1969: Three Days, Three Shutouts
Sat, Jun 23, 2007
by Geoff Young
June 23, 1969, Cincinnati: Reds 5, Padres 0 (box score)
After being blanked in the final two games of a weekend series at Houston, the Padres headed north to take on the Reds. Gary Ross made the start for San Diego, while Cincinnati countered with left-hander Jim Merritt.
The Reds threatened immediately in this one. With one out in the first inning, Bobby Tolan was hit by a pitch. Alex Johnson singled him to third, bringing up Tony Perez. Fortunately for Ross and the Padres, Perez rapped into a 6-4-3 double play.
San Diego wasn’t so lucky in the second. After Lee May flied out to lead off the inning, Johnny Bench doubled and Tommy Helms singled him home to put the Reds up, 1-0.
Merritt, meanwhile, retired the Padres in order in each of the first three frames. In the bottom of the third, the Reds openened the proverbial floodgates. After singles by Pete Rose, Tolan, and Johnson to load the bases, Perez launched a grand slam.
The only question that remained was whether Merritt would toss a no-hitter. He set down the first 16 batters he faced, but finally yielded a single to Cito Gaston with one out in the sixth. John Sipin added another single with two out in the ninth. Those were the Padres’ only two baserunners and neither made it past first base. The game lasted just 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Trivia: Merritt had two of the more unusual consecutive seasons you’ll see from a pitcher. In 1970, he went 20-12; the following year, his record was 1-11.
Elsewhere in the world: Warren Burger was sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States.
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.
June 23, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Today is “Matt Latos Day” … ie. he makes his pro debut for the Eugene Emeralds today at Spokane … there’s a link here that will let you listen to the radio broadcast of the game, which is scheduled to start at 630pm (Pacific Time) …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....p?sid=t461
In other Ems news … madfriars is reporting …
Cory Leubke has signed and will arrive on Sunday night in Eugene
June 23, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Did Dice-K throw one of these last night?
http://www.withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=3161
I didn’t think so … wow!
June 23, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus has issued this invitation …
Would someone explain the Padres bullpen usage patterns to me, or is it just a weird fluke?
… you can respond this at this URL …
http://baseballprospectus.com/.....+The+Knife
June 23, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Was catching up on my BP reading … and saw this is a chat …
There’s a story John Helyar tells in “Lords of the Realm,” in which a Padres player drives in the game-winning run, and amidst the cheering, Buzzie Bavasi is silent. Owner Ray Kroc asks him why, and Bavasi says, “[hero] is on cocaine.”
Kroc replies, “Then give ‘em all cocaine!”
I think the story is indicative of a mindset, and I seriously doubt the mindset changed that much in a generation.
… ouch
June 23, 2007 at 3:00 pm
There’s ‘82 Padres’ uni talk going on at …
http://www.uniwatchblog.com/?p=530#comments
June 23, 2007 at 3:07 pm
5 … in particular, here’s a decent slide show from last night’s game …
http://www.flickr.com/photos/t.....1075/show/
June 23, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Lots of good/interesting notes here …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
Specifically, I’ve been wondering about Headley … I’d like to see him playing full time in the minors … but …
The Padres had planned to recall infielder Oscar Robles, but a fractured wrist put him on the DL yesterday. As a result, rookie third baseman Chase Headley’s stay with the Padres was extended.
June 23, 2007 at 5:00 pm
2 former Padre farm hands have gotten recent callups …
- Jon Knott by Baltimore
- JJ Furmaniak by Oakland
June 23, 2007 at 5:02 pm
7: Anyone know if there’s been any study on whether regular minor league playing time is significantly better for development than part time play at the Major League level?
June 23, 2007 at 5:45 pm
6: That’s my brother’s flickr slide show! Good to see him getting some loving. If you like it, let him know.
June 23, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Even though I watch everything on Tivo after the fact, I feel the world is not quite right until the IGD for the game is posted. Is GY trying to live a life separate from DS? I don’t recall approving that.