May 9, 1969, St. Louis: Cardinals 7, Padres 6 (box score)
In their first trip to Busch Stadium, the Padres jumped all over right-hander Ray Washburn. With Roberto Pena on second and two out in the first inning, four consecutive singles resulted in three runs. Chris Cannizzaro was caught looking to end the frame, but the club from San Diego had staked Al Santorini to an early lead.
For a while, it looked like three runs might be enough for Santorini. He shut down the Cardinals through five innings, allowing just two walks and two hits. Only one St. Louis baserunner had made it past first base.
In the sixth, now nursing a 4-0 lead, Santorini lost it. Singles to Lou Brock, Julian Javier, Curt Flood, and Joe Torre to lead off the inning made the score 4-2.
Enter Frank Reberger. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Reberger intentionally walked Joe Hague to get to #8 hitter Dal Maxvill. The latter came into the game batting .193/.309/.265, so there was a certain logic to the strategy. It also worked beautfiully when Maxvill grounded to Nate Colbert at first base to end the inning.
Well, not quite. Colbert booted the grounder, allowing Flood to score. After a passed ball and a Bill White single, the Cardinals had taken a 5-4 lead and the game, for all intents and purposes, was over.
St. Louis added two insurance runs in the eighth, and it’s good that they did. The Padres darned near came back against right-hander Ron Willis in the ninth. Cito Gaston walked, Bill Davis singled to right, and Al Ferrara doubled to left to make the score 7-5.
Lefty Joe Hoerner came in and quickly restored order. Pinch-hitter Ivan Murrell struck out and Pena flied to left, scoring Joe Niekro (he had pinch-run for Davis). With another pinch-runner, Leon Everitt, standing on second base, Hoerner fanned Tony Gonzalez to end the contest.
Trivia: The Cardinals lineup from this game reads like a who’s who of baseball history. Lou Brock is in the Hall of Fame, Julian Javier was one of the first prominent players to come out of the Dominican Republic and his son (Stan) also played in the big leagues, Curt Flood is largely responsible for free agency as we know it, Joe Torre enjoyed a tremendous playing career and likely will be inducted to the Hall of Fame for his managerial exploits, Tim McCarver and Mike Shannon have gone on to become very successful baseball announcers, and Bill White served as president of the National League from 1989 to 1984.
Elsewhere in the world: George Harrison’s second solo album, the experimental Electronic Sound, was released. I have not heard this one, but apparently it is quite freaky.
Recent Comments