1963: Dodgers rally from 0-2 to take series vs Reds in 5

8/8/63 - Dodger Stadium
GAME 1 - Reds 4, Dodgers 2
John Tsitouris vs Don Drysdale
On paper this matchup squarely favored LA.  Drysdale was average at best giving up 2 runs in both the second and fifth innings respectively.  Tsitouris was wonderful through 7 and Al Worthington was spectacular with 2 scoreless innings on the back end to save it.  Cincy struck first with 2 in the second.  Leo Cardenas RBI single in with one out was followed by a perfectly executed squeeze play by Tsitouris.  A sac fly by Ron Fairly in the 4th cut Cincy's lead in half.  A two out, two run shot, by Gordy Coleman made it 4-1.  Willie Davis two out RBI single in the 8th was charged to Tsitouris record, but big John didn't care one bit as his team would draw first blood over the favored Dodgers.
Reds lead series 1-0

8/9/63 - Dodger Stadium
GAME 2 - Reds 5, Dodgers 0
Jim Maloney vs Sandy Koufax
The much anticipated duel between "the great" Koufax and fireballer Maloney never came  off.  Jim Maloney certainly kept up his end of the bargain going the distance and tossing a 1 hit shutout.  LA's only hit would be a bunt single in the 5th by Willie Davis, which was certainly a breech of baseball etiquette.  Cincy players were seen grumbling after the game about how "bush" league Davis' play was.  When interviewed, "3-Dog" said, "I didn't even look at the scoreboard.  All I noticed was Eddie Kasko playing on the edge of the outfield grass, so I decided to drop one down".  Kasko made up for his blunder by taking Koufax deep.  Koufax fanned 13 in a contest where he was feast of famine.  Both Frank Robinson and Kasko had roundtrippers for the victors.
Reds lead series 2-0

8/11/63 - Crosley Field
GAME 3 - Dodgers 5, Reds 1
Bob Miller vs Jim O'Toole
Cincy came home with full intentions of closing the Dodgers out.  The built in travel day did wonders for the Dodgers who road the coattails of Tommie Davis, who hit two homers and knocked in all 5 Dodger runs on the day.  Bob Miller would hover below the radar with a 1 run performance over 7 innings.  Ron Perranoski would pitch 2 scoreless innings to finish out the game and extend LA's season 1 more day.
Reds lead series 2-1

 

8/12/63 - Crosley Field
GAME 4 - Dodgers 5, Reds 2
Don Drysdale vs Joe Nuxhall
Big D loomed larger than life in a must win game for the Dodgers.  With a five run shutout  heading into the bottom of the 9th Don Drysdale was 3 outs away from completely shutting down the Reds.  After getting the first 2 outs easily Drysdale gave up singles to Doc Edwards and Gene Freese.  His long time teammate Junior Gilliam would butcher a short hop at third to allow Leo Cardenas to load the bases.  Pinch hitter Bob Skinner would line a single to right to score two and for LA to get Larry Sherry and Perranoski up in the pen.  Big D turned to see the action going and got this evil scowl on his face.  He would take his anger out on a rookie named Peter Edward Rose in the form of a brush back and 3 bullets and a return trip to the dugout for the final out.  Junior Gilliam and Frank Howard each hit solo shots for LA, who has now battled themselves back into the series.
Series tied 2-2

8/13/63 - Dodger Stadium
Jim Maloney vs Sandy Koufax
A rematch of game 2's pitching matchup saw "Dandy Sandy" give an effort closer to his Cy Young form.  Maloney was shaky at best and had to be removed in the middle of the 5th after surrendering 3 runs and giving up the 1-0 lead he was given.  Back to back doubles by Wally Moon and Willie Davis tied the game at 1-1.  A two run single by Maury Wills put LA up by 2.  Koufax' hiccup in the 8th nearly cost LA the season.  An RBI triple by Vada Pinson was followed by a Frank Robinson RBI single, which tied the game at 3-3 and seemed to suck the air out of the brand new stadium in Chavez Ravine.  Cincy had new life, but would go back on the critical list thanks to some surprise base running by Wally Moon.  With 2 out “the uni-brow” (Moon), who replace an injured Frank Howard in the 3rd, single to right.  Just a harmless 2 out single, right ?  Guess again, my friends.  Cincy reliever John Tsitouris, who pitched a gem as the game 1 starter, decided to not pay much attention to Moon, who took his opportunity to easily swipe second.  With Moon in scoring position Willie Davis slapped the ball through the hole past the outstretched arms of Cardenas.  Moon rounded third and easily beat Robinson's throw to the plate to give LA a 1 run lead.   Koufax would trot out to the mound to close it out, but after his 8th inning semi-meltdown he would be on a very short leash.  Sandy fanned Doc Edwards to lead off the inning then inexplicably walked Marty Keough.  Pinch hitter Gene Freese would get caught looking for the second out of the inning.  Koufax needed 1 more out to close the door, but he had nothing left in the tank.  Leo Cardenas doubled off the right center fence to put runners on 2nd and 3rd.  That was all she rode for the great Koufax and the game and possibly the series would now rest on the left shoulder of Ron Perranoski.  Up stepped that Rose kid again and just like he did yesterday in a big spot he struck out swinging.  This time his whiff would end not only the game, but the series, which went to LA after an improbable comeback.
Dodgers win series 3-2