GAME 5 - Sportsman Park
Dodgers 1, Cardinals 0
Koufax vs Gibson
When facing elimination there is no better feeling than to have the great Bob Gibson on the hill defending your cause. Conversely, when looking to close out your opponent there is no better feeling having the incomparable Sandy Koufax sixty feet, six inches away from opposing batsmen. This matchup setup to be a true pitching classic in every way shape and form. After 7 innings of stalemated shutout ball everyone knew that the first run scored by either team just might be the decisive run. With 2 outs in the top of the 8th Gibson ran the count to 2-0 on Willie Davis. LA's centerfielder was given the green light and crushed Gibson's next pitch for a 392 foot solo blast to right center. With Koufax dialing it up to well over 100 miles per hour the Cardinal bench felt like they were down by at least 5. St. Louis tested Koufax with singles in the bottom of the 8th to put runners on the corners with 2 out, but Curt Flood grounded weakly to Gilliam at third to end the threat. In the bottom of the 9th Koufax would have to face the heart of the Cardinal order. Cepeda hit a 1 hop bullet to Wills at short for the first out. McCarver bounced one right back to the box for the second out. Charlie Smith walked on 4 pitches to provide some glimmer of hope, but Mike Shannon went down swinging on a 1-2 curveball for Koufax's 9th strikeout of the game as the great lefty posted his second shutout of the series.Dodgers win series 4-1
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