August 5, 1969, San Diego: Cardinals 2, Padres 1 (box score)
The Padres returned to San Diego in desperate need of a win. Having lost eight straight, they sent Dick Kelley to the mound against Bob Gibson.
The Cardinals scored first in the fourth. With one out, Curt Flood doubled to left. After a Vada Pinson ground out, Joe Torre singled home Flood to give St. Louis an early 1-0 lead.
San Diego answered in the bottom half. Nate Colbert led off with a triple to center and then came home on an Al Ferrara single. The Padres were unable to do further damage: Ivan Murrell grounded into a 1-6-3 double play, which meant that Walt Hriniak’s subsequent single would be wasted.
St. Louis had a chance to retake the lead in the sixth. With runners at the corners and nobody out, though, Kelley fanned Pinson and Torre. He then intentionally walked Julian Javier and induced Mike Shannon to ground out, ending the inning.
The Padres had a similar opportunity in the seventh. Murrell singled and Hriniak was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet, John Sipin and the pitcher Kelley both struck out. Van Kelly, batting for Jose Arcia, walked to load the bases, but Roberto Pena flied out to end the frame.
The Cardinals finally broke through in the ninth. Javier singled to lead off the inning. With one out, Tim McCarver drew a walk. Phil Gagliano, batting for Dal Maxvill, then singled to left, scoring Javier. The inning could have been even more productive, but Gagliano was thrown out at second trying to advance on an error by left fielder Murrell. Gibson then grounded to short to end the inning. The Cardinals led, 2-1.
San Diego managed to get a runner into scoring position with one out in the bottom half, but Gibson shut the door. He struck out Ed Spiezio and retired pinch-hitter Chris Cannizzaro on a grounder to put the final touches on another masterpiece.
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