Saturday – June 27

The Phillies took the lead in the top of the first:

• With one out, Cookie Rojas doubled.
• When Johnny Callison followed with a single, Rojas moved to third easily, took a wide turn, and then bluffed running toward the plate. The fake drew a throw which enabled Callison to move to second.
• Curt Simmons walked Richie Allen intentionally to load the bases.
• The strategy backfired when Danny Cater doubled – sending both Rojas and Callison across the plate to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead – and Allen advancing to third.
• Roy Sievers delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0.

But the Cards matched in the bottom of the first:

• After two were out, Dick Groat singled and Ken Boyer walked.
• Bill White’s double cleared the bases to cut the deficit to 4-2.
• Chris James doubled and White scored.
• Julian Javier singled to score White and tie the game 4-4.

In the top of the second, Gene Mauch sent Wes Covington up to pinch-hit for Dennis Bennett and brought Rick Wise in to pitch in the bottom of the second.

Wise pitched two strong innings – but then gave up two runs in the fourth:

• With one out, Tim McCarver singled.
• Curt Simmons laid down a bunt – but Richie Allen booted it and both runners were safe.
• Curt Flood hit a grounder to short. Bobby Wine fielded the ball and flipped to second, but Tony Taylor dropped the ball – loading the bases with one out.
• Lou Brock’s two-run single put the Cardinals on top 6-4.

And the Cards got to Wise again in the fifth:

• Ken Boyer hit a ground ball to first that Roy Sievers couldn’t handle for the Phillies fourth error of the game.
• Bill White singled to send Boyer to third.
• After Bob Skinner pinch-hit for Chris James and popped out to short, Julian Javier dribbled a ball toward third. Richie Allen handled it, but his only play was first base. So the runners moved up to second and third with two outs.
• Rick Wise walked Tim McCarver intentionally to load the bases.
• But Curt Simmons foiled the strategy with a two-run single to make it 8-4 Cardinals.

And the Cards added a final run in the eighth:

• With Dallas Green pitching, Curt Flood singled, moved to second on Lou Brock’s bunt, and scored on Dick Groat’s double to finish the scoring at 9-4.

Curt Simmons (8-6) shut out the Phillies over the final eight innings to earn the win – and Rick Wise (1-1) picked up his first career-loss.

Around the League: The Giants blew out the Dodgers 9-1 behind Juan Marichal’s four-hitter (10-3).

The win tied the Giants with the Phillies for first place.

In addition to being the official Eagles Outsider for BlameMyFather.com – Barry Bowe is also the author of:

• Born to Be Wild
• 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant
• 12 Best Eagles QBs
• Birth of the Birds
• Soon-to-be-published sexy, police procedural Caribbean Queen
• Soon-to-be-published novel Stosh Wadzinski
• Soon-to-be-published novel Polish Widow