April 13, 1969, San Diego: Giants 5, Padres 1 (box score)

San Francisco’s Gaylord Perry toed the slab against Padres opening day winner, Dick Selma. Unfortunately for the home team, Selma never got into a groove. Willie McCovey led off the top of the second with a home run to right, and Hal Lanier singled home another run later in the inning.

The Padres fought back for a run of their own in the bottom half. Bill Davis and Cito Gaston knocked back-to-back doubles, but despite loading the bases later that inning, the home team couldn’t push across any more runs.

The Giants added single tallies in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Beyond McCovey’s home run, the main offensive sparks came from Lanier and Jack Hiatt, who reached base seven times between them.

Perry, meanwhile, shut down the Padres. He worked the full nine innings, allowing just five hits and retiring 18 batters on ground balls. At age 30, Perry had earned his 77th big-league victory against a team for whom he later would win a Cy Young Award.

Trivia: For the second straight day, Ed Spiezio recorded the game’s final out.

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