May 14, 1969, Chicago: Cubs 3, Padres 2 (box score)
After dropping the first two at Wrigley Field, the Padres sent Tommie Sisk to the mound to try and avoid the sweep. For most of Wednesday afternoon, it looked like they might do that.
The Padres broke through first. Catcher Chris Cannizzaro led off the third inning with a rare homer to left off right-hander Bill Hands. The Cubs answered with a leadoff homer of their own in the fourth, courtesy of Ron Santo.
The score remained tied at 1-1 headed to the seventh. That inning, after a one-out walk to Bill Davis, Ed Spiezio doubled to center, putting runners at second and third.
Ted Abernathy replaced Hands on the mound and intentionally walked Cannizzaro to load the bases. Abernathy then unintentionally walked pinch-hitter Ivan Murrell to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. Jerry DaVanon proceeded to hit into an inning-ending double play, allowing the Cubs to escape without further damage.
Johnny Podres came in and worked a scoreless seventh and eighth. In the ninth, the first batter he faced was Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. The Padres had held Banks in check, but in his fourth trip to the plate, he launched a solo homer to left, tying the game.
After retiring Randy Hundley, Podres served up a double to Nate Oliver. He then walked Adolfo Phillips intentionally to face right fielder Jim Hickman.
Right-hander Frank Reberger relieved for the Padres, prompting Cubs manager Leo Durocher to send the left-handed hitting Willie Smith to the plate in Hickman’s stead. Smith responded with a single to left, driving Oliver home from second and giving the Cubs the sweep.
Trivia: Cannizzaro hit 18 career home runs in 2240 plate appearances spanning parts of 13 seasons.
Elsewhere in the world: Actress Cate Blanchett was born in Melbourne, Australia. Yummy.
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