1969: Griffin, Astros Blank Padres
Thu, Jun 21, 2007
by Geoff Young
June 21, 1969, Houston: Astros 4, Padres 0 (box score)
Toward the end of June, the Padres embarked on a most unwelcome trip to Shutout City. The first stop on their tour involved a 12-strikeout performance by Astros rookie right-hander Tom Griffin.
Griffin, Houston’s first-round pick in 1966, was making just the 13th start of his big-league career. He entered the contest with a 3-3 record and a high 4.02 ERA, but had struck out better than 10 batters per 9 innings in the early going.
The Padres countered with Dick Kelley. After cruising through the opening frame, Kelley gave ground in the second inning on a two-out double off the bat of Doug Rader, followed by a single by Johnny Edwards.
Houston added a single run in the fourth off Frank Reberger, and two more in the sixth off Jack Baldschun. The Padres, meanwhile, could do no better than get a runner to second in the first inning, and again in the seventh and eighth.
Other highlights? Not really. Al Ferrara had two hits. Johnny Podres worked a perfect ninth.
Elsewhere in the world: Tennis great and San Diego native Maureen Connolly died of cancer in Dallas, Texas, at age 34.
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
