1965 Round 1 – Complete – Brackets Updated

1965 Round 1: O’s dominate aged Bombers in 4

GAME 1 - Memorial Stadium
Mel Stottlemyre vs Steve Barber
Yankees 7, Orioles 4
Young Mel Stottlemyre was the beneficiary of an offensive revival from the ancient Yankee offense.  Clete Boyer (2-4, 3 RBI) and Mickey Mantle (1-4, 2 RBI) both took Oriole starter Steve Barber deep.  Baltimore actually out hit the Bombers (12-9), but they were not able to push across enough runs to come out on top.
Yankees lead series 1-0

 

 

GAME 2 - Memorial Stadium
White Ford vs Milt Pappas
Orioles 5, Yankees 1
Whitey Ford scratched and clawed his way through 6 innings notching what latter day pundits would call a "quality start" (6 IP / 3 ER).  The "Chairman of the Board" fanned 5, but was never able to recover from a 3 run onslaught by the O's in the bottom of the 1st.  Young John Wesley "Boog" Powell was impressive going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's + a homer and a triple off of a lefty (Ford).  Milt Pappas went the distance on the bump, fanning 9 and allowing just 1 run.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Yankee Stadium
Dave McNally vs Al Downing
Orioles 5, Yankees 2
Both young hurlers ran out of gas after 6 innings of work.  McNally left on top 3-2.  It stayed that way until Pete Mikkelsen gave up 2 in the 9th, which provided O's reliever Stu Miller a 3 run margin to easily protect.  Curt Blefary had a 3 for 5 day with 2 RBI's for the O's.  Brooks Robinson did more than flash his leather going 2 for 5 with an RBI.  Hector Lopez was 2 for 3 with an RBI in a losing effort for the Bombers.
Orioles lead series 2-1

 

GAME 4 - Yankee Stadium
Wally Bunker vs Jim Bouton
Orioles 6, Yankees 0
The luster officially came off on the star that used to be Jim Bouton.  New York's young fireballer, who loses his cap on almost every release has been suffering from a severe sore arm, that has robbed him of his velocity.  Oriole hitter teed off on the "Bulldog", who hit the showers after giving up 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings of work.  Baltimore would not score again, nor would they need to since Wally Bunker was posting goose eggs on the scoreboard for 7+ innings.  Rookie fireballer Jim Palmer was called on to get the final 4 outs, which was not a problem for him at all.  Boog Powell was the only Oriole starter without a hit.  Baltimore had 8 hits, which were recorded by 8 different players.  New York looked like a tired and old team during the series.  Tommy Tresh and Tony Kubek got New York's only 2 hits.
Orioles win series 3-1

1965 Round 1: Bucs hold off Phightin’s in 5

GAME 1 - Forbes Field
Jim Bunning vs Bob Veale
Pirates 6, Phillies 1
A 12 hit, 6 run attack chased Jim Bunning from the hill by the end of the 5th inning.  Bob Veale was strong in striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings of work.  Al McBean finished off the final 5 outs with a perfect line.  The great Roberto Clemente was the story of the day going 2 for 4 with 4 RBI and a run scored.  Clemente had a double and a homer to pace he Buc offense.
Pirates lead series 1-0

 

GAME 2 - Forbes Field
Ray Culp vs Vern Law
Philles 7, Pirates 5
Ray Culp had the Pirates offense firmly under control until they solved his mystery in the 8th with 3 runs.  The Bucs would add 2 more runs in the 9th, but come up short thanks to the Phightin's 7 run output vs an ineffective Law (6 IP / 6 ER).  Clemente again paced the Bucs with a 5 for 5 day, but even his greatness could not dig the Bucs out of the hole Law burried them in.  Every Philly starter except catcher Clay Dalrymple had a hit.  Centerfielder Tony Gonzalez homered and Tony Taylor had a double and a triple + 3 RBI's from the lead off spot.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Shibe Park
Don Cardwell vs Chris Short
Phillies 4, Pirates 1
Lefty Chris Short was masterful scattering 7 hits and allowing just 1 unearned run in a rock solid complete game effort.  Short fanned 13 Pirate batters, which included everyone in the lineup except veteran shortstop Andre Rodgers.  The Phightin's jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st and never looked back.  Tony Taylor led off the game with a homer and Wes Covington and Tony Gonzalez added RBI single.  Bobby Wine's squeeze bunt in the 8th scored Gonzalez for the 4th run.
Phillies lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Shibe Park
Bob Veale vs Jim Bunning
Pirates 9, Phillies 2 

In a rematch of Game 1 starters fans were treated to almost the same exact result.  Bob Veale again pitched well (CG / 3H /2R / 7k) and Jim Bunning once again did not (5 runs in 6 innings).  The Bucs attacked Bunning with 3 big runs in the top of the first.  Catcher Jim Pagliaroni singled home Donn Clendenon with 1 out and Bob Bailey singled home Clemente and Pags with 2 out to post the 3-spot.  Philly scratched out 2 runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 1 run game, but the Bucs got 2 in the 5th, 1 in the 7th and 3 in the 9th to blow the game wide open.  Donn Clendenon, batting leadoff and playing 1st, had a 3 for 4 day and scored 2 runs.  Young Willie Stargell went 3 for 5 with 3 RBI's and his first homer of the tourny.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Forbes Field
Ray Culp vs Vern Law
Pirates 7, Phillies 6
The hometown fans were not disappointed by the results of this decisive game 5.  Sure they were scared out of their wits as the Bucs were forced to hang on for dear life after all but blowing a 7-2 lead by allowing 4 unearned runs in the 7th.  Thankfully the Bucs had relief specialist Roy Face in their pen.  Arguably the best reliever of his era, “The Barron”  came out of the pen and shut the door on the Phils comeback.  Face tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just 1 baserunner over that span.  Gene Alley and Willie Stargell both had 3 hit days, with Stargell hitting his second home in as many days.  Tony Gonzalez had 2 roundtrippers for the Phils, who rallied to fight their way back from certain defeat only to come up a tad short.
Pirates win series 3-2

1965 Round 1: Chisox outlast Halos in 5 – Buzhardt notches game 2 No Hitter

GAME 1 - Comiskey Park
Marcelino Lopez vs Joe Horlen
White Sox 4, Angels 3
Not a shock that two low scoring teams would be deadlocked after regulation.  Ed Kirkpatrick's pinch hit homer for the Halo's in the 8th off of Jack Fisher got us to this point.  Extra innings turned into a Western Front stalemante until the bottom of the 13th, when Moose Skowron doubled home Don Bufford on a hanging slider offered up by Ed Sukla with nobody out.
White Sox lead series 1-0

 

GAME 2 - Comiskey Park
Fred Newman vs John Buzhardt
White Sox 1, Angels 0
Today's offense can be summed up in 1 sentence:  Moose Skowron hit a solo shot off of Fred Newman in the bottom of the 4th.  That was the offense, but the real story was the incredible no hitter thrown by John Buzhardt, who walked just two, fanned 5 and did not allow an Angel batter to reach first on a hit.  The fact that the Chisox scored just 1 run made Buzhardt's performance a necessity, not a luxury.  Newman winds up being the poster child for the "hard luck loser" foundation.  99 out of 100 starts his 1 run over 7 innings performance would result in a win.  Buzhardt lost his perfect game in the 5th when Bobby Knoop worked out a walk.
White Sox lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Dodger Stadium
Tommy John vs George Brunet
Angels 2, White Sox 1
If you like pitcher's duels, you are following the right series.  After Buzhardt's virtuoso performance in game 2 the Angels now had their backs up against the wall to stave off elimination.  George Brunet stepped up to the plate and went the distance allowing just 4 hits and 1 unearned run that tied the game up in the top of the 9th.  The home team felt the pressure and paid Brunet back in the bottom of the inning with a pinch hit RBI single by Albie Pearson, which turned out to be the only earned run scored on the day by both teams.
White Sox lead series 2-1

 

GAME 4 - Dodgers Stadium
Joe Horlen vs Dean Chance
Angels 5, White Sox 1
1964 Cy Young award winner Dean Chance, reverted to last year's form in this must win game.  Chance, who won the 1964 tournament MVP award struck out 5 and allowed just 1 run while going the distance.  When hearing these stats the average Angel fan might reply, "Did he win ?"  The answer to that question would be an emphatic "YES" thanks to a 5 run outburst by the Halo lineup.  Carrying a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th the Halo's got a huge break when Chisox catcher Johnny Romano botched Jose Cardenal's bunt for a hit attempt.  Ed Kirpatrick followed that with an RBI double to make it 2-0.  Albie Pearson's 2 out double knocked in 2 more runs and the Halo's behind Chance's right arm were off to the races.
Series tied at 2-2

GAME 5 - Comiskey Park
Marcelino Lopez vs John Buzhardt
White Sox 4, Angels 1
Working on short rest, no hit expert John Buzhardt was once again lights out.  "Buzz" went 6 1/3 innings and allowed just 1 earned run, which came in the top of the first on a Willie Smith RBI single.  The Chisox answered right back with a Danny Cater RBI single to make it 1-1.  Floyd Robinson's two out triple in the bottom of the 4th put the Chisox up 2-1.  A bases loaded walk to Floyd Robinson in the bottom of the 6th made it 3-1.  Ken Berry's single scored Moose Skowron to make it 4-1, which is how it stayed thanks to 2 2/3 of spotless relief work by Eddie Fisher.
White Sox win series 3-2

Interview quote with Angels manager Douglas Zaner:  "White Sox win a close series.  Home team wins each game.  Moose Skowron goes 7 for 19 with OPS of 1.210.  John Buzhardt throws a no-no in Game 2.  Mercifcully, the Angels can go home."

1965 Round 1: Jints outlast Redbirds in 5

Game 1 - St. Louis 6 @ San Francisco 4 (Simmons vs. Marichal)
The Cardinals scored 2 runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Ken Boyer and a sac fly by Bill White.  San Francisco tied the game on an RBI double by Hal Lanier in the 2nd and a double by Willie Mays in the 3rd, however left fielder Lou Brock threw out 2 runners at the plate in the third as a sign of how things would go in the series.  St.Louis broke the game open with 4 runs in the 6th on 6 straight base hits.

Game 2 - St. Louis 5 @ San Francisco 1 (Gibson vs. Shaw)
Bob Gibson was the star of this game as he staked the Cards to a 2-0 lead in the series.  Gibson allowed just 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking none.  Bill White and Tim McCarver provided the batting punch, knocking in 2 runs each.  On defense, Curt Flood nailed Willie McCovey at the plate for the Cards 3 outfield assist and McCarver threw out his 2nd runner attempting to steal a base.

Game 3 - San Francisco 5 @ St. Louis 1 (Bolin vs. Stallard)
The Cardinals were looking to wrap the series up, but the Giants stunned them with 3 runs in the top of the 1st.  The big blow was a 3 run shot by Willie McCovey.  Tracy Stallard only allowed 4 hits in 7 innings of work, but the Cards committed 3 errors behind him.  Bobby Bolin was the MVP of the game, holding St.Louis to just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings before giving way to Frank Linzy who closed out the game.

Game 4 - San Francisco 5 @ St. Louis 3 (Herbel vs. Sadecki)
After 5 innings, this pivotal game was tied at 3-3 and the tension was starting to build.  In the top of the 6th, unlikely hitting star Hal Lanier singled home his 2nd run of the game to give the Giants a 4-3 lead.  In the 9th, it was Lanier again lighting a spark with a leadoff single which eventually led to an RBI grounder by Mays.  San Francisco's shaky pitching got a big boost from Sanford, Murakami, and Linzy who combined for 4-2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.

Game 5 - St. Louis 5 @ San Francisco 7 (Washburn vs. Marichal)
The visiting team had won every game so far and things looked good for St.Louis when Lou Brock led off the game with a homerun to right.  Jim Ray Hart matched that with a leadoff homerun in the 2nd to tie the game at 1-1.  The Giants scored 1 in the 5th and another in the 6th to take a 3-1 lead into the 8th inning.  Marichal had only surrendered 2 hits since the 1st inning so it was looking good for the home team, but then things went haywire.  The Cards touched up the Giant's ace for 4 runs on 5 hits in the 8th to take a 5-3 lead, but SF came right back and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th off of the Cards normally reliable bullpen to take the series.  Matty Alou (3 for 4, 2RBI's) and Hal Lanier (3 for 4, 1 run) were the surprise hitting stars of game 5.

--submitted by Brandon Hayes--

1965 Round 1: Reds outlast Braves in 5 game series

In a thrilling series the Reds edged the Braves 3-2. Jim Maloney, ace pitcher from Cincinnati, proved to be the difference in beating the Braves and Tony Cloninger twice. Let’s take a look and some of the key plays from this exciting playoff series.

Game 1 -CIN 4, MIL 0 - Jim Maloney vs. Tony Cloninger

In a matchup of aces, Jim Maloney was magnificent. He retired the first 22 batters in a row. Joe Torre ruined the perfect game and no hit attempt with a solid single to right with one out in the 8th inning.  That was only hit allowed by Maloney. Deron Johnson’s two run homer in the 3rd provided Maloney with all the run support he would need. Cincy leads the series 1-0.

 

 

Game 2 - CIN 2, MIL 3 - Sammy Ellis vs. Wade Blasingame

In another hard fought closely contested game the Braves edged the Reds with single runs in the 7th and 8th inning. Both starting pitchers dominated the early part of the game with the Reds taking a 2-1 lead on Leo Cardenas’ home run in the 6th. After the Braves tied it in the 7th, manager Burnette decided to let Ellis face Eddie Mathews and finish the 8th inning. A BIG mistake. Mathews took a 2-1 fastball and deposited it in the right field seats for the game decider. Clay Carroll and Billy O’Dell completed the great work started by Blasingame and the series is tied headed to Milwaukee.

Game 3 - MIL 3, CIN 5 – 12 Innings - Ken Johnson vs. Joe Nuxhall

Another great pitcher’s duel. The game was scoreless until the Reds struck for 3 runs in the top of the 6th. A couple of errors by the Braves, which would be their ultimate downfall in the series, did not help Mr. Johnson. But before the Reds could enjoy their lead, the Braves struck for 3 of their own in the bottom half of the inning aided by a 2 run homer by Hank Aaron. The score would stay that way until the 12th. After a single and a couple of walks, Pete Rose lined a single to center plating 2 runs and giving Cincinnati the edge in the series 2-1. Billy McCool pitched a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

 

Game 4 -Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 2 - Denver Lemaster vs. Joey Jay

A great come from behind win by the Braves evened the series at 2. It seems rather redundant but both starting pitchers dominated. Lemaster went 7 innings giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits. Jay matched him with 6 1/3 innings of one run six hit baseball. The Reds took the lead in the top of the 8th scoring a single run against future HOF’er Phil Niekro. But with their backs against the wall, the Braves pushed two across the plate against Ted Davidson to force a game 5. A double by Mack Jones scored Aaron from
1st. A single by Joe Torre moved Jones to 3rd. Jones then scored on Eddie Mathews sac fly. That gave an aging Mathews 2 game winning Rbi’s. Niekro takes the win and series heads south for the deciding
game.

Game 5 - CIN 7, MIL 4 - Jim Maloney vs. Tony Cloninger

Jim Maloney, while not as magnificent as he was in game 1, still had enough to hold off the Braves and give the Reds the series. Maloney lasted 8 innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. But this time he was backed up by some timely hitting by the Reds offense. Tommy Harper, game MVP, was 4-4, 3 runs scored and 3 stolen bases. It was still a close game until the Reds scored 3 runs in the 7th to push their lead to 7-1. The Braves made it interesting scoring 2 in the 8th, while leaving the bases loaded, and 1 in the 9th.

It was a great series. Either team was deserving of winning and moving on to the next round.  --submitted by Ron Burnette--

Side Note: It has been officially announced that this was the last series played in Milwaukee by the Braves franchise, which will officially transfer operations to Atlanta in 1966.  The Braves spent 13 seasons in Milwaukee and never finished below .500.  During this successful run they won 1 World Championship, 2 pennants and appeared in 3 post seasons.  Sadly over the past 5-6 years gate receipts have dropped steadily.  After announcing in 1964 that they would be moving to Atlanta a court injunction kept them here in Milwaukee for one more (lame duck) season.  Fans avoided County Stadium as either a sign of apathy or protest.  The Braves will sorely be missed in the Midwest.

1965 Round 1: #9 seed Astros, shock #1 seed Dodgers in 3 game sweep.

Two soft-hitting teams went head-to-head in a best of 5 series.  Everyone knows about the Dodgers great pitching staff, but could the Astros arms match them pitch for pitch?

Game 1 - Dodger Stadium - Astros 1, Dodgers 0

Robin Roberts went the distance scattering 4 singles and not allowing a walk.  Sandy Koufax dominated the Astros, as expected, except for a minor blip in the 5th.  Rusty Staub led off with a walk, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on a single by Joe Gaines - the only hit Koufax would allow in 8 innings.  Ron Fairly led off the 9th with a single for the Dodgers, but Roberts retired the next three batters in order to complete the shutout.

Game MVP: Robin Roberts (9IP, 4H, 0R, 0W, 4K)

 

Game 2 - Dodger Stadium - Astros 6, Dodgers 4

The Astros struck first with a solo home run by Rusty Staub off Don Drysdale.  The Dodgers took the lead in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded single by Ron Fairley.   The Astros scored 3 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th off Drysdale, with the big hit being a 2 run bomb by backup catcher John Bateman. In the 8th, Tommy Davis singled in 2 runs to get the Dodgers closer, but Mike Cuellar pitched around a Fairly double to get the save.

Game MVP: John Bateman (2-5, HR, 2 RBI)

Game 3 – Astrodome Astros 3, Dodgers 2 (13 inn)

The Dodgers put up single runs in the first two innings off Turk Farrell.  The first run scored on a double by Willie Davis after a controversial catcher's interference call against Ron Brand on a ground out that would have ended the inning.   The second run scored on a squeeze bunt by pitcher Claude Osteen.  Fortunately, the Astros didn't give up.  In the 5th, Joe Gaines hurt the Dodgers again with an RBI single, but Bob Aspromonte grounded into a double play with the bases loaded.  The game stayed 2-1 until the 9th when closer Ron Perranoski retired the first 2 batters, but allowed singles to Jim Beauchamp, Jim Gentile and John Bateman to tie the game at 2.  Each bullpen put up zeros until the 13th when Rusty Staub doubled with 2 outs and Ron Brand (atoning for his interference call) singled him in with the walkoff series win.

Game MVP: Turk Farrell (7IP, 6H, 2R, 1ER, 3W, 3K)

The Astros complete the upset with a series sweep.  They will try to continue their improbable run against the winner of the Braves/Reds series.

--submitted by John Clingan--

1965 Round 1: Tribe takes 3 of 4 from Motown

GAME 1 - Tiger Stadium
Sam McDowell vs Denny McLain
Indians 3, Tigers 2
"Sudden Sam" McDowell fanned 9 and had a shutout heading into the 8th when the 135 pitches that he threw finally caught up to him in the form of 2 Tiger runs.  Luckily for McDowell his offense supplied him with a 3-0 lead.  Fred Whitfield solo shot in the 4th made it 1-0 Tribe.  Vic Davalillo's sac fly in the 5th made it 2-0, but the most important run came in the top of the 8th as Pedro Gonzalez singled home Whitfield.  That insurance run would be the margin for victory.  Gary "Ding Dong" Bell closed the door on Detroit in relief of McDowell.  Denny McLain went 8 and spent the whole day dancing in and out of trouble.  McLain gave up 3 runs on 10 hits, but did fan 6.
Indians lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Tiger Stadium
Luis Tiant vs Mickey Lolich
Indians 9, Tigers 6 In a battle of clutch post season hurlers, neither guy impressed very much.  Tiant gave up 6 in 5 1/3, while Lolich gave up 8 (6 earned) in 7 1/3.  Heading into the 7th the Tigers actually had a 6-5 lead, but the Tribe battled back for more runs vs Lolich and his replacement Terry Fox.  Vic Davalillo's two out homer in the 7th tied the game at 6-6.  Fred Whitfield's 2 run shot in the 8th gave the Tribe a 2 run lead and Leon Wagner's sac fly in the 9th bumped that lead up to 3.  Lee Strange did a fantastic job in relief of the ineffective Tiant.  Strange went 3 2/3 scoreless innings, where he gave up just one hit (a solo single to Dick McAuliffe in the 9th).  Strange deservedly earned the win.
Indians lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Municipal Stadium
Hank Aguirre vs Sonny Siebert
Tigers 3, Indians 0 Al Kaline's two run shot in the top of the first was all the support that Hank Aguirre would need or require.  Detroit's veteran hurler went the distance with an impressive 2 hit shutout.  Aguirre fanned 9 Tribesmen, which included Pedro Gonzalez 3 times.  Aguirre struck out the side in the 5th and was a lock for the win once Don Wert added the 3rd run in the 7th on a squeeze play.
Indians lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Municipal Stadium
Denny McLain vs Ralph Terry
Indians 3, Tigers 1 Working on short rest, Denny McLain was tasked with staving off elimination for the Tigers.  Al Kaline's solo blast in the first was the only run scored by both teams until McLain ran out of gas in the bottom of the 8th.  After giving up a single to Joe Azcue, McLain's day was done.  Terry Fox came in and got Max Alvis to pop out to left.  Things began to go south real fast after that.  Dick Howser worked out a walk and so did pinch hitter Chuck Hinton.  With the bases loaded Vic Davalillo lifted a sac fly to deep right to tie the game at 1-1.  Veteran Leon Wagner would then deliver the knock out blow with a 2 run single to score Howser and Hinton.  Ralph Terry, who left for a pinch hitter (Hinton), was replaced by Gary Bell.  After Jake Wood walked in the top of the 9th Al Kaline lined a bullet to right, but was robbed of a hit by prodigal son Rocky Colavito.  Norm Cash and Bill Freehan would also line out to Rocky, who is as sure handed as they come.  Bell would get his second save of this series and Terry, who gave up just 1 run in 8 innings of work, got the win.
Indians win series 3-1

Side note:  Tribe manager Bill Keller said after the series’ completion:  “This quite possibly might be my best Tribe team for the decade”

1965 Round 1: ’65 Twins dispatch ’65 Senators in three straight.

Game 1: Minnesota 10; Washington 2. Ortega vs Grant

The Senators jumped out to a 1 – 0 lead in the second inning on a home run by Willie Kirkland, but the Twins tied in their half of the second on a single, error and RBI single by
Versalles. The Twins put the game away in the 4th with a 5 run outburst as they were the beneficiary of three walks and an error. A bases- loaded double from Jerry Kindall was the key blow. Jim “Mudcat” Grant was the winner who went 7 innings to get the win. Pleis and Boswell threw an inning each in relief.

Bob Allison with two hits and three RBIs was voted the game’s MVP.

As an aside Grant was always a nemesis for the Senators winning 10 in a row against them as a member of the Cleveland Indians causing the Senators to throw a “black cat night” when a bag full of black cats were released on the pitching mound as Grant came out to throw the first pitch of the game. It worked as for the first time the Senators beat Grant.

Game 2: Minnesota 1, Washington 0.

Bob Allison led off the bottom of the first with a blast (his second homer of the series) and that was all she wrote as Jim Kaat held the Senators scoreless through seven innings. He tired in the eighth and Bob Chance led off the inning with a double, but Al Worthington came on in relief and shut down the Senators for the final two innings yielding only a harmless single in the ninth. Pete Richert was the hard luck loser for the Senators as he yielded just six hits in eight innings of work.

 

Game 3: Minnesota 4, Washington 3. (10 innings)

Jerry Kindall known much more for his glove than his bat smacked a two out home run in the top of the 10th to give the Twins a hard earned win and the series victory. Pascual went 7 innings yielding 3 runs and Stigman, Klippstein W, (1- 0) and Worthington, S (2) shut down the Senators for the final three innings. Willie Kirkland homered (2) in the second inning to give the Senators a 2 – 0 lead but Zoillo Versalles tripled to knock in one run and scored on Jimmy Hall’s sac fly to tie the game. Versalles homered in the sixth to give the Twins the lead, but lock doubled in the bottom of the sixth and scored on Ken McMullen’s single.

The game remained tied until Kindall homered in the 10th.

Versalles and Kindall were named the series co-MVPs. Minnesota’s fearsome hitters (Killebrew, Olivo,Hall and Battey were held in check by the Senators as Allison, Versalles, and Kindall did most of the damage for the Twins

--submitted by James Clouser--.

Q-Rd: 7th seed Cards rally to eliminate 10th seeded Amazin’s in 3

GAME 1 - Sportsman's Park
Warren Spahn vs Bob Gibson
Mets 4, Cardinals 3
In a battle of future HOF'ers the elder statesman (Warren Spahn) was able to turn back the clock and for at least this day show up father time.  Spahn's day started a bit rocky.  In the bottom of the 1st Ken Boyer greeted the 45 year old southpaw with a two out solo shot to make it 1-0.  In the bottom of the 2nd Julian Javier tripled home Dick Groat and Bob Gibson doubled home Javier to make it 3-0.  Most fans at this point figured the fading Spahn was done and the young World Series MVP (Gibson) was a lock.  That's just how the script was written, until the top of the 4th.  The Amazin's sent 9 batters to the plate and scored 4 runs to give Spahnie his first lead of the game.  Joe Christopher's two run blast made it 3-2.  Greg Goossen's RBI single was followed up by Spahn executing a perfect squeeze play.  Neither team would be able to muster up any offense the rest of the way.  Spahn would end his day on the long side of the ledger after going 8 nd not yielding a run during his final 6 innings on the hill.  Dennis Ribiant shut the door on the Cards in the 9th.
Mets lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Shea Stadium
Tracy Stallard vs Alvin Jackson
Cardinals 3, Mets 0
A three hit shutout by Tracy Stallard would be the only story today.  After giving up 2 hits in the bottom of the second to Charlie Smith and Johnny Lewis, Stallard would give up just one more safety the rest of the way (a Joe Christopher double to lead off the 4th).  New York would not get another baserunner over the final 5 innings.  While Stallard was pulling of his mastery of the Mets, his opponent Alvin Jackson, was doing the same to the Cards until St. Louis broke through for 3 runs in the top of the 6th.  Jackson was victimized by an error by second baseman Charlie Smith, but a tailor made around the horn 5-4-3 DP erased most of the trouble.  Jackson was then instructed to walk Boyer, so he could get the much more desired lefty/lefty matchup vs Tim McCarver.  The backstop from Memphis was a bit ticked off at New York's strategy as he delivered a two run double to make it 2-0.  Mike Shannon's single would score McCarver and make it 3-0, which would be more than enough support for Stallard.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Sportsman's Park
Jack Fisher vs Ray Washburn
Cardinals 5, Mets 1
An error by Washburn in the top of the 2nd led to Charlie Smith scoring to make it 1-0 Amazin's.  It stayed that way until the bottom of the 5th.  Met starter Jack Fisher was cruising until the 5th.  In fact he easily got the first two outs of the inning before Julian Javier poked a single to right.  Fisher followed that up by breaking one of baseball's unwritten rules:  "never walk the opposing pitcher".  A wild pitch and a walk to Lou Brock loaded he bases for Curt Flood, who tied the game by working out a walk of his own.  In typical Met fashion bad went to worse when Smith booted a room service hop to second to allow Washburn to score the second run of the inning.  That set the stage for Bill White to deliver the knockout blow, a 2 run single, to make it 4-1.  Curt Flood would single home Brock in the 7th to make it 5-1 as the Cards won this one walking away.
Cardinals win series 2-1

Q-Rd: Halos squeak past A’s in 3

Game 1	Game 2	Game 3

Sept 1 – Sept 3 - Dodger Stadium
Game 1 – Angels 5, Athletics 1
Newman vs. Segui
Kansas City scored first in this one as Jose Tartabull doubled home Wayne Causey in the 4th inning.  But California struck right back with RBI doubles by Bobby Knoop and Paul Schaal.  Two innings later Knoop and Schaal again doubled back-to-back to help the Halos build a 4-run lead which held to the end of the game.  Fred Newman pitched 7 strong innings to earn the win.     

Municipal Stadium
Game 2 – Athletics 2, Angels 0
Brunet vs. O’Donoghue
A pair of southpaws locked horns in Game 2.  Dick Green and Ed Charles had RBI singles in the bottom of the 6th inning to score 2 unearned runs.  And that was is it for all the scoring in this one.   Angels loaded the bases with only 1 out in the top of the 9th to make it interesting.  But John Wyatt managed to strike out the side to save the game and preserve the win for John O’Donoghue.

Dodger Stadium
Game 3 – Angels 3, Athletics 2
Chance vs. Talbot
The rubber game of the series, the Athletics struck immediately against 1964 pitching hero Dean Chance.  Jim Gentile and Ed Charles each had RBI singles to stake KC to a 2-0 lead.  California managed to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th inning on a pinch-hit RBI single by Ed Kirkpatrick and a Dean Chance squeeze bunt.  It stayed tied after 9 innings, and the game moved to do-or-die extra innings.  If the bottom of the 10th, Albie Pearson worked a walk off Moe Drabowsky with 1-out and Jose Cardenal singled him to 3rd base.  After an intentional walk to load the bases, pinch hitter Lu Clinton singles off Don Mossi to give the Angels the walk-off win and a series win.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Q-Rd: Newly Named Astros win final 2 to take 2 of 3 from the Cubbies

Two teams with struggling offenses met in a best of 3 set.  While Houston had the 'Toy Cannon' Jimmy Wynn, 'Little' Joe Morgan and Rusty Staub, the Cubs had 3 bigger bats in Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks.  The question was - which team's big 3 would come through.  No home runs were hit in the series, clearly an advantage to Houston.

Game 1 - Wrigley Field
Larry Jackson vs Bob Bruce
Cubs 3, Astros 2
Bob Bruce allowed a run in the 1st on a Glenn Beckert leadoff double and a Billy Williams single to give the Cubs an early 1-0 lead.  In the 6th, the Astros struck for two when Bob Bruce scored on Joe Morgan's triple, which was followed by a 2 out Bob Aspromonte double for an Astros lead.  In the 9th, the Cubs big 3 came through when Billy Williams walked, Ron Santo singled and Ernie Banks double them both home for the walkoff victory.  Game MVP: Larry Jackson 8IP, 2ER, 1BB, 7K.

 

Game 2 - Houston Astrodome
Turk Farrell vs Dick Ellsworth
Astros 3, Cubs 1
Once again, the Cubs scored in the first inning. After Billy Williams doubled with 2 outs, Ron Santo tripled him in. In the 3rd, the Astros struck for 2 when Joe Morgan came through again with a 2-out, 2-run double.  The 'Stros added another in the 5th on an RBI single by Jimmy Wynn.  Turk Farrell was masterful and Dave Giusti  got the final 5 outs as the Astros survived the big bats in the late innings.  Game MVP: Dave Giusti 1 2/3 IP, 0H, 0R, Save.

Game 3 - Wrigley Field
Larry Dierker vs Bob Buhl
Astros 4, Cubs 1
The wind was blowing in today, giving the Astros a chance to keep this one close.  The Cubs took the early lead for the 3rd consecutive game when Don Kessinger's grounder scored Ed Bailey in the 3rd.  Houston tied it up in the 5th.  With 2 outs, Joe Morgan tripled and Jimmy Wynn doubled him home.  Top of the 7th, the Astros loaded the bases with 1 out, and Jimmy Wynn came through again with a bases-clearing double.  Claude Raymond pitched the final 2 innings for the save.  Game MVP: Jimmy Wynn 2-5, 4RBI.

--submitted by John Clingan--