September 23, 1969, San Diego: Padres 5, Giants 4 (box score)

The Padres wasted no time in getting to San Francisco starter Frank McCormick. After Jose Arcia led off the first with a single, Roberto Pena doubled him home and took third on an error. One out later, Al Ferrara singled to left, plating Pena. A Nate Colbert double to left put runners at second and third with only one out. With Ivan Murrell at the plate, McCormick balked home Ferrara. Murrell then grounded to second, scoring Colbert and giving the home team a commanding 4-0 lead.

If you’ve been following along all season, you know that the ’69 Padres could give up a lead, and that’s exactly what they did. The Giants scored a single run against Clay Kirby in the second to make the score 4-1, which it remained until the seventh.

That inning, Kirby’s control deserted him. After retiring Willie McCovey to lead off the frame, Kirby walked the next two batters and then plunked Leon Wagner to load the bases. Frank Reberger replaced Kirby on the mound and walked pinch-hitter Bob Burda to force home a run. The Giants scored again on a sacrifice fly to pull the visitors to within one run. San Francisco added another in the eighth to tie the score at 4-4.

Then the Padres did something unusual: they came back and won the game. With Frank Linzy on the mound for the Giants in the ninth, Pena hit a one-out single to right. Ron Slocum came on to run for Pena and promptly took second base on a wild pitch. Ollie Brown then singled to right-center, ending the ballgame. The Padres, despite their best efforts, had won, 5-4.

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