May 9, 1964

Jim Bunning (3-1) versus Bob Purkey (0-1) on Saturday, May 9, 1964.

Purkey lost his first start of the season to the Giants and got a no-decision against the Mets in his second start. After winning his first three starts, Bunning lost a 2-1 decision to the Cardinals his last time out.

Bunning sizzled over the first two innings, retiring six of the first seven batters he faced, and striking out three while giving up one harmless single.

Purkey threw a 1-2-3 first, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the second.

Tony Gonzalez led off with a walk and moved to second when Wes Covington singled to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Gonzalez then scored when Johnny Edwards let a Purkey breaking ball get past him to put the Phillies ahead 1-0.

The Reds countered in the third. Leo Cardenas led off with a single and moved to third one out later when Pete Rose doubled. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Chico Ruiz singled Cardenas home to tie the game 1-1. Rose stopped at third to put runners on first and third with nobody out. One out later, Gordy Coleman hit a two-run triple to put the Reds in front 3-1.

The Reds added to the lead in the fifth. Bob Purkey and Pete Rose started the inning with back-to-back singles. One out later, Vada Pinson hit a ground ball to first. John Herrnstein flipped to Bobby Wine to force Rose, but Pinson beat the relay to first. Purkey scored to up the Reds lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Clay Dalrymple led off with a single. After Bobby Wine hit into a 6-4-3 double play, Gene Mauch lifted Jim Bunning for a pinch-hitter. This was the second consecutive start that Bunning didn’t get past the fifth inning.

Pinch-hitter Johnny Briggs reached first on a Pete Rose error. Tony Taylor singled and Briggs advanced to third to put runners on first and third with two outs. Briggs then scored on wild pitch to trim the lead to 4-2.

Gene Mauch replaced Bunning with Dallas Green (0-0). This was Green’s fifth relief appearance and he’d yet to give up a run.

Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent out of the University of Delaware in 1955, Dallas Green was a 29 year-old, 6-5 right-hander who was used as both a starter and a reliever. He spent five-plus years in the minors before making it to the big club. In four years with the Phillies, he pitched in 142 games and compiled a record of 18-17.

After his playing career ended, he would become the Phillies manager and, in 1980, would lead the Phillies to the team’s first World Series championship.

He also managed the Yankees and the Mets, and served as GM with the Chicago Cubs from 1982 to 1987. To this day, he serves as a Senior Advisor to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr.

Dallas Green pitched two scoreless innings and the game reached the Phillies seventh with the score still 4-2 Reds.

In the bottom of the seventh, with one out, Roy Sievers pinch-hit for Dallas Green and grounded out for the second out.

Then Tony Taylor walked. Richie Allen singled to put runners on first and second with two outs.

Johnny Callison doubled and Taylor scored to close the gap to 4-3 ─ it was Callison’s 12th RBI. Allen stopped at third to put runners on second and third with two outs.

Reds manager Fred Hutchinson replaced Purkey with lefty Bill Henry (1-0) ─ Henry’s fourth outing. He’d given up just one run in 6 1/3 innings thus far – but that was about to change.

Tony Gonzalez greeted Henry with a two-run single to put the Phillies ahead 5-4 ─ giving Gonzalez 16 RBIs on the season.

In the top of the eighth, Gene Mauch summoned Ed Roebuck (1-0) from the bullpen. It was Roebuck’s fifth appearance. He’d racked up one win and two saves without giving up a run.

Roebuck prolonged his scoreless string to six games by retiring six of the seven batters he faced in picking up his third save of the year.

Dallas Green (1-0) picked up the victory and Bob Purkey (0-2) absorbed the loss.

The victory gave the Phillies four straight wins – and four straight over the Reds as well.

But later in Candlestick Park, Bob Hendley (2-2) bested Sandy Koufax (2-3) 3-2 as the Giants maintained their one-game lead over the second-place Phillies.