Game 18: May 5, 1964 (Mets at Milwaukee)

Mets Blow Three-Run Lead in Ninth, Fall to Braves in 13 Innings

Milwaukee-- The art of losing just got another exhibit in its museum.

The stumbling New York Mets suffered one of their most painful losses of this season yesterday in Milwaukee, blowing a 7-4 lead in the ninth before succumbing to the Braves, 9-7, in 13 innings at County Stadium.

Felipe Alou slugged a two-run homer off Jack Fisher to win it for the Braves in the 13th, after the Mets let their third win of the season slip through their butter fingers in the ninth.

Fisher, normally a starter, came on in the 13th because the Mets' depleted bullpen was running out of arms.

Fisher retired leadoff hitter Joe Torre, but then catcher Ed Bailey walked, setting up Alou's heroics.

The Braves erased a 7-4 deficit in the ninth off beleaguered reliever Larry Bearnarth.

With a man on first and one out, Mets second baseman Ron Hunt bobbled Lee Maye's ground ball, putting runners on first and second. But Eddie Mathews popped up, and the Mets were one out away from victory.

It was one out too many.

Hank Aaron lasered a double into the left center gap, scoring Maye and Ty Cline. Torre was up next, and he singled home Aaron to tie the game.

Alou's 13th-inning homer capped a great Braves comeback

The Mets built their lead by overcoming a 3-0 deficit with three runs in the second, two in the fourth, and two more in the ninth---the latter of which were supposed to be insurance runs.

Frank Thomas had three hits and an RBI for the Mets (2-16), who lost their fifth straight.

The Mets chased Braves starter Warren Spahn after just four innings.

"What can you say?" Mets manager Casey Stengel opined after the gut-wrencher. "Today was the story of us. When we play, I don't breathe for nine innings. Or 13, like today."

The Mets' 12-game road trip has finally come to an end. They went 1-11 on it.

"I'd like to say we're glad to go home, but we haven't won there, either," Stengel said.

The Old Professor is right; the Mets are 0-4 in new Shea Stadium.

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Mets record: 2-16, .111 (Last 10: 1-9; streak: L-5); Actual: 3-15

Home: 0-4; Away: 2-12

Runs scored: 50

Runs against: 113