Foster. They added three runs in the sixth on Cleon Jones' triple that scored Wayne Garrett followed by Kranepool's second homer. Meanwhile, Tom Seaver retired 18 consecutive Los Angeles batters (including seven strikeouts) after a first inning single by Willie Davis.
Seaver's string ended in the seventh with a walk to Wes Parker and a two-run homer by Andy Kosco. In the eighth, the Dodgers had two runners on base with two out. The inning ended when Seaver got Davis to ground out to second baseman Al Weis.
The Mets scored in the bottom of the eighth when Garrett stole home. Reliever Tug McGraw followed up with a perfect ninth inning to end the game. The Mets had a season record higher that the break-even point.
Notes
- The only previous time that the Mets had more wins than losses was a 2-1 record after three games in 1966.
