July 6, 1962: Kanehl Hits Mets' First Grand Slam
From The Met Wiki
| Date: July 6, 1962 |
| Mets starter: Roger Craig |
| Mets: 10 |
| Cardinals: 3 |
| Winning pitcher: Roger Craig |
| Key player(s): Rod Kanehl, Charlie Neal, Gil Hodges |
| Key play: Hodges' homer, Neal's homer, Kanehl's grand slam |
The Mets and Cardinals began a three-game series on a Friday night at the Polo Grounds. The game featured some Mets home runs that were of historical significance. The slugging led to a 10-3 victory over St. Louis.
In the bottom of the second inning, Gil Hodges stepped up to the plate with one out against Cardinals' starter Ray Sadecki. Hodges hit a home run to put the Mets ahead, 1-0. The home run was the 370th for Gil in his career, passing Ralph Kiner (a Mets' broadcaster for the game) into 10th place on the all-time home run list. It was also the last homer of Hodges' career.
Cliff Cook got a one-out single off Sadecki in the bottom of the third. Frank Thomas followed with a single and a passed ball by St. Louis catcher Carl Sawatski put runners at second and third for the Mets. Charlie Neal fouled out to Sawatski before Sadecki threw a wild pitch (while walking Hodges intentionally) that allowed Cook to score. A double by Felix Mantilla brought home Thomas for a three-run Met lead. In the fifth, Neal homered off Cards' reliever Bob Duliba for the fourth Mets run.
After pitching six scoreless innings, Roger Craig took the mound to face the Cardinals in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Red Schoendienst led off with a single and moved to third base on Curt Flood's single that ensued. Craig got Julian Javier to hit into a double play on which Schoendienst scored and, after a single by Bill White, retired Stan Musial of a fly ball to right fielder Cook for the final out of the inning.
Mantilla started the bottom of the eighth with a single off the Cardinals' Bobby Shantz. Chris Cannizzaro also singled and Craig reached on Shantz's error that allowed Mantilla to score. Cannizzaro came home when Elio Chacon's grounder was misplayed by St. Louis shortstop Julio Gotay. Following the first out of the inning, Jim Hickman got a bunt single to load the bases.
Rod Kanehl, who had just entered the game in the top half of the inning, came to bat against Shantz. Kanehl blasted a home run to increase the Mets' lead to 10-1. It was the first grand slam ever hit by a New York Met. Shantz then retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
In the ninth, Javier hit a two-run homer off Craig with two out. Roger then got White on a ground ball to end the game. The Mets had a memorable win to start the weekend.
