Despite home runs from Frank Thomas and Marv Throneberry, the New York Mets dropped a 5-3 decision to the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field in front of a sparse crowd of 8,381 fans.
Craig Anderson pitched a complete game but the Mets could not overcome Throneberry’s error in the fifth inning, giving Vada Pinson the opportunity to hit a two-out, two-run homer. The loss marked the Mets fifth straight loss to the Reds that season and the third straight game that a starting right-hander pitched a complete game and did not win (Jay Hook and Roger Craig did it the two previous nights).
The New York Times called the loss “another frustrating and futile” attempt. The Mets outhit the Reds 11-7 in the game, but were unable to manufacture runs against the Reds ace Bob Purkey, who improved to 15-3 on the season. He would go on to finish the season with a 23-5 mark and the highest winning percentage in the league.
“If we could only have gotten that fella some runs,” said Mets manager Casey Stengel after the game.
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