June 20, 1964

Back in the day, when anyone asked me when I got married, the answer was simple: “I got married the year the Phillies blew the pennant.”

Just like that, everyone knew I got married in 1964. – Excerpt from the Introduction to my book 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant.

In fact, I got married over Father’s Day weekend in 1964 – so this would have been my Golden-Anniversary-Plus-One if I were still married. But I’m not.

I was divorced in 1981 – at which time I vowed to never get married again. And I’m pleased to say I’ve kept that vow intact for the past 34 years – although there were a few close calls along the way.

After sweeping the twi-nighter from the Mets on Friday, the Phillies were riding a modest three-game winning streak.

For Saturday’s matinee, Gene Mauch was sending Dennis Bennett (8-4) out to face Jack Fisher (4-5).

Jack Fisher was making his 14th start of the year.

Dennis Bennett was making his 15th start. Despite complaining of tendonitis in his pitching arm, he completed six games and led the Phillies pitching staff in victories with eight. He beat the Cubs 4-2 his last time out.

The game remained scoreless through 2½ innings.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Joe Christopher hit his sixth home run to put the Mets on top 1-0.

Charley Smith followed with a double. But after Rod Kanehl struck out for the second out, Hawk Taylor hit a two-run homer to put the Mets ahead 3-0 ─ his first home run.

Through the first four innings, the Phillies managed only one hit ─ a third-inning single by Dennis Bennett.

By the top of the fifth, Gene Mauch felt desperation creeping in. So with one out, he sent Cookie Rojas up to pinch-hit for Bobby Wine. Rojas, who’d been nursing an injury for the past few days, was batting .342. And Rojas delivered a double to left.

Mauch then sent Wes Covington up to bat for Dennis Bennett. Covington hit a long fly to right, Rojas tagged, and moved to third with two outs.

Tony Taylor singled, Rojas scored, and the Mets lead was trimmed to 3-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mauch replaced Bennett with Dallas Green (1-0) and Green retired the Mets in order.

In the top of the sixth, with two outs, John Herrnstein dribbled a single through the infield. Roy Sievers then followed with his second home run in two games to tie the score 3-3 ─ it was Sievers’ fourth of the season.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hawk Taylor led off with a single to left.

Amado Samuel followed with a single to right. Hawk Taylor tried to go first-to-third. Johnny Callison came up throwing, but his throw was late. The ball hit Hawk Taylor as he was sliding runner and rolled away from the bag. Hawk Taylor picked himself up and headed for the plate. Richie Allen retrieved the ball and threw Taylor out at home.

Samuel moved all the way to third on the play. One out.

With two strikes, Jack Fisher tried to squeeze Samuel home, but the bunt went foul and Fisher was out on strikes for the second out.

Ed Kranepool then singled to put the Mets ahead 4-3.

Gene Mauch replaced Green with Ed Roebuck (1-2), and Roebuck got Ron Hunt to fly to left for the third out.

In the top of the seventh, Danny Cater pinch-hit for Roebuck – but failed to get on.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jack Baldschun (3-3) came in to pitch.

Joe Christopher greeted Baldschun with a home run to up the Mets lead to 5-3 ─ his second home run of the game and seventh of the season.

Charley Smith struck out for out number-one.

Dick Smith singled and stole second.

Hawk Taylor followed with his second home run of the game to put the Mets ahead 7-3.

In the top of the eighth, Casey Stengel went to Al Jackson (3-10) – usually a starter – to close the ballgame.

Jackson retired the Phillies in the eighth and ninth innings to pick up his first save of the season and second of his career.

Jack Fisher (5-5) won the game and Dallas Green (1-1) was tagged with the loss.

Giants Explode

In St. Louis, the San Francisco Giants exploded for 14 runs on 20 hits to out the Cardinals away 14-3.

Harvey Kuenn – pictured in the header above – led the attack with five hits, including his second home run of the season. Willie Mays hit his 21st homer and Orlando Cepeda hit a pair – numbers nine and ten.

Bob Hendley (6-4) picked up the easy win and Glen Hobbie (1-5) took the loss.

The win enabled the Giants to pick up a full game in the standings to close within 1½ games of the Phillies.