1964 Round 1 – Giants knock off Braves in classic 5 game series

GAME 1 - Candlestick Park
Braves 5, Giants 2
Denny Lemaster vs Juan Marichal
Jim Ray Hart's solo blast and Del Crandall's RBI single in the bottom of the second put the Jints up 2-0.  For Crandall, who was traded from the Braves, this knock must have been as sweet as candy.  Milwaukee answered right back with 3 in the top of the 3rd.  Dennis Menke's 2 run double with 2 out was backed up by Eddie Mathews RBI single.  Gene Oliver's 2 run shot in the 6th provided the final margin.  Lemaster was solid in 6 2/3 giving up just 2 and fanning 9.  Marichal's sub par effort (5 ER in 7 IP) helped the visitors draw first blood.
Braves lead series 1-0.

GAME 2 - Candlestick Park
Giants 5, Braves 2
Tony Cloninger vs Gaylord Perry
Once again the losing team drew first blood with 2 runs.  RBI's by Hank Aaron and Joe Torre gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead.  Gaylord Perry would not allow another run, nor would reliever Jim Duffalo, who pitched 3 perfect innings.  Jesus Alou's 2 run single in the bottom of the 6th got the Jints on he scoreboard and tied the game up at 2-2.  A squeeze bunt by Jim Davenport scored Matty Alou and single by Willie Mays scored Jesus.  Jim Ray Hart's solo shot to lead off the 7th gave the Jints a 3 run lead, which Duffalo would never put in jeopardy.
Series tied 1-1.

GAME 3 - County Stadium
Giants 8, Braves 7 (11 inn)
Bob Hendley vs H Fischer
The bottom of the 7th saw the Braves break a 3-3 tie with two runs to go up 5-3 off of reliever Bob Shaw.  Bill Hoeft was tasked with protecting that lead, but he gave up a 2 run blast to "Stretch" McCovey, which again tied the game, which eventually headed to extras.  San Fran thought they blew the doors open with 3 big runs in the top of the 11th, but they were not home safely yet.  Gene Oliver hit his 2nd homer of the game to make it a 2 run game.  The next two batters would go down swinging, which made Rico Carty the final out.  Carty might not be Mr. Personality or Mr. Clutch fielder, but he's a certifiable hitting machine.  Ask Shaw, who he took deep to make it a one run game.  Dennis Menke walked and Hank Aaron represented the winning run at the plate.  Don Larsen was the man chosen to face Aaron in a tense moment.  Mr. Perfect was used to tight situations like this and he calmly jammed Aaron who hit a one hopper to third that Hart turned into a 5-4 out to end the game.
Giants lead series 2-1.

GAME 4 - County Stadium
Braves 2, Giants 1
Bobby Bolin vs Warren Spahn
A sad ending to the Warren Spahn's Brave career turned out to be a happy ending for the team.  With the Braves up 1-0 and their backs up against the wall facing elimination Spahn took the hill for the 3rd inning.  After Orlando Ceped singled home Jesus Alou and the Giants threatening to have a big inning, Braves manager Bill Keller was forced to shelve sentimentality in favor of practicality.  Turns out brining in Bob Sadowski was the right move.  Sadowski stopped the Giant rally and went on to pitch 5 more scoreless innings before handing it off to Hoeft and Tiefenauer to finish off the 9th.  Both of Milwaukee's runs would come by way of the long ball.  Hank Aaron's solo shot in the 2nd and Dennis Menke's shot in the 3rd provided the difference as Sadowski was the right man in the right spot today.
Series tied 2-2.

GAME 5 - Candlestick Park
Giants 6, Braves 2
Denny Lemaster vs Juan Marichal
Rest assured the Dominican Dandy does not put together back to back bad outings.  Juan Marichal might not have been dominating today, but he was awfully good in going the distance and giving up just 1 earned run (2 total).  A 3 run 4th by the Jints gave Marichal a 4-1 lead.  Tom Haller's 3 run shot was just the right prescription for any patient who has his back up against the wall in a deciding game.  An error by shortstop Jose Pagan led to Milwaukee's second run of the day to make it 4-1.  Jesus Alou's solo shot and Orlando Cepeda's RBI triple gave Marichal a 4 run cushion, which was like money in the bank.  The "Dandy" got the first 2 outs in the 9th then labored a bit.  Carty would again come to the plate with 2 outs in the 9th and once again get on base.  The ever so dangerous Gene Oliver walked to bring up Lee Maye who is still standing at home plate with the bat on his shoulder looking at a called strike 3.
Giants win series 3-2.