Sept. 2, 1964 - Milt Pappas chilled 15,627 fans with a sparkling one-hitter and Sam Bowens and Luis Aparicio hit home runs in Minnesota tonight as the Orioles defeated the Twins, 2-0, to retain their slim hold on the American League top rung.
Two were out in the eighth when shortstop Zoilo Versalles prevented Pappas from being the second pitcher in the Orioles’ 11-year modern history to hurl a no-hitter.
Versalles singled, and through the toughest left side in the league. It was a clean base knock directly between third baseman Brooks Robinson and Aparicio.
Pappas then got Earl Battey to pop to second baseman Jerry Adair, and he put the Twins down in order in the ninth to gain his sixth shutout of the year.
A few moments after Milt strode victoriously off the field, the telephone jingled in the Orioles’ Metropolitan stadium clubhouse.
It wasn’t the home folks calling from Detroit. Nor was it Milt’s pretty wife, Carol, although her long-distance congratulations broke through a few minutes later from Baltimore.
The voice at the other end of the line stated simply in halting, fractured English: “Miltie — I hate what you do to us tonight, but I wanna say you pitch one heck of a game. I sorry I have to do that to you, but that’s the way she go.”
It was Zoilo Versalles, the Twins’ flashy Cuban shortstop whose single broke up Pappas’ no-hitter.
“I thought that was a nice gesture,” said the 25-year-old righthander, still perspiring from his exertions that included 10 strikeouts and just one walk.
“I guess I’d have to say that was the best game I’ve ever pitched,” declared Pappas, who required 100 pitches en route to the 22nd shutout of his American League career.
“Versalles hit a fastball — a good pitch — and when he did, I felt like the bottom had dropped out,” said Pappas, well aware that he was flirting with baseball fame.
“It was like I had been working for something all my life, and then suddenly, there it went. It was like every ounce of energy had been rained out of me for a minute. Anyway, it’s better than getting beat, and it’s still nice to have the shutout.”
Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew, whose two homers sabotaged a superb mound job by the Orioles’ Steve Barber, 2-0, last night, had high praise for Pappas.
“Pappas was all over the place against me — inside, outside, up, and down,” said Harmon. “That’s the best stuff I’ve ever seen Pappas throw.”
“He’s pitched some good ones before, but I think this was his best,” added Minnesota manager Sam Mele. “If ever a guy had good enough stuff to pitch a no-hitter, Pappas had it tonight.
“His last pitch was as good as any he threw all night. He finished strong. You’ve got to give him credit, especially in this ballpark. He did one heck of a job.”
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