‘69 Amazin’s take 2 of 3 from ‘03 Fish

9/10-9/11 - Shea Stadium
GAME 1 - Mets 2, Marlins 1
Tom "Terrific" did not have his "A" game and had to gut his way in and out of trouble all afternoon.  The reason Tom Seaver is called the franchise is apparent.  Even on those rare days when he's not on his game he still finds a way to will himself to victory.  Most of the time his margin of error is exceptionally light as the Amazin's are not exactly a hard hitting outfit.  With the game knotted at 1 and heading into the 9th the Marlins went to the pen and tapped Braden Looper.  Ken Boswell led off the bottom of the 9th with a triple to dead center that hit the wall on one hop just in front of the 410 mark.  Jerry Grote and Al Weis were given intentional passes to load the bases and create a force everywhere.  Donn Clendenon was called upon to pinch hit for Seaver in an attempt to win the game right there.  Clendenon, the 1969 World Series MVP, ripped a shot that almost took off Looper’s head, but the Marlin reliever was able to get his glove up just in time to snag it for out number 1.  Next up was centerfielder Tommy Agee.  There was absolutely no drama as Looper walked Agee on 4 consecutive pitches to force Boswell in for the winning run.

GAME 2 - Mets 10, Marlins 7
Gary Gentry was dealing for 7 shutout innings, but then lost interest when the Amazins bumped their lead to 10-0.  New York scored 5 runs in the first off of embattled Marlin starter Michael Tejera.  The "mighty mite" himself, Al Weis had a 2 run single to score Clendenon and Ron Swoboda.  The Mets added a 5 run 7th to blow the doors open when Jerry Grote had a huge two out double.  Florida came back to make it look real close with 7 runs over the final 2 innings, but that can be attributed to apathy and the willingness to allow Cal Koonce to get some much need relief work.

9/12- Pro Player Stadium
GAME 3 - Marlins 4, Mets 2
A 2 hour rain delay chased starters Josh Beckett and Don  Cardwell from the hill earlier than expected.  Cardwell was in the process of giving up 4 runs in 4 innings, so his departure was welcomed by a crowd in the "6th boro" that was more than half Met fans.  In relief, Jim McAndrew threw 4 innings of no hit ball, which spurred on the second guesser to ask why he wasn't the original starter instead of Cardwell.  Florida scored first when Derek Lee doubled home Luis  Castillo and Pudge Rodriguez singled him home.  A Mike Lowell homer to lead off the 3rd accounted for run number 3 and a Juan Encarnacion single plated Castillo in the 4th to make it 4-0.  New York would score a solo run in the th when Agee singled home Buddy Harrelson with 1 out and the bases loaded.  Tommy Phelps would get pinch hitter Bobby Pfeil to hit into a tailor made 6-4-3 DP to end the Met threat.  The Mets would cut the Marlin lead in half in the 8th when Cleon Jones doubled with 2 out and pinch hitter Donn Clendenon singled him home.  The  Mets had runners on 1st and 2nd with one out, but Ugeth Urbina was call in from the pen to get Ed Charles to line out and fan Agee to notch his 5th save of the season.