August 23, 1964: Smith's Single in 9th Wins Nightcap
From The Met Wiki
| Date: August 23, 1964 |
| Mets starter: Dennis Ribant |
| Mets: 5 |
| Cubs: 4 |
| Winning pitcher: Willard Hunter |
| Key player(s): George Altman, Bobby Klaus, Charley Smith |
| Key play: Smith’s single in 9th |
After defeating the Cubs in the opener of a Sunday doubleheader, the Mets looked for a sweep of the twinbill at Shea Stadium. The nightcap was decided on the final pitch in the ninth inning. Charley Smith delivered a run-scoring single that gave the Mets a 5-4 victory for their second win of the day over Chicago.
Dennis Ribant and the Cubs’ Dick Ellsworth each pitched two-hit shutout ball over the first three innings of the game. In the top of the fourth, Ribant retired the Cubs in order. George Altman led off the bottom of the inning with a bunt single and went to third base on Jim Hickman’s single to left field. Trying to advance on his own hit, Hickman was thrown out at second. Smith followed with a single to center field to bring home Altman with the game’s first run. Ed Kranepool then hit a line drive to third baseman Ron Santo on which Smith was doubled up at first to end the inning.
After a scoreless fifth, Ribant set down the Cubs 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth. Altman homered to lead off the bottom half. Hickman singled and Smith drew a walk. Kranepool hit into a force play to move Hickman to third. Chris Cannizzaro’s sacrifice fly scored Hickman for a 3-0 Mets lead. Ellsworth then got Ribant on a ground ball to Santo for an inning-ending force play.
In the top of the seventh inning, Billy Williams hit a home run to end a string of 16 consecutive batters retired by Ribant. Santo followed with a single and Len Gabrielson homered to tie the game. Against Mets’ reliever Larry Bearnarth, Billy Cowan singled and Jimmie Schaffer walked. Andre Rodgers hit a grounder to shortstop Smith for a double play. Bearnarth then fanned Ellsworth for the third out.
Klaus hit a leadoff homer to give the Mets a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. For Chicago, Don Elston came in to pitch and retired the next three batters. Jimmy Stewart led off the top of the eighth with a bunt single and went to third on Doug Clemens’ single to center field. Al Jackson relieved Bearnarth and retired Williams on a force play grounder that plated Stewart. Santo grounded out and pinch-hitter Ernie Banks was walked intentionally. Jackson got Cowan to ground out to third baseman Klaus and end the inning. Elston then shut down the Mets in the bottom half.
Mets’ reliever Willard Hunter pitched a perfect top of the ninth. In the bottom of the inning, Klaus led off with a single and went to second on Ron Hunt’s sacrifice bunt. Bobby moved to third on a wild pitch by Elston, who then issued intentional walks to Joe Christopher and Altman that loaded the bases. Hickman hit a pop-up to shortstop Stewart for the second out of the inning. Smith then singled to left field to score Klaus with the winning run. The Mets had another victory on the game’s final pitch to complete a sweep of the doubleheader.
Notes
- Hunter became the second pitcher to record wins for the Mets in both games of a doubleheader. Only Craig Anderson (in 1962) had accomplished this previously.
