Remembering Mets History (1965) Al Jackson Takes A No Hitter Into the 8th Inning
They had lost ten straight games & needed something good. Today they were starting a series at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, facing Harry Walkers sixth place Pirates (47-48).
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Al Jackson would get three fly ball outs in the 1st inning. In the 2nd, he got two more & struck out Bill Mazeroski. In the 3rd, Jackson struck out Jim Pagliaroni looking & then Gene Alley swinging. He would only have four strike outs on the day.
Al Jackson entered the 8th inning with a no hitter still going, clinging to a one run lead. The first batter Bill Mazeroski grounded out to Charley Smith at third base. The next batter was future Hall of famer, Willie Stargell. Stargell singled to left field, spoiling Jackson’s no hitter.
Future 1969 Met; Don Cardwell (8-3) was the Pirate pitcher taking on the Mets; Al Jackson (4-12).
Jackson had been one of the better Mets pitchers on the bad teams of the franchise early years, although you would never know it with a 43-80 record in those years.
In 1965 he went 8-20 with a 4.34, his worst year as a Met. But those eight wins, tied with Jack Fisher for the team lead in wins. His twenty loses were tied for third most in the NL. Jack Fisher lost 24.
This game was all about good pitching, Al Jackson & Don Cardwell would both go the distance. Only one run on seven hits combined in this game.
This game was all about good pitching, Al Jackson & Don Cardwell would both go the distance. Only one run on seven hits combined in this game.
Al Jackson would get three fly ball outs in the 1st inning. In the 2nd, he got two more & struck out Bill Mazeroski. In the 3rd, Jackson struck out Jim Pagliaroni looking & then Gene Alley swinging. He would only have four strike outs on the day. In the 4th, after retiring eleven in a row, a Chuck Hiller error put Roberto Clemente on base. Jackson then got Donn Clendenon to ground out.
In the top of the 5th inning, Ron Swoboda led off with a single to left field. He was forced out at second on Chuck Hiller’s ground out. Hiller advanced to second on Chris Cannizzaro’s ground out. Then Mets, Al Jackson came up and grounded to second base. Pirate second baseman Bill Mazeroski booted the play, Jackson was safe & more importantly Hiller was able to score. It would be the only run of the entire game.
In the 7th, Al Jackson issued his first walk, once again Roberto Clemente reached base. Next Clendenon grounded into a double play, Charley Smith to Hiller to Ed Kranepool, to end the inning.
Trivia: Stargell would be a Mets nemesis his entire career, he hit the most HRs against the Mets
than any other opponent.
than any other opponent.
Al Jackson then got Jim Pagliaroni & Gene Alley to ground out, ending the 8th inning.
In the bottom of the 9th, Ozzie Virgil led off with a base hit, just the second hit of the day for the Pirates. Jackson then retired the rest of side in order, Bob Bailey grounded out, Manny Mota struck out & Clemente grounded out to Hiller to end the game.
In the bottom of the 9th, Ozzie Virgil led off with a base hit, just the second hit of the day for the Pirates. Jackson then retired the rest of side in order, Bob Bailey grounded out, Manny Mota struck out & Clemente grounded out to Hiller to end the game.
Jackson finished with a two hit shut out. He walked just the one & struck out four.
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