Drysdale Tops Marichal in L.A.

Apr. 29, 1965 - Don Drysdale cooled off San Francisco’s hot bats with a four-hitter tonight and beat Juan Marichal with the help of a pair of big hits by Tommy Davis. The crowd of 30,219, the smallest ever to see the Giants in a night game at Dodger Stadium, saw a terrific pitching battle.

Davis, the two-time National League batting champ, was hitting just .184 going into the game, but he knocked in both Dodger runs in a 2-1 victory that nudged Los Angeles back into the National League lead.

The Dodgers got only five hits off Marichal in six innings and none off Bobby Bolin, who pitched the final two frames. 

Willie McCovey, who opened the second with a walk, scored the one San Francisco run on a two-out single by José Pagan.

Going into the game, McCovey had a lifetime average of .391 against Drysdale, including 10 homers in 64 at-bats.

But Don has learned a few things over the years. He walked McCovey twice tonight, the only two walks he allowed.

With two out and nobody on in the eighth, Drysdale sent Willie Mays backflipping to safety with a high, inside pitch.

The Giants did not believe it was an accident. Drysdale was the leadoff man in the bottom of the inning, and Bolin’s first pitch hit Don in the back.

“I wasn’t trying to hit Mays,” Drysdale said afterward. “If you pitch inside to him, he goes down pretty easily. They thought I was throwing at him. I assumed they’d come back at me, but I didn’t know for sure. [Giants manager] Herman [Franks] plays ball that way. I think he’s right. That’s the way I play.

“I have no ill feeling against Bolin or anyone else. A pitcher has to protect his batters. He’s the only one with the ball in his hand.”

Mays, whom Drysdale has decked many times, stated: “I feel this way. He’s out there trying to win and stop the hitters. He doesn’t care how he does it.”

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