June 29, 1964: Gonder's Winning Home Run
From The Met Wiki
| Date: June 29, 1964 |
| Mets starter: Jack Fisher |
| Mets: 4 |
| Giants: 3 |
| Winning pitcher: Al Jackson |
| Key player(s): Jesse Gonder |
| Key play: Gonder's home run in 9th |
The Mets began a two-game series at Candlestick Park on a Monday night. They had the lead twice against the first place Giants, but trailed after eight innings. Jesse Gonder then came through in the ninth with a home run to give the Mets a 4-3 win.
Leading off the game, John Stephenson homered against San Francisco starter Bobby Bolin for an immediate 1-0 Met lead. The Giants tied the game in the second inning when Del Crandall doubled off Jack Fisher to score Jim Ray Hart. Each team then got a leadoff runner in the third, but did not score.
George Altman started the top of the fourth with a bunt single off Bolin. With one out, Ed Kranepool also singled and Larry Elliot drove home Altman with a single to put the Mets ahead again. Hart then homered off Fisher in the bottom of the inning, tying the game for San Francisco.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hal Lanier got a one-out double off Fisher. Willie Mays followed with a fly out and Orlando Cepeda singled to score Lanier for a 3-2 Giant lead. Trying to advance to second base, Cepeda was thrown out by catcher Gonder.
Bolin held the Mets scoreless on one hit from the sixth inning to the eighth. In the top of the ninth, he got Kranepool to ground out before walking Elliot. Gonder then clouted a two-run homer, giving the Mets their third one-run lead of the game. Bolin retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
Al Jackson, in his third inning of relief, retired the Giants in order in the bottom of the ninth. He got Jim Davenport on a called third strike for the final out of the game. The Mets had a thrilling victory over the National League leaders on Gonder's dramatic home run.
