Of course this happens … it’s the Miracle Mets

Steve Carlton

This is how life is for the blessed Miracle Mets in 1969 as St. Louis’ Steve Carlton strikes out a record 19 of them 55 years ago tonight and still loses 4-3 to New York at Busch Stadium.

With a Monday night crowd of 13,086 looking on, Carlton strikes out every Met starter at least once, including Amos Otis four times.

Among those striking out twice against Carlton is Ron Swoboda, who in his other two at-bats happens to hit a pair of two-run homers – one in the fourth inning, the other in the eighth – to account for all of the Mets’ runs.

The homers are the only two Swoboda hits off Carlton during a nine-year career in which he totals 73 homers.

As for Carlton, he has 16 strikeouts through eight innings against the Mets, but needs to strike out the side in the ninth to top the record of 18 held by Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax, as well as Don Wilson.

Carlton does just that, striking out Tug McGraw, Bud Harrelson and Otis for the fourth time but still trailing 4-3 in the game.

McGraw then works out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the Mets’ victory and add to Carlton’s most frustrating loss.

“It was the best stuff I ever had,” Carlton says after the game. “When I had nine strikeouts, I decided to go all the way, but it cost me the game because I started to challenge every batter.

“It’s irritating. It’s frustrating. It’s part of baseball.”