Apr. 16, 1964 - On the strength of a five-run flareup against big Don Drysdale and solid pitching and a key hit from Bob Gibson, the Cardinals earned a 6-2 victory against the Dodgers last night in Los Angeles.
“Ninety-nine more to go,” yelled a jubilant Ken Boyer, the batting hero with three hits, including a clutch two-run single. Boyer was referring to the first St. Louis victory of 1964 and a 100-triumph target.
Gibson’s leadoff infield hit touched off the five-run spree that snapped a 1-1 tie and brought groans from a crowd of 28,425. Gibson was on second with two out when Bill White was walked intentionally.
Then came one of Drysdale’s biggest mistakes. Trying to jam Charlie James with a pitch on the fists, he missed the target and hit the Redbird above the left elbow. Then the Cardinals broke through. Boyer singled two home; rookie Johnny Lewis delivered his first big league hit, driving in a run; and Curt Flood’s third hit sent in another run. That finished Drysdale. Lefty Tim McCarver followed with a sharp run-scoring single off southpaw Ron Perranoski.
“I got tired,” said Gibson, who gave up nine hits, walked two, and struck out six in pitching nine full innings. “I hadn’t pitched more than seven innings in spring training. I didn’t walk many, but my control wasn’t sharp.”
Boyer sighed as he reviewed his big night. He recalled that he had hit Drysdale pretty well over the years.
“Then last year, Drysdale came up with a good curve, and it took me all year to catch up with it,” Boyer said. “I hit an inside fastball for the big single, and I’m sure he wanted to jam me more with the pitch.”
“That’s what makes those guys such good hitters — they take advantage of your mistakes,” Drysdale said. “Gibson hit a good pitch, a curve down and away. Wills made a good play, but Gibson was able to beat the throw because of his speed.
“I shouldn’t have tried to pitch James so close when I hit him. And I didn’t pitch tight enough to Boyer. It was my fault. In this game, you can’t afford to make mistakes — they’ll come back and haunt you.”
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