July 5, 1964

Get Out the Brooms

Just one game remained until the All-Star break and the Phillies had just regained sole possession of first place by taking the first two games of the series from the Giants. But to sweep the series, the Phils would have to defeat Giants’ ace Juan Marichal (11-3) in the series finale in front of 38,641 fans at Candlestick Park – which would not be an easy task.

Marichal already racked up 11 complete games and three shutouts, but he was only 1-1 so far against the Phillies:

Losing 7-2 on May 20th in Candlestick.
Winning 5-3 on June 5th at Connie Mack.

Dennis Bennett (8-5) was taking the mound for the Phillies. He already started two games against the Giants:

Losing on May 19th at Candlestick.
Getting a no-decision at home on June 6th.

He had no wins in his last three starts ─ losing to the Dodgers once to go along with two no-decisions – and lately he’d been troubled by arm problems.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for the first three innings:

Bennett gave up two hits.
Juan Marichal none.

In the top of the fourth, Johnny Callison led off with a single.

Richie Allen laid down a bunt. But instead of being a sacrifice, Allen beat it out for a hit to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

One out later, Clay Dalrymple hit a slow roller to second. Hal Lanier fielded the ball and had just one play. He threw Dalrymple out at first while Callison and Allen advanced a base to put runners on second and third with one out.

Tony Taylor then broke up Marichal’s shutout with an infield single that scored Callison to make it 1-0 Phillies.

The 1-0 pitcher’s duel continued thru six innings.

In the top of the seventh, Clay Dalrymple walked and moved to second when Tony Taylor laid down a sacrifice bunt. Ruben Amaro followed with a single to center and Dalrymple scored to make it 2-0 Phillies.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jim Ray Hart led off with his 10th home run of the season to pull the Giants to within a run at 2-1.

Marichal retired the Phillies in the top of the eighth.

When Cap Peterson led off the bottom of the eighth with a single, Gene Mauch replaced Bennett with Jack Baldschun (3-3) ─ his 30th outing of the year.

Baldschun got the next three batters to end the eighth and he got the Giants 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his seventh save.

Dennis Bennett (9-4) picked up the win and Juan Marichal (11-4) was tagged with the loss.

The series sweep gave the Phillies four straight wins over the Giants ─ and 4-of-9 in the season series. The sweep also extended the Phillies lead over the Giants to 1½ games.

The All-Star Game was scheduled two days hence – on July 7th – at the New York Mets first-year park Shea Stadium. Just three players would be representing the first-place Phillies at the All-Star Classic: