June 12, 1966: Grote's Single Beats Reds in 11th
From The Met Wiki
| Date: June 12, 1966 |
| Mets starter: Jack Fisher |
| Mets: 3 |
| Reds: 2 |
| Winning pitcher: Dave Eilers |
| Key player(s): Jerry Grote, Ron Hunt |
| Key play: Hunt's double, Pinson's double play grounder, Grote's single |
The Mets and Reds concluded a four-game series at Shea Stadium on a Sunday afternoon. The teams went into extra innings for the second day in a row. The Mets emerged with a 3-2 win on Jerry Grote's run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th.
Mets' starter Jack Fisher struck out six Cincinnati batters over the first four innings. However, the Reds scored twice on Johnny Edwards' RBI double in the second and Art Shamsky's home run in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Mets were held scoreless on three hits by Cincinnati starter Don Nottebart.
Fisher recorded his seventh strikeout while retiring the Reds in order in the top of the fifth. In the bottom half, Ron Hunt came to bat with the bases loaded and two out. Hunt doubled to score Ron Swoboda and Roy McMillan, tying the game at 2-2. Nottebart was then replaced by Cincinnati reliever Ted Davidson.
From the sixth inning to the ninth, Fisher held the Reds scoreless with only two hits. Jack got Shamsky for his tenth strikeout of the game in the top of the ninth. The Mets then loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but failed to score.
In the tenth inning, Sammy Ellis and Pete Rose got singles off Mets' reliever Dave Eilers. With one out, Vada Pinson came up to bat. Eilers got Pinson for a comeback grounder that he turned into a double play. Dave then pitched a perfect top of the 11th.
Ellis walked Ed Bressoud with one out in the bottom of the 11th. Hawk Taylor grounded out to advance Bressoud to second base and Swoboda was given an intentional walk. Grote then singled to score Bressoud and end the game. The Mets had an extra-inning victory.
