Friday – May 15

After a successful 5-and-3 home stand, the Phillies flew to Houston to begin a 13-game road trip that would take them on their first West Coast swing.

As an expansion team, the Colt 45s were a rag-tag bunch of grizzled veterans claimed in the expansion draft mixed with a handful of rookie hopefuls.

Off to a 13-17 start, the Colt 45s found themselves in eighth place and 5½ games out of first. However, they won their last two games over the Giants.

Dennis Bennett (4-2) shut out the Colt 45s on five hits – while striking out six. But the game was a 1-0 pitcher’s duel between Bennett and Don Nottebart (0-5) after six full innings.

Then the Phillies put the 4-0 win away with three runs in the top of the seventh:

• Bobby Wine led off with a single.
• When Dennis Bennett laid down a bunt, catcher John Bateman fielded the ball and tried to get Wine at second – but his throw was late and both runners were safe.
• Tony Taylor also bunted. Nottebart fielded the ball, but he overthrew first allowing Wine to score to make it 2-0 – with Bennett advancing to third and Taylor making it to second.
• Richie Allen singled and Bennett and Taylor crossed the plate to up the Phillies lead to 4-0. The two runs gave Allen 15 RBIs on the season.

Around the League – When the Giants lost 4-2 to the Mets in San Francisco, the Phillies took over first place by ½ game.

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