Bucs Go 10 in Row, 9-1, 12-0

May 30, 1965 - The Mets’ image remains unblemished. They are buried in the National League dungeon, the spot they grabbed with expansion and which they refuse to give up.

The Pirates swept them in a four-game series at Shea Stadium and return to Pittsburgh riding a 10-game win streak. The Bucs haven’t gone on a winning binge longer than that in 21 years, since an 11-game streak back in 1944. They opened the ’62 season with 10 straight.

The scores today were 9-1 and 12-0, with the seniors of the staff, Bob Friend and Vernon Law, taking the doubleheader. A fine crowd of 41,552 Met faithful bravely suffered through 18 rounds of pillage.

“This was the worst day we ever had here,” manager Casey Stengel said afterward. “I’m very disappointed.”

The Bucs hit five homers among their 27 hits today, four blasts in the second game. 

Bill Mazeroski (pictured) hit one in the opener. In the nightcap, Gene Alley, Willie Stargell, Jim Pagliaroni, and Bob Bailey hit the ball out of the park.

The first game was tied at 1-1 into the sixth, when the Mets contributed two runs to the Pirate cause.

Roy McMillan dropped Roberto Clemente’s liner for an error. Donn Clendenon singled to center, and the ball got through Johnny Lewis for one error as Clemente scored. McMillan threw the relay into the Pirate dugout, and another run came over for a 3-1 lead. Friend pitched a five-hitter, his first victory since April 20.

But Friend’s victory today was not especially surprising. Friend is a charter member of the Met-Killer Club that includes Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal, Larry Jackson, and Jim Maloney. Today’s triumph extended Friend’s lifetime record against the Mets to 13-1, making him the No. 2 man in the club behind Drysdale.

Vernon Law does not belong to that club, but he has an application on file. His six-hit nightcap win gave him a modest 5-1 career mark against the Amazin’s.

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