The New York Mets’ Gary Gentry took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, 48 years ago today, settling instead for the franchise’s fifth one-hitter as the Mets topped the Cubs 4-0.
Gentry, the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series, retired the first 12 batters during this Wednesday afternoon contest at Wrigley Field before issuing a leadoff walk to Ron Santo in the fifth. Gentry got Johnny Callison to ground into a 6-3 double play and kept his no-hitter alive until the eighth inning, when the legendary Ernie Banks hit a two-out single to left and extended the Mets’ no no-hitters streak to 1,330 games.
Gentry hit pinch-hitter Willie Smith with a pitch in the ninth but retired the next two batters for a Mets 4-0 win and the team’s fifth one-hitter.
Gentry helped his cause with the bat in the fifth inning by singling home Wayne Garrett, who had a 2-for-3 day with a double and triple after replacing third-baseman Joe Foy, who was hit by a pitch in the second.
When would the next Mets’ one-hitter come? Two days later during the club’s very next game in Philadelphia. Tom Seaver was on the hill at Connie Mack Stadium, but his no-no was killed in the third inning on a Mike Compton single.
