May 4, 1969, Cincinnati: Reds 3, Padres 2 (box score), Reds 12, Padres 0 (box score)
The first game of a doubleheader at Crosley Field featured Al Santorini and Jack Fisher. In a sign of how times have changed, Fisher actually worked an inning of relief just two days earlier in the Reds’ 8-5 loss to San Diego.
The Padres and Reds traded runs in the third inning. Ed Spiezio led off the top half with a homer to left. Cincy responded by parlaying a walk, sacrifice, groundout, and single into a run of their own.
Cincinnati took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. For the second straight inning, a leadoff walk by Santorini resulted in a run.
In the eighth, now trailing 3-1, the Padres tried to mount a comeback. They scored a run on a Ramon Pena single and had two runners on base with one out but couldn’t convert against reliever Clay Carroll, who came back in the ninth to retire the side in order and end San Diego’s three-game winning streak.
In the second game, Gary Ross faced Tony Cloninger. Speaking of times changing, Cloninger had started the day before for Cincy but was touched up for five runs and removed after facing just five batters. Evidently the lack of rest really hurt his game: Cloninger shut out the Padres on two hits. Oh, and he went 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk at the plate. Tony Perez also homered for the Reds, who thoroughly abused their guests.
Trivia: Although this would be Cloninger’s only home run of the season, the right-hander from North Carolina was no stranger to the longball. Over a 12-season career, he launched 11 of them in 673 plate appearances, including 5 for the Braves in 1966.
Elsewhere in the world: Tenor sax legend Dexter Gordon recorded Live at the Left Bank in Baltimore.
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