June 16, 1964

Three Games in Chicago

After an off-day to travel from Philadelphia to Chicago, the Phillies were beginning a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The date was June 16, 1964.

So far this season, the Phillies won four-of-six games from the Cubs ─ winning two-of-three in both Chicago and Philadelphia.

But the Cubs were hot – having just taken two-of-three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh. However, they were mired in sixth place, playing .500 baseball with a 27-27 record.

It was Dennis Bennett (7-4) in the series opener versus Larry Jackson (8-4).

Jackson started the season strong, winning five of his first six decisions ─ the only loss at the hands of the Phillies on April 19th. After that, Jackson lost three straight before rebounding with three consecutive wins.

Dennis Bennett got roughed up by the Mets in his last start, but he was leading the Phillies in wins with seven and his ERA was a sharp 2.95.

The first inning was scoreless.

In the top of the second, Richie Allen singled. Tony Gonzalez was thrown out at first on a tapper to the mound as Allen advanced to second.

When Roy Sievers singled to left, third-base coach George Myatt waved Allen home. But Billy Williams made a perfect throw to the plate to nail Allen. Sievers moved to second on the throw to the plate.

Clay Dalrymple doubled and Sievers scored to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

No scoring in the bottom of the second.

With one out in the top of the third, John Herrnstein hit his second home run of the year to make it 2-0 Phillies.

Bennett kept the Cubs off the scoreboard in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth, Tony Gonzalez led off with a double. Roy Sievers walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

• Clay Dalrymple hit a slow hopper to second. The Cubs went for two ─ Sievers was forced at second, but Dalrymple beat the relay to first. That put runners on first and third with one out.

• Gene Mauch called for a suicide squeeze.

• Bobby Wine got the bunt down and Tony Gonzalez scored easily to make it 3-0 Phillies.

From there, Dennis Bennett and Larry Jackson traded zeroes until the bottom of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Billy Cowan led off with a double. One out later, Billy Ott doubled off the ivy in right and Cowan moved to third.

• Cubs Manager Bob Kennedy sent Jimmy Stewart up to pinch-hit for Larry Jackson and Stewart delivered a two-run single to cut the Phillies lead to 3-2.

• Thinking that Bennett was running on fumes, Gene Mauch replaced him with Ed Roebuck (1-2); and Roebuck retired the Cubs one-two-three.

In the top of the eighth, Lindy McDaniel (1-3) replaced Larry Jackson. Back on April 25, McDaniel recorded a save against the Phillies.

Today, McDaniel got the Phillies in order in the eighth, but he ran into trouble in the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, Roy Sievers led off with a single – and Mauch promptly sent Ruben Amaro in to run for Sievers.

Clay Dalrymple bunted Amaro to second for the first out.

Bobby Wine singled and Amaro scored to make it 4-2 ─ that was Amaro’s third run as a pinch-runner.

Mauch sent Wes Covington up to bat for Roebuck and Covington grounded into a 6-4-3 double-play to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mauch sent Jack Baldschun (3-2) to the mound and Baldschun struck out the sides to nail down the victory.

Dennis Bennett (8-4) picked up the win ─ his team-leading eighth ─ and Jack Baldschun earned his fourth save.

Larry Jackson (8-5) took the loss.

That was the Phillies fourth straight win.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds jumped all over Jack Sanford and Ken McKenzie for 11 hits and nine runs in eight innings as the Reds beat the Giants 9-4 at Candlestick Park in San Fran. Sanford (4-7) took the loss.