Cubs Blow Out Mets To Take Three of Four

The Cubs, expected to contend for the NL crown, come into the series with a dismal 7-16 record. They proceed to blow away the dangerous Mets in three of the four games, finally showing signs of life as the calendar turns to May.

Game One: Cubs 9, Mets 0
W: Holtzman (1-4)
L: Gentry (0-2)

Kenny Holtzman finally wins his first game after a disappointing season start, pitching a complete game shutout on three hits. The Mets' Gary Gentry walks eight and looks shaky. Billy Williams finally hits his first homer of the year but all the Cubs join in the offensive attack.

Game Two: Cubs 6, Mets 0
W: Jenkins (3-3)
L: Ryan (0-1)

The Mets continue to find it impossible to score runs, as Fergie Jenkins pitches a complete game shutout to even his record at three apiece. Williams continues his red hot series with a key two-run double off Nolan Ryan, and Al Spangler drives in two.

Game Three: Mets 3, Cubs 1 (12 innings)

W: Taylor (4-0)
L: Regan (1-2)

Tom Seaver and Ron Taylor finally shut down the Cubs hitters in the first game of the doubleheader. Cubs' starter Bill Hands is equally effective, only allowing one Mets run in eight innings off a rare Ron Santo error. The game is finally won by the Mets in the 12th, as Ken Boswell pounds his first homer by lining a pitch from reliever Phil Regan into the rightfield stands. Taylor goes to 4-0 in relief.

Game Four: Cubs 21, Mets 4
W: Selma (1-0)
L: McGraw (-05)

The Cubs roar back from the loss by plating 21 runs off a shellshocked Tug McGraw and Jim McAndrew. Williams hits his second longball of the series and Jim Hickman strokes a long homer to left and drives in five. McGraw gives up 12 runs in his 4.2 innings of work (in the literal sense), while the Cubs' Dick Selma, who came over in the offseason, wins his first in a Cubs uniform.