Cards Top Dodgers, Koufax in L.A.

May 26, 1965 - Dodger Stadium is the kind of ballpark that keeps 36-year-olds such as Curt Simmons from worrying about the future.

“It’s a great pitcher’s park,” Simmons said after beating Sandy Koufax and Los Angeles tonight, 2-1. The Cardinals, in third place, moved within 1½ games of the first-place Dodgers.

“The ball doesn’t travel because the air is heavy, and the pitchers don’t tire because the temperature drops at night,” Simmons said. “The grass slows down the ball. The fences are way out. Why, every Dodger pitcher’s ERA ought to be under three.”

Simmons noted that there are so many low-score games and so few home runs at Dodger Stadium that the fans cheer loudly when somebody hits a foul ball or a long fly. “They must have 30 of these pitching battles a year here,” he said.

The L.A. park proved so invigorating to oldster Simmons tonight that he came through with his first hit of the season — and his single, after 18 futile tries, was a big blow.

With two out and the score 1-1 in the seventh, Bob Uecker again delivered for manager Red Schoendienst, who has been platooning him steadily.

Uecker barely missed a homer in the second, when his drive smacked high on the left-field wall. He settled for a double.

In the seventh, Uecker singled to right. Then came Simmons’ hit to left, Uecker stopping at second. 

“I don’t get too many hits, but the ones I get are big ones,” Simmons cracked. “I hit a high fastball. They say any guy is dangerous when he’s swinging a bat.”

Julian Javier, now murdering southpaws at a .388 pace, followed with a single to right — and un-speedy Uecker barely beat Ron Fairly’s high throw home. 

Koufax, who walked one and struck out six, retired 13 successive batters before Uecker touched of the winning rally.

Sandy, who shut out the Cards in Los Angeles three times last season, has given up only one run in his 57 innings of work against St. Louis since the new park was opened. The victory was the Cards’ first over Koufax in Los Angeles in six tries since the Dodgers moved from the Coliseum.

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