June 26, 1964

Onto Busch Stadium

After a day of to travel, the Phillies moved into Busch Stadium in St. Louis for a four-game weekend series against the Cardinals – single games on Friday and Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday.

The date was June 26, 1964.

The Cards were in fifth place with a 34-34 record and eight games out of first place. But the Cardinals had played well against the Phillies, winning 4-of-5 games so far.

Tonight’s game featured a classic pitching matchup:

Jim Bunning (7-2)
Bob Gibson (6-4)

Gibson, making his 15th start, already racked up seven complete games and one shutout. In his first start against the Phillies, on May 4th, the Cards beat the Phillies 9-2. But Gibson wasn’t involved in the decision because he was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and had to be removed from the game with the Cards on top 7-1. So the minor injury deprived him of an easy win.

Jim Bunning was making his 16th start. His last having been the perfect game against the Mets on Father’s Day. He made one start against the Cardinals thus far, back on May 5th, when he lost 2-1 to Jim Washburn.

Bob Gibson got the Phillies 1-2-3 in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the first, Curt Flood led off with a double. Two outs later, Ken Boyer singled and Flood scored to put the Cards on top 1-0.

Nothing in the second inning or the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Lou Brock led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt by Bill White. One out later, Bob Skinner singled and Brock scored to make it 2-0 Cardinals.

No scoring in the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth, Tony Gonzalez walked with one out. After Clay Dalrymple flew out to deep left for the second out, Cookie Rojas connected for his second home run of the season to tie the score 2-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bunning struck out Bill White and Ken Boyer and got Bob Skinner on a liner to short.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Johnny Callison hit a ground ball to short that Dick Groat muffed for an error. Richie Allen then followed with his 15th home run of the season to put the Phillies ahead 4-2. The two RBIs increased his team-leading total to 42 ─ five more than Johnny Callison.

No change in score thru the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Bob Skinner led off with a double. Dick Groat followed with a single and Skinner advanced to third.

Thinking that Jim Bunning was tiring, Gene Mauch replaced him with Ed Roebuck (1-2). Back in May, Roebuck made two relief appearances against the Cardinals, giving up no runs and no hits in three innings, and picking up one save.

Julian Javier greeted Roebuck with a double. Skinner scored to left to trim the Phillies lead to 4-3, but Groat stopped at third.

With runners on second and third and nobody out, Roebuck walked Tim McCarver intentionally to load the bases and set up a force at any base.

Roebuck then blew the save when Phil Gagliano pinch-hit for Bob Gibson and tied the game 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to deep left. Javier also tagged after the catch and moved to third.

With runners on first and third and one out, Curt Flood bunted. Roebuck fielded the ball. His only play was first base and he got Flood at first, but Javier scored to put the Cardinals ahead 5-4.

In the top of the ninth: Ron Taylor (1-1) came in to pitch ─ making his 29th relief outing. Back on May 5th, he picked up one of his six saves against the Phillies.

Tony Gonzalez led off with a double.

Clay Dalrymple followed with his second home run of the season to put the Phillies on top 6-5.

Mauch stuck with Ed Roebuck in the bottom of the ninth.

Roebuck gave up a one-out single to Bob Skinner, but he retired the next three batters to end the game with the Phillies on top. Roebuck (2-2) blew the save but picked up the win. Ron Taylor (1-2) also blew a save and took the loss.

Giants Win

Later that night at Candlestick Park, the Giants beat the Dodgers 4-3 to keep pace with the Phillies and remain one game out of first place. Bob Hendley (7-4) picked up the win and Bob Miller (2-4) took the loss.

The loss dropped the Cardinals to nine games back.