4/12/65: There was a near-cycle on Opening Day

Was it by Willie Mays? Roberto Clemente? Mickey Mantle? No, no and no. The near cycle was almost pulled off by none other than... The Mets.

Casey's club got a lead-off triple by Billy Cowan, a 2nd inning homer by Charley Smith, a homer by Ed Kranepool in the 7th, and a pinch-hit double by Jesse Gonder in the 8th. No trace of a single in an otherwise "Mets" performance by the Mets, who fell to Don Drysdale and the Dodgers, 7-2. Meanwhile in DC...

The Sawx and Senators fought to a 2-2 tie through 8 innings until the Bostonians broke it open, sending 10, scoring 5 with the big hit a 3-run homer by Bob Tillman off Nick Willhite powering the Sawx to the win, which mirrored the actual 7-2 score on Opening day, but with one difference, Dick Radatz got the win instead of Bill Monbouquette, who fell victim to the "dot" in the 8th, forcing the 2-2 tie. Frank Howard, incidentally, went 0-for-4 in his DC debut.

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