July 13, 1969, San Diego: Padres 1, Braves 0 (box score)

One run. Not a lot of margin for error there.

The last time the two Niekro brothers had faced each other, Joe won in relief for the Cubs at Wrigley despite older brother Phil’s three-run homer earlier in the contest. This time, the two hooked up as starters, and each put on a terrific performance.

The Padres scored the game’s only run in the fourth. Nate Colbert led off with a double to left. With two outs, Ivan Murrell singled him home.

Atlanta, meanwhile, could do nothing against Joe Niekro. They came close in the sixth, when Phil Niekro singled to start the inning. Felipe Alou followed with a single, and ex-Padre Tony Gonzalez did the same, but the elder Niekro was thrown out at the plate to keep the score 1-0. Hank Aaron and Orlando Cepeda then flied out to end the frame.

Aaron came up with runners on base again in the eighth, but again was retired. The Braves then went down quietly in the ninth. The Padres, after getting their homestand off to a dismal start, had finished with two straight wins.

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