Friday – August 7

Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allowing LBJ to launch a full-scale war against North Vietnam.

And the Mets came to Connie Mack Stadium for a three-game weekend series. Mired in last place, the Mets were 30 games out of first place and had won just two of 11 games against the Phillies.

It was Art Mahaffey (10-5) was making his first start in two weeks. His mound opponent was Al Jackson (6-11).

Play Ball:

After Art Mahaffey pitched a scoreless top of the first, the Phillies took the lead in the bottom half:

• Cookie Rojas doubled and scored on Johnny Callison’s single.
• After Richie Allen struck out, Frank Thomas doubled in his first at-bat to score Callison.
• Alex Johnson doubled to score Thomas and make it 3-0.

When Gus Triandos singled to send Johnson to third, Casey Stengel replaced Al Jackson with Carlton Willey (0-2) – and Willey retired the side with no further damage.

After two more scoreless innings from Mahaffey, the Phillies added to the lead in the bottom of the third:

• Richie Allen tripled and scored on a single by Frank Thomas – giving Thomas a pair of RBIs in his first start with the Phillies.

The Mets cut the deficit in half in the fourth:

• Joe Christopher singled and Larry Elliot walked.
• One out later, George Altman singled to load the bases.
• Roy MacMillan hit a two-run single.

And tied it up in the fifth:

• Art Mahaffey hit Ron Hunt.
• Joe Christopher homered (#9) to make it 4-4.

Gene Mauch replaced Mahaffey with Ed Roebuck (3-2) – who got the third out and also retired the Mets in the top of the sixth.

And then the Phillies rallied in the bottom of the sixth:

• Tony Gonzalez pinch-hit for Alex Johnson – walked and moved to second on a passed ball.
• Clay Dalrymple pinch-hit for Gus Triandos and walked.
• Trying to sacrifice, Tony Taylor beat out a bunt to load the bases.

When Gene Mauch sent Wes Covington up to pinch-hit for Ruben Amaro, Casey Stengel sent 22-year-old lefty Willard Hunter (1-1) in to pitch.

• Covington singled to move the runners up a base – Gonzalez scoring to put the Phillies back on top.
• With the bases still loaded and nobody out, Bobby Wine pinch-hit for Roebuck and singled – the runners moving up a base and Dalrymple scoring to make it 6-4.

With the bases still loaded and still nobody out, Stengel replaced Willard Hunter with  22-year-old rookie right-hander Darrell Sutherland (0-3).

• Cookie Rojas squeezed Tony Taylor home to make it 7-4 and leave runners on second and third with one out.
• Wes Covington scored when Johnny Callison grounded out to make it 8-4 Phillies.

Jack Baldschun (4-5) came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and retired the Mets in both the seventh and eighth innings.

The Phillies added a run in the bottom of the eighth:

• Tony Taylor singled, moved to second on a sacrifice by Jack Baldschun, and stole third.
• Gene Mauch called for a squeeze – and Bobby Wine bunted Taylor home to make it 9-4.

Baldschun retired the Mets in the top of the ninth to earn the save (#5).

Ed Roebuck (4-2) picked up the win and Bill Wakefield (3-4) was tagged with the loss – both in relief.

Around the League:

The Giants lost to the Reds 5-3 to fall 2½ games behind the Phillies. The win by the surging Reds moved them to within four games of first.

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
• Work-in-Progress A Fuckin All-American