September 30, 1962: The 120th Loss
From The Met Wiki
| Date: September 30, 1962 |
| Mets starter: Willard Hunter |
| Mets: 1 |
| Cubs: 5 |
| Winning pitcher: Bob Buhl |
| Key player(s): Bob Buhl |
| Key play: Mathews' double, Cubs' triple play |
The Mets concluded their inaugural season with a Sunday afternoon game at Wrigley Field. It was a 2 hour and 16 minute finale in which the Cubs' Bob Buhl pitched a complete game. The Mets suffered their 120th loss of the year by a score of 5-1.
In the bottom of the second inning, Mets' starter Willard Hunter allowed a leadoff single to George Altman. Hunter then walked Nelson Mathews and Andre Rodgers to load the bases before issuing a walk to Cuno Barragan, forcing home Altman for Chicago's first run. Ray Daviault relieved Hunter and retired the Cubs with no further scoring.
Mathews' double off Daviault in the bottom of the third scored Ernie Banks with Chicago's second run. In the fourth, the Mets got a run on Frank Thomas's homer off Buhl. A wild pitch by Mets' reliever Craig Anderson then brought home Altman in the fifth for a 3-1 Cub lead.
Errors by Felix Mantilla and Richie Ashburn put Chicago runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh. Later in the inning, Altman and Mathews singled off Anderson to drive home two unearned runs. Altman tried to score on Mathews' hit, but was thrown out at home by center fielder Jim Hickman.
Sammy Drake and Ashburn started the top of the eighth with singles off Buhl. Joe Pignatano followed with a drive that was caught by second baseman Ken Hubbs. On the play, Ashburn was caught when Hubbs threw to Banks at first base. Banks then threw to Rodgers covering second for a play on Drake, completing a triple play.
Buhl pitched a scoreless ninth inning to finish off the game. The Cubs ended the season with their 59th win. Meanwhile, the Mets' first year was complete with a 40-120 record for a .250 winning percentage.
Notes
- The triple play in the eighth inning came in Pignatano's final major league at bat.
- This was Ashburn's last game of his 15-year career.
