Brewers 2, Mets 0: Igarashi? More Like, Eek, He's Rusty!

With one blast by Corey Hart the Mets' collective 35 inning shutout streak came to an abrupt conclusion. They fell seven innings shy of the franchise shutout record of 42 innings, set from September 23 through September 28, 1969.

That streak began with the final six innings of an 11-inning game against the Cardinals at Shea Stadium on 9/23/1969. Bob Gibson went the distance for St. Louis, finally succumbing to a game-winning RBI single by Bud Harrelson that scored Ron Swoboda from second. Jim McAndrew started the game for the Mets and was responsible for the first two scoreless innings of the record streak. Tug McGraw came on in the top of the eighth and pitched the final four frames for the extra-innings victory. Mets win, 3-2.

The next day, 9/24/1969, the Mets were back at it against the Cardinals as Gary Gentry squared off against Steve Carlton. Lefty lasted just a third of an inning, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks. The five runs were plated on two long balls: a three-run shot by Donn Clendenon and a two-run blast by Ed Charles. The 22-year-old Gentry tossed a complete game for the Mets, walking two and giving up just four singles. Mets win, 6-0.

Two days later, on 7/26/1969, the Mets were in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies. Jerry Koosman got the nod for the Mets, and he was opposed by Woodie Fryman, who was Philly's lone All Star selection in 1968 but was suffering through one of his worst seasons as a pro in 1969*. The Mets hung a five spot on Fryman in his five innings of work, including a home run by Clendenon for the second straight game. Koosman struck out seven and walked two while allowing just two singles in his complete game victory. Mets win, 5-0.

*Fryman pitched for 18 seasons with the Pirates, Phillies, Tigers, Expos, Reds, and Cubs, but didn't make his big league debut until he was 26. He retired as a 43-year-old with the Expos in 1983 after allowing seven runs in three innings that season. He finished his career with a 141-155 record and a 96 ERA+.

Things kept rolling on 9/27/1969 with 4,297 people in attendance at Connie Mack Stadium to watch Tom Seaver take on the presidential Grant Jackson. Jackson was superb, keeping the Mets off the board through seven before the Mets strung together a Clendenon single, a Swoboda walk, and a Bobby Pfeil RBI single to put the day's only tally on the scoreboard. Seaver struck out four and gave up just three singles in the shutout effort. Mets win, 1-0.

Gentry was on the hill again on 9/28/1969, opposed by former Mets farmhand Jerry Johnson. Johnson actually outlasted Gentry seven innings to five, but the Mets tallied two runs to the Phillies' none while Nolan Ryan (four walks but no runs in three innings) and Ron Taylor (one walk and zero hits) closed things out. Mets win, 2-0, their 100th of the season. The victory pushed the Phillies 36.5 games back of the first-place Mets.

The shutout streak ended three days later in Chicago when Koosman gave up two first-inning runs to the Cubs. The streak spanned five games and 42 innings and featured four team shutouts and three complete game shutouts by individual pitchers. The common theme between the 1969 and 2010 streaks? A sweep of the Phillies, of course.

Last night's game? Nah, I don't want to talk about it. Fernando Nieve takes on Manny Parra at 7:10pm on Saturday. See you then.

Poem by Howard Megdal

Johan gives Metsies a masterful start
But night is wasted thanks to home run by Hart

SB Nation Coverage

* Traditional Recap
* Boxscore
* Amazin' Avenue Gamethread
* Brew Crew Ball Gamethread

Win Probability Added

Big winners: Johan Santana, +56.1% WPA, Rod Barajas, +8.6% WPA
Big losers: Ryota Igarashi, -41.7% WPA, Alex Cora, -25.2% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Francoeur single in third, +9.8% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Hart game-ending two-run home run in ninth, -43.4% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +20.3% WPA
Total batter WPA: -70.3% WPA
GWRBI!: Corey Hart

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.