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Dodgers Sneak By Giants as Tommy Davis Shines

May 27, 1963 - Three throwing errors by usually skillful José Pagan gave the Los Angeles Dodgers as many unearned runs and a 4-3 victory in 10 tense innings over the Giants yesterday. Candlestick Park’s largest turnout of the season, a mob of 41,668, gave grudging applause to the man they love to hate, Don Drysdale, after he went the distance to salvage the third game of the series with the Bay City powerhouse. Tommy Davis (pictured #12) drove in three runs, including the decider, as the Dodgers pruned San Francisco’s league lead to two games. Davis, now batting .305 and climbing, drilled a single off Don Larsen to score Jim Gilliam from second base in the top of the 10th after Jim got life on Pagan’s second two-base throwing error of the game. Thus, a string of six consecutive defeats at Candlestick ended for the Dodgers. They had not won a game there since last July 8. It was Drysdale’s fourth win of the month and his 22nd over the Giants, the team he’s defeated more often than any other club in the league. “You won the big one,” Dodger manager congratulated Don after the game. “Now we are still in good position to catch those Giants.” Johnny Podres, victim of Giant homers the previous day, epitomized the Dodgers’ sentiments. “Very gutty game, Donny boy,” Podres shouted from his adjoining cubicle. Drysdale said he likes to work at Candlestick. “The cool weather invigorates me, and I have no complaint about the wind,” he said. “I’m throwing the high hard one off the shoulder instead of side-arm sweepers. Your wind here makes my fast one sink to my advantage. When I was side-arming, I didn’t always have control. Maybe that’s why I was suspected of hitting batsmen.” Drysdale complimented the Giants. “There are no tougher five guys in a row in the league than Mays, Cepeda, Bailey, Alou, McCovey. Against McCovey, I was just lucky.” Alston warmed up Sandy Koufax in the ninth, but “just to loosen him for a start against Milwaukee Tuesday. I would have used Sandy if Drysdale faltered,” said Walt.

 

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