May 18, 1964

Viva Las Vegas – starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, and directed by George Sidney – was the top box office draw at movie theaters across the country

If you’ve ever seen the movie and thought you interpreted real chemistry between Elvis and Ann-Margret, it wasn’t your imagination. They had an affair during the filming – an affair that forced a showdown between Elvis and his real-life girlfriend Priscilla Beaulieu.

Elvis eventually married Priscilla.

The weekend series with the Colt 45s ran over into a rare fourth game on Monday. The date was May 18, 1964, and it was ace Jim Bunning (4-1) versus Ken Johnson (3-3) in the series finale.

Ken Johnson went 11-17 with Houston in 1963. His three wins this season were against the Reds, Braves, and Giants; and his ERA was a respectable 2.79.

Bunning beat the Cardinals 3-2 in his last start.

Jim Bunning didn’t give up a hit through the first three innings and Johnson gave up just one single. So there was no score going into the fourth.

With one out in the top of the fourth, Wes Covington and John Herrnstein hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. One out later, Bobby Wine singled and Covington scored to make it 1-0.

Bunning threw another shutout inning in the bottom of the fourth

In the top of the fifth, with one out, Richie Allen doubled and scored when Johnny Callison followed with a single to make it 2-0.

With a runner on first and one out, Tony Gonzalez doubled and Callison scored from first to make it 3-0 Phillies. It was the 17th RBI for Gonzalez.

Bunning shut the Colts out through six innings.

In the top of the seventh, Richie Allen singled with one out and was erased when Johnny Callison hit into a force at second for the second out. Tony Gonzalez then chased Callison home with a double to make it 4-0 Phillies ─ it was his 18th RBI

That was three more runs than Bunning needed. He crafted a one-hit, complete-game shutout. The only hit allowed was a single to Jim Wynn leading off the fifth.

Bunning (5-1) struck out five and walked no one in picking up the win with his second shutout of the season. Ken Johnson (3-4) took the loss.

In San Francisco, the Giants lost 4-2 to the last-place Mets with Galen Cisco (2-3) picking up the win and Bob Shaw (3-2) taking the loss.

That loss, coupled with the Phillies win, put the Phillies and the Giants in a virtual tie for first place.

The Cardinals trailed by one game in third place.