August 1, 1969, Chicago: Cubs 5, Padres 2 (box score)
The Padres, after being swept in St. Louis by the Cardinals, headed to Chicago hoping to change their fortunes. Unfortunately, the Cubs, who owned first place in the NL East at the time, had their own ideas.
Clay Kirby and Bill Hands hooked up in the opener on a Friday afternoon. The Cubs jumped on Kirby early with a two-out rally in the first. Billy Williams singled to center and Ron Santo walked. After a wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet, Ernie Banks singled them home to give the home team a 2-0 lead.
The Padres scored their first run in the fifth. With one out, Ivan Murrell blooped a single to center. After Chris Cannizzaro popped out to his counterpart behind the plate, John Sipin doubled to left, scoring Murrell.
The Cubs scored another run in the sixth, and it could have been worse. With runners at first and second, and one out, Gary Ross relieved Kirby and retired Hands on a foul popup bunt to third. After Don Kessinger walked to load the bases, Glenn Beckert grounded to third to end the inning. The Cubs now led, 3-1.
Nate Colbert started the seventh with a homer to left, his 15th on the season. Hands, however, quickly recovered and kept his club in front.
The Cubs capped the scoring in the bottom half. Three walks, a hit batsman, and a single resulted in two runs, making the final score 5-2.
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