Ultimate Mets Database: Game of June 23, 1970

NYB Buff
September 26, 2024
This was a good old-fashioned hitters duel at Wrigley Field. Each team used five pitchers in a battle that featured a total of nineteen hits.

In the top of the ninth inning, Ken Boswell delivered a clutch two-out single that scored two runs to tie the game. Duffy Dyer (who entered in the eighth) slugged a two-run homer in the tenth to win it for the Mets. It was the first of two home runs that Dyer would have during the season.

After playing the last two innings of the game at first base, Ed Kranepool was sent down to the minor leagues. Ken Singleton was called up to take Ed's spot on the major league roster. Kranepool would not return to the Mets until mid-August.

Dave VW
October 17, 2024
In addition to the 19 hits NYB Buff mentioned, the two teams also combined to walk 17 times, so there were baserunners galore all throughout this game.

The Mets erupted for 7 runs in the 4th inning, sending 12 batters to the plate as the Cubs needed 3 pitchers to get 3 outs. That made the score 8-4, but Chicago came right back with a run in the bottom of the 4th, and 5 more in the 5th, chasing an ineffective Ray Sadecki, along with Don Cardwell (who faced 5 batters in the inning but only got one out). But the Mets bullpen held the Cubs scoreless after that, with Ray Folkers, in only his 2nd career Major League appearance, Ron Taylor and Jim McAndrew getting the job done. McAndrew got the final 3 outs of the game to earn his first career save.

As mentioned previously, Boswell and Dyer delivered the clutch hits to help the Mets win for the 9th time in 12 games, pulling them to within a game and a half of the 1st place Cubs.

Former Mets pitching coach Phil Regan blew the save and took the loss for Chicago, but one could hardly blame him. After all, not only was he pitching for the fourth time in the last three days for the Cubs, but was also asked to throw three innings. I'm sure his arm must have felt like it was about to fall off by the time Dyer hit the go-ahead homer off him.

In the game, outfielder Jimmie Hall received his final at-bat as a member of the Cubs, as he'd be sent to the Braves a few days later. This was also Steve Barber's last game with the Cubs, as he was released a week later. Jim Dunegan pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief for the Cubs, and also hit a 2-run double in the 5th for the only hit of his ML career, but he was also sent packing after the game to the minors. Chicago obviously thought they had some work to do on their roster after such a tough loss.

Please note:
We're looking for your comments about this specific game. We've had people use this space to share their thoughts on how the current season is going, or on ways that the Mets can improve the team. Such comments, unless in the context of this particular game, will be considered off-topic and will be removed.

Example One
The Mets suck! They need to trade Smith and get somebody like Jones.
This comment is off-topic and will be removed. It has nothing to do with any specific game. But here's an acceptable alternative:

Example Two
The Mets suck! Smith made three errors in this game, and hit into a double play, and the Mets blew a 5-0 lead. They need to get rid of Smith and get somebody like Jones.
See the difference? Here you're getting the same point across, but it's in the proper context. We wouldn't consider this message to be off-topic, and we would let it remain.

We do appreciate anybody who takes the time to share their thoughts on our site, and we hate to remove anybody's postings. But if we didn't take steps to ensure that only on-topic messages were retained, The Ultimate Mets Database would become a confusing jumble of unrelated comments, and would thus be less enjoyable to visitors like you.

Thank you!

Your name:
E-Mail address: OPTIONAL
Comments about the game: