1963 World Series - GAME 3 - "Dark side of the Moon”

8/28/63 - Memorial Stadium
GAME 3 - Orioles 6, Dodgers 5
Bob Miller vs Dave McNally
Hyperbole aside, game 3 was the turning point of the series.  LA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and had McNally on the ropes for 7 innings but could not solve his version of the "rope a dope".  By inning number 3 the O's amassed a 5-2 lead courtesy of a 2 run single by Aparicio in the 2nd and another two run single in the 3rd.  While McNally was playing "rope-a-dope", Bob Miller was being held up by the ropes.  Miller rebounded from those 2 bad innings and did not allow a run for the next 4.  Still, as Yogi says, "It gets late real early out there" and the Dodgers were beginning to run out of outs.  Dick Hall would work his way out of trouble and pitch an untidy, but scoreless 8th, as did Dodger reliever Larry Sherry.  Ron Perranoski would pitch a scoreless 9th for the Dodgers, who were still down 5-2 with 3 outs to go.  Stu Miller would be called on to own the 9th for the O's, who had a 3 run lead.  Hitting cleanup hitter Frank Howard with his first pitch was not exactly how Miller planned to start things.  Willie Davis' 4-6 force out was a good start.  Howard moved into scoring position, but his run did not count for much.  "Popeye", Don Zimmer, worked out a walk after fouling off a boat load of pitches.  John Roseboro hit a bullet back to the box that Miller juggled then threw to third to cut down the lumbering Howard for out number 2.  The Dodgers were down to their final out in the form of Wally Moon, who entered the game in the 8th and struck out looking.  Goat or Hero, that's what it boils down to in these situations.  Moon chose hero and cemented his choice by taking Miller's 2-1 offering deep into the Maryland night for 3 run game tying homer.  You could have heard a pin drop on 33rd street.  Memorial Stadium now resembled a public library.  The game would head to extra innings and just about everyone in the house had this sinking feeling that Miller had let this one get away.  The game was still tied, but you wouldn't have known it from the crowd's reaction.  Perranoski was doing a beautiful job keeping the O's at bay.  After 3 scoreless innings or work he was sent back to the hill to attempt a 4th.  Brooksie walked on 4 straight pitches and that was all she rode for Perranoski, who was at his limit.  Dick Calmus strolled in from the pen and got the next two batters to ground out easily.  Sam Bowens emerged from the dugout to pinch hit for the pitcher and 2 pitches later lashed a rocket to left center for a walk off double.  In one mighty swing the momentum of the series switched and the crowd once more came to life.
Orioles lead series 2-1