June 23, 1964 - Knuckleball artist Bob Tiefenauer, a “forgotten man” in the Milwaukee Braves’ bullpen, has made his move to regain the role of relief ace.
Tiefenauer blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers on one hit in the final three innings as the Braves snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory tonight before a crowd of 16,459 at County Stadium.
The veteran righthander, who began the season as Milwaukee’s top reliever, boosted his record to 2-4 while posting his first victory since April 19.
A three-run uprising triggered by Hank Aaron’s two-out double in the seventh and Tiefenauer’s sparkling performance were all the ninth-place Braves needed to break out of their slump.
The Braves left eight runners stranded in the first six innings and appeared doomed to their eighth straight setback as lefty Jim Brewer, the third of four Dodger pitchers, retired the first two batters in the seventh. The Braves at that point were trailing 2-1.
Then Aaron doubled off the right field wall and Lee Maye followed with a run-producing single to right. Felipe Alou then doubled to left center, scoring Maye. Joe Torre promptly brought Alou home with a single to left.
Eddie Mathews, who manned third base after pinch-hitting in the fifth, belted his sixth homer, a drive into the bullpen in right center, to complete the scoring in the eighth.
After the game, the Braves tore into servings of barbecued spareribs with extra relish as they celebrated the end of their extended slump.
Everyone managed a smile in the clubhouse which had been filled with gloom for a week. Even club president John McHale paid a surprise visit to congratulate his troops.
“Victory is sweet,” McHale said as he greeted manager Bobby Bragan. “I hope we can go on to win 20 in a row.”
Nibbling on a rib, Bragan commented: “We don’t get this dish very often — just when we win.”
One of the most encouraging signs noted by Bragan was Eddie Mathews’ homer in the eighth. The big slugger had been benched Sunday.
“It looks as if the rest might have done him some good,” Bragan said. “And I’ll need all the lefthanded bats I can muster against Don Drysdale tomorrow, so Eddie will go back to third and Denny Menke will shift back to short.”
Woody Woodward, who played short with Menke at third, will return to the bench as Mathews goes back to third. However, Felipe Alou, a converted center fielder, will remain at first base.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments