Miracle in the making

Mets rookie pitcher Gary Gentry

Two months to the day after NASA completes the first manned moon landing, the previously woebegone New York Mets 54 years ago tonight accomplish a feat that many deem nearly as impossible to dream as they clinch the National League East title after beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 at Shea Stadium.

The Mets race to a 5-0 lead in the first inning as Donn Clendenon and Ed Charles each homer off St. Louis starter Steve Carlton.

Rookie Gary Gentry throws a four-hitter for the Mets with the final outs coming on a double-play grounder off the bat of Joe Torre.

That sets off a raucous celebration from the Wednesday night crowd of 54,928 – many of whom mob the field to rip up pieces of grass at Shea Stadium.

The Mets’ grounds crew repairs the damage in time to only see the field overrun again after the Mets beat Atlanta in the 1969 National League Championship Series and then again after they stun Baltimore in the World Series.