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.

Tagged as: astros, Baseball, dick_kelley, doug_rader, houston_astros, johnny_edwards, maureen_connolly, padres, san_diego_padres, tom_griffin