April 20, 1967: Tom Seaver's First Win
From The Met Wiki
| Date: April 20, 1967 |
| Mets starter: Tom Seaver |
| Mets: 6 |
| Cubs: 1 |
| Winning pitcher: Tom Seaver |
| Key player(s): Tom Seaver |
| Key play: Davis's home run, Boyer's single, Harrelson's two-run single |
In his second Major League game, Tom Seaver faced the Chicago Cubs on a Thursday afternoon at Shea Stadium. Tom had five strikeouts, while allowing only one run on eight hits in seven and one-third innings pitched. Seaver's effort was more than enough to gain his first Major League win as the Mets defeated the Cubs, 6-1.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Mets tied it up on Tommy Davis's home run off Chicago pitcher Curt Simmons. They went ahead in the sixth when Ken Boyer singled home Cleon Jones. Boyer later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ron Swoboda and the Mets had a 3-1 lead.
Seaver protected the advantage well. After Ernie Banks was thrown out trying to steal second base in the fourth, Tom retired the next ten Chicago batters and kept the lead intact. Seaver continued into the eighth before Don Shaw came in and got Billy Williams to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Facing Cubs' reliever Cal Koonce, the Mets tallied three more times in the bottom of the eighth. Ed Kranepool's sacrifice fly and Bud Harrelson's two-run single extended the lead to five runs, putting the game out of reach for Chicago.
Shaw then set down the Cubs in order in the ninth to finish it off. Seaver's first win in the Major Leagues was secure. The game was also special for Shaw as he recorded his first Major League save.
