Mays Stars as Giants Sweep Astros

May 16, 1965 - Willie Mays staged another hitting and baserunning show today as the San Francisco Giants swept a doubleheader from the Houston Astros, 10-5 and 4-3, at Candlestick Park.

Mays slammed one of four San Francisco homers in the opener as the Giant’s 14-hit attack ruined Dave Giusti’s bid for his seventh straight victory. In the finale, Mays doubled in the first run and scored two more as the Giants ran their win streak to five and the Astros lost their sixth in a row.

A crowd of 33,368 saw Mays reach base seven times in eight appearances. He got on with a homer, a double, three singles, a walk, and an error while raising his batting average to .408. 

Willie McCovey, Jim Hart, and Tom Haller also connected for the Giants in the opener as Juan Marichal went the route to record his sixth victory against three defeats. 

McCovey, whose hot bat is sparking memories of 1963 when he bashed 44 homers, has a sound explanation for his current surge.

“My wife is keeping a scrapbook for me, and I’ve got to give her some material,” he said. “Hitting in front of Mays has helped me. I’m getting better balls to hit. A pitcher can’t fool around with me when Willie is coming up next. He’d rather take a chance on one run than two. And he’s not going to walk me if he can help it.”

Bob Shaw, who needed clutch relief help from the Japanese southpaw, Masanori Murakami, won the finale.

Masanori got five outs with a total of 16 pitches, capping one of the greatest days the Giants ever had at Candlestick.

The loss went to Don Nottebart, who has yet to win a game.

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