April 19, 1964: Mets' First Win at Shea

From The Met Wiki

Date: April 19, 1964

Mets starter: Al Jackson

Mets: 6

Pirates: 0

Winning pitcher: Al Jackson

Key player(s): Al Jackson, Rod Kanehl, Ron Hunt, Al Moran

Key play: Kanehl's & Hunt's two-run singles in 4th

Hoping to avoid a sweep in the first series at Shea Stadium, Mets' manager Casey Stengel sent Al Jackson to the mound against the Pirates. Jackson responded well with a six-hit shutout over Pittsburgh as the Mets got their first win ever at Shea, 6-0.

After three and one-half innings, each team had two hits and no runs. Hawk Taylor led off the fourth with a single off Pirates' starter Bob Veale. Joe Christopher followed with a double and Rod Kanehl singled home Taylor and Christopher for a 2-0 Met lead. Later in the inning, Ron Hunt got a two-out single that scored Al Moran and Jackson to put the Mets up by four runs. Veale was then replaced on the mound by Tom Butters.

In the bottom of the sixth, Tommie Sisk was on to pitch for Pittsburgh. Christopher greeted Sisk with a leadoff single and then stole second base. Moran singled to bring home Christopher for the Mets' fifth run. Al later scored on a double by Dick Smith.

The Mets loaded the bases against Sisk in the seventh, but failed to score. It didn't hurt them as Jackson kept the Pirates hitless in the eighth and ninth to finish off the ballgame. The Mets had a shutout for their first victory in the new ballpark.