Game 27: May 14, 1964 (Milwaukee at Mets)

Cisco, Christopher Lead Mets to Series Win, 4-2


Flushing, NY-- Maybe the win on Tuesday wasn't a fluke after all.

The Mets bounced back from yet another defeat to subdue the Milwaukee Braves, 4-2, on Thursday at Shea Stadium, taking two out of three during the midweek series.

It was the only time all season that the Mets stopped a losing skid at one game. They already have two 11-game losing streaks on their record.

Starter Galen Cisco scattered nine hits over 8.1 innings, and Larry Bearnarth closed the door in the ninth inning to preserve the victory for the Mets (4-23).

Right fielder Joe Christopher, back in the starting lineup after battling back spasms for a couple weeks that limited him to pinch-hitting duties, had a home run and three RBI to lead the Mets attack.

Light-hitting Rod Kanehl hit a rare homer for the Mets' other score.

The Mets jumped on Braves starter Warren Spahn early, scoring all four of their runs by the fourth inning, after which they had five hits. They only managed two more hits the rest of the game, but Cisco made it hold up.

"Bless that Cisco's heart," Mets manager Casey Stengel said. "He really gutted it out. I was proud of that man today."

Christopher was glad to not only start again, but to contribute right away.

"Felt good to be out there from the start," he said. Of his home run, he added, "The pitch was out over the middle of the plate. I just wanted to drive it, and I got it on the sweet spot."


Christopher celebrated his return to the starting lineup with a homer and three RBI


The Mets won a series for the first time this season.

It was a good way to end a long homestand, especially since the Mets now must go on the road for a mammoth 15-game trip to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago.

"Well," Stengel mused about the road trip, "it's not exactly like we've been settin' the world on fire in our own ballpark."

Indeed; yesterday's victory was just the Mets' second at home in 13 tries.

*****************************************
Mets record: 4-23, .148 (Last 10: 2-8; streak: W-1); Actual: 8-19


Home: 2-11; Away: 2-12


Runs scored: 71


Runs against: 149

Game 26: May 13, 1964 (Milwaukee at Mets)

Mets Return to Losing Ways, 3-1


Flushing, NY-- It didn't take long for the Mets to go back to what they do best: lose baseball games.

A day after snapping an 11-game losing streak, the Mets' bats again fell silent and they were subdued by the Milwaukee Braves, 3-1, at Shea Stadium.

The Mets managed just five hits as they fell to 3-23.

Tony Cloninger pitched a complete game for the Braves, who rapped out 11 hits to support their hurler.

Jack Fisher pitched his best game of the season for the Mets, but he had no help from his offense.

Lee Maye tripled home two runs in the fourth to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

Tim Harkness's two-out base hit scored Frank Thomas in the seventh for the Mets' lone run.

The rubber game of the three-game series takes place tonight.


Lee Maye's two-out triple in the fourth was the Braves' big hit Wednesday


"We went back to being scared out there," Mets manager Casey Stengel said. "Yesterday (a 6-3 Mets win) we were aggressive. I can't explain it."

The Mets have scored 67 runs in 26 games, a 2.6 per game average.

"That's not going to do it," second baseman Ron Hunt said. "No way Jose."

Hank Aaron had three singles for the Braves, who tried to help the Mets with two errors.

But these days, little is contributing to the Mets' cause.


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Mets record: 3-23, .115 (Last 10: 1-9; streak: L-1); Actual: 7-19


Home: 1-11; Away: 2-12


Runs scored: 67


Runs against: 147

Game 25: May 12, 1964 (Milwaukee at Mets)

FINALLY! Mets Win, and At Home, 6-3


Flushing, NY-- It looked like another typical Mets game, at the beginning---especially when it comes to any played at new Shea Stadium.

The visiting Milwaukee Braves jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first, and were leading 3-1 in the second inning.

But from that point on, the game turned very atypical.

The Mets finally won a baseball game after 11 straight losses, and registered their first win at home this season, coming from behind to beat the Braves, 6-3.

"I thought the fellas were gonna have to pick me up off the dugout floor," manager Casey Stengel said of his feelings after the final out was made. "I almost forgot what it felt like to win a dadgum game."

Starter Al Jackson picked up his first win, scattering nine hits in six innings and getting the Braves to pound the ball into the ground time and again.

The Mets turned four double plays in Jackson's six innings, which didn't hurt.

"The guys played great behind me," Jackson said. "It gave me confidence to not be afraid to let (the Braves) hit the ball."

The Mets tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth, with the help of an error by Braves shortstop Denis Menke and an RBI single by Ron Hunt with two outs.

The Mets added the go-ahead run in the sixth on a strange play that normally happens to them, not for them

After walking with one out, Larry Elliot moved to second on a passed ball by catcher Joe Torre. But Torre thought he could throw Elliot out at second, which backfired when Torre's arm betrayed him and the ball sailed into centerfield.

Elliot barely beat Felipe Alou's throw at home, and the Mets had the lead.

Then the Mets added single runs in the seventh and eighth, the latter on a solo homer by Elliot.



Larry Elliot hit a homer and scored twice to help lead the Mets



Bill Wakefield chipped in with two scoreless innings of relief, and Larry Bearnarth finished the Braves off with a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

The Mets are still a ghastly 3-22, but for one night at least, there were smiles and open beers in the team's clubhouse.

"We needed that," Hunt said, in what may be the understatement of the year, so far.


*****************************************
Mets record: 3-22, .120 (Last 10: 1-9; streak: W-1); Actual: 6-19


Home: 1-10; Away: 2-12


Runs scored: 66


Runs against: 144

Games 23 and 24: May 10, 1964 (St. Louis at Mets)

Mets' Losing Streak Hits 11 After DH Sweep


Flushing, NY-- Another visit by a fellow National League team, another sweep at their hands.

The Mets fell to 0-10 at brand new Shea Stadium after being swept in a doubleheader by the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday.

The losses were the Mets' 10th and 11th straight, dropping them deeper into the NL basement at 2-22.

Hard to believe that the Mets were once 1-0, sharing first place.

The Cards won Game 1, 4-3, thanks to a tie-breaking double by Dick Groat in the seventh inning. Tim Harkness had all three RBI for the Mets.

In Game 2, the Mets lost 6-1, mustering just five hits.

The Mets already possess two 11-game losing streaks, and it's only May 11.

Sunday was Mother's Day, and the Mets are a team, right now, that only a mother could love.

Certainly their manager doesn't.

"We're not competing," Casey Stengel lamented after the nightcap. "We expect to lose. Even I expect us to lose, with this attitude."

The Milwaukee Braves invade Shea Tuesday for a three-game sweep, er, series.


*****************************************
Mets record: 2-22, .083 (Last 10: 0-10; streak: L-11); Actual: 6-18


Home: 0-10; Away: 2-12


Runs scored: 60


Runs against: 141

Game 22: May 9, 1964 (St. Louis at Mets)

Mets Lose Ninth Straight, 5-1

Flushing, NY-- Friday night, the Mets scored one run on 11 hits. Saturday they were slightly more efficient: they scored one run on 10 hits.

It didn't matter as far as the result goes; the Mets lost again, 5-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium.

It was the Mets' ninth straight loss and dipped their record to an unsightly and unbelievable---even for them---2-20.

In the process, the Mets remain winless in their new ballpark, dropping to 0-8 at Shea.

Bob Gibson twirled a complete game for the Cards, despite giving up the 10 hits. The Mets stranded nine runners on base.

Galen Cisco started and lost for the Mets, but he pitched pretty well: 7 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 2 K, one earned run.

Shortstop Dick Groat had four hits for the Cards, and first baseman Bill White had three. Third baseman Ken Boyer had three hits and three RBI.

Frank Thomas hit a solo homer for the Mets in the sixth for their only run.

The series concludes with a Sunday doubleheader.

"I don't know what you fellas want me to say," Mets manager Casey Stengel told reporters after the game. "We stink. Print that. Hell, print whatever you want."

Thomas said, "I'm not giving up, and neither is anyone else in this room. We just have to keep coming to the ballpark and give it our best shot. It's too early to cash it in."

Catcher Jesse Gonder had three hits for the Mets, including two doubles, lifting his average to an even .300. Gonder has seven doubles in 50 at-bats.


Jesse Gonder is a microcosm of the Mets' season so far: he has 15 hits and seven doubles, is batting .300, yet has only scored one run



But, because he plays for the Mets, he didn't score off any of his three hits last night, and has scored just one run this season, despite all his doubles.

*****************************************
Mets record: 2-20, .091 (Last 10: 1-9; streak: L-9); Actual: 5-17

Home: 0-8; Away: 2-12

Runs scored: 56

Runs against: 131