1962 NLCS GAME 1 - LAD 6, SFG 0

GAME 1 - Candlestick Park - LAD 6, SFG 0
Don Drysdale vs Jack Sanford

4 hit shutout by Big D

This much anticipated duel between 25 game winner Don Drysdale and 24 game winner Jack Sanford turned out to be a dud.  Drysdale was dominant from the beginning and San Fran's fabled lineup stood no chance vs the tall righty.  Sanford on the other hand began leaking oil from the get go.  LA scored a Maury Wills manufactured run in the first as the mobile shortstop singled and stole second so fast the echos from the National Anthem were still reverberating.  Junior Gilliam's single put runners on the corners for Ron Fairly who doubled home Wills.  Gilliam attempted to score as well and was pegged at the plate by right fielder Felipe Alou.  "Jumbo" Frank Howard crushed one to deep left, but Fairly got a bad jump and was thrown out at the plate by a great throw from Harvey Kuenn.  All in total the Giants outfield threw out 4 Dodgers attempting to score.  Without those arms he score would have been much worse.  With one out in the 5th Tommy Davis was hit in the ribs by an errant pitch and trotted down to first.  Up stepped "3-Dog" Willie Davis and what the fans were then treated to was the most exciting play in baseball:  The inside the park homer.  Davis launched one into the right center gap that even the great Willie Mays couldn't track down.  By the time Alou could gather the ball Davis was heading for third and not letting up.  Alou hit his cutoff man  (Hiller) perfectly.  Hiller turned and threw a perfect one hopper to Haller who turned to tag Davis, but was a hair too late.  LA

Inside the park HR - 3Dog

now had a 3-0 lead and probably could have had 2 or 3 more runs if it wasn't for San Fran's arms.  With 2 out in the top of the 6th catcher Johnny Roseboro doubled down the right field line to score Tommy Davis, who singled with one out.  Light hitting second baseman Larry Burright lined one to the opposite field to score Roseboro and make it 5-0.  LA would add another run in the 7th thanks to a throwing error by Haller, who was attempting to throw Wills out at second on a steal attempt.  All in all Wills was on base 3 of 4 times today (3-4 with a walk).  When Wills, the 1962 NL MVP, gets on base he creates havoc and drives the Dodger offense.  Drysdale, who got stronger as the game went on was the beneficiary of inning ending DPs in the 7th and 9th innings.  He also managed to hit 2 batter including Haller and Mays.  When hitters attempt to dig in against Big D they find one sailing right at their ear.

Dodgers lead series 1-0