May 26, 1964: Mets Score 19 Runs
From The Met Wiki
| Date: May 26, 1964 |
| Mets starter: Jack Fisher |
| Mets: 19 |
| Cubs: 1 |
| Winning pitcher: Jack Fisher |
| Key player(s): Jack Fisher, Charley Smith, Jim Hickman |
| Key play: Mets' 7 runs in first two innings |
The Mets began a three-game series with the Cubs on a Tuesday afternoon. Each of the nine players in the Mets' starting lineup got at least one hit and drove home at least one run in the game. The offensive outburst resulted in a 19-1 victory for the Mets.
Chicago starter Bob Buhl was knocked out in the first inning. The first four Mets' batters reached base to score a run and Charley Smith singled to drive in two more. Roy McMillan then singled home Jim Hickman for a 4-0 Met lead and Buhl was quickly through for the day. The Mets got another three runs off Cubs' reliever Wayne Schurr in the second when Joe Christopher hit a two-run triple and scored on catcher Merritt Ranew's passed ball.
Chris Cannizzaro doubled off Chicago's Sterling Slaughter to score Charley Smith in the fifth. Cannizzaro later scored on Dick Smith's two-out single to right field. The Cubs got a run in the bottom of the inning on Billy Cowan's single off Fisher that scored Ernie Banks to cut the Mets' lead to 9-1.
In the seventh, the first five Met batters reached base against Cubs' reliever Glen Hobbie. McMillan led off with a single and Cannizzaro was hit by a pitch. Fisher followed with a single to score McMillan and Dick Smith doubled to score Cannizzaro. A single by Ron Hunt plated Fisher for another run. Hobbie was then replaced by Jack Spring, whose balk allowed Dick Smith to come home from third base for the Mets' 13th run of the game.
The Mets beat up on reliever Don Elston in the top of the ninth. With one out, Dick Smith tripled and Hunt walked. Frank Thomas followed with a single to score Dick Smith and moved to second base on the throw home. Hickman added another single that brought home Hunt and Thomas before Charley Smith hit a three-run homer. Cannizzaro hit a double off Elston for the Mets' 23rd hit of the game before the inning had ended.
Fisher retired the Cubs in order in the bottom of the ninth. The Mets had a rare easy victory with an explosive hitting attack.
Notes
- As legend has it, a person from New York called Wrigley Field to find out how the Mets had done in the game. Informed that they had scored 19 runs, the person's response was "Did they win?"
