April 29, 1969, San Diego: Dodgers 2, Padres 1 (box score)
This game was over almost before it began. Willie Crawford walked to lead off the game for the Dodgers. Willie Davis followed with a single to center off starter Al Santorini. One out later, a Jose Arcia error gave Los Angeles its first run. After a Tom Haller strikeout, Bill Sudakis singled to center to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0. Santorini escaped the inning without further damage, but on this day, it didn’t matter.
Dodgers right-hander Joe Moeller held the Padres in check most of the game. Nate Colbert doubled to lead off the second and made it to third with one out, but Moeller fanned Chris Krug and Arcia to quell the threat.
The Padres later pushed across a run in the fourth. Ollie Brown singled to left to start the inning. He scored on another Colbert double. But with Colbert again standing on third with one out, Krug and Arcia failed to convert, and the Padres trailed, 2-1.
The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the ninth. Right-hander Pete Mikkelsen, who had relieved Moeller in the seventh, started the inning. After Brown singled and Colbert reached on error while attempting to sacrifice the runner to second, left-hander Jim Brewer entered the contest.
Brewer had saved the previous game, but now faced a tough situation. He caught Cito Gaston looking, then retired Ivan Murrell, batting for Krug, on a ground out. Jerry DaVanon followed with a walk, loading the bases for the pitchers’ spot. Manager Preston Gomez sent Ed Spiezio up to pinch hit. Spiezio promptly popped to second baseman Ted Sizemore to end the game, sealing another Dodgers victory over the Padres.
Trivia: Mikkelsen served up a game-winning three-run home run to Tim McCarver of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the ’64 World Series.
Elsewhere in the world: On the occasion of his 70th birthday, jazz legend Duke Ellington received the Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Richard M. Nixon.
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