April 25, 1963: Thomas and Craig Stifle Cubs
From The Met Wiki
| Date: April 25, 1963 |
| Mets starter: Roger Craig |
| Mets: 3 |
| Cubs: 2 |
| Winning pitcher: Roger Craig |
| Key player(s): Frank Thomas, Roger Craig |
| Key play: Thomas's single in 1st & homer in 6th |
The Mets faced the Cubs on a Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. After winning the previous day, the Mets aimed for a sweep of the two-game series. Roger Craig pitched a complete game and Frank Thomas drove in all the Mets' runs for a 3-2 victory over Chicago.
In the top of the first inning, Ron Hunt singled with one out off Cubs' starter Dick Ellsworth. Charlie Neal also singled to send Hunt to third base. Thomas followed with the Mets' third consecutive single, scoring Hunt for a 1-0 lead. Ellsworth retired the next two batters and Craig pitched a scoreless bottom half.
From the second inning to the fourth, Craig and Ellsworth each pitched one-hit shutout ball. Ellsworth gave up a triple to Jim Hickman leading off the top of the third, but set down all other Mets batters. Craig faced the minimum nine Chicago hitters, closing out the bottom of the second with a double play grounder by Jimmie Schaffer after Ken Hubbs' single. Ellsworth retired the Mets 1-2-3 again in the top of the fifth inning. The Cubs then tied the game when Schaffer doubled to score Lou Brock in the bottom half.
Neal doubled with one out in the top of the sixth. Thomas homered to put the Mets ahead, 3-1. Ellsworth struck out Cliff Cook and got Gil Hodges on a fly ball to right fielder Brock to end the inning. Craig then set down Chicago in order with three ground outs in the bottom half.
After Ellsworth pitched a perfect top of the seventh, Ernie Banks singled off Craig to begin the bottom of the inning. Brock hit into a force play and went to third on Hubbs' second single of the game. Craig fanned pinch-hitter Merritt Ranew and yielded a pinch-hit single to Bob Will that brought home Brock. Roger then got Don Landrum on a fly ball to left fielder Thomas for the third out.
Cubs' reliever Cal Koonce set down the Mets in order in the top of the eighth inning. Craig pitched a perfect bottom half. The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth. Koonce then retired Al Moran and Craig for the final two outs to keep the Mets' lead at one run.
Craig struck out Banks to begin the bottom of the ninth inning. Brock followed with a single and Hubbs came to bat. Roger got Hubbs to hit a ground ball to third baseman Neal for a game-ending double play. The Mets had their second straight win at Wrigley Field on Craig's complete game and Thomas's timely hits.
