Senior Circuit Rivals Junior for Series Magic - Marichal Leads Giants to NLCS

Game 1:
Sportsman Park
Roberts vs Marichal

Philadelphia ace Robin Roberts took the mound in the opening game of the NLDS against Juan Marichal of the Giants.  Roberts got off to a rocky start walking San Fran leadoff hitter Bobby Bonds and then committing a throwing error to first on a pickoff throw allowing Bonds to advance to 2nd.  A deep fly to center moved Bonds to third where Willie Mays drove him home with a single to stake the Giants to a 1-0 lead.
The Giants struck again in the 4th on a Ken Henderson single, two ground outs and an RBI single by Giant SS Hal Lanier.  the Phils touched Marichal for 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two RBI single by Hamner.  In the bottom of the 5th Del Ennis drove in another Phillie run with an RBI double and also scored later in the inning on a Marichal wild pitch, giving the Phils a 4-2 lead after 5.
the Giants got one run back on three consecutive singles, the last being an RBI single by noted Giant slugger Hal Lanier.  this is the way the score would stay unitl the top of the ninth inning.
In the top of the ninth Al Gallagher lead off with a single between third and short against Roberts.  Bobby Bonds advance Gallagher to 2nd on a groundout before a Jim Ray hart single put runners on 1st and 3rd with one out with Willie Mays coming to the plate.  A tiring Roberts was able to strike out the Say Hey Kid on three consecutive pitches before giving way to Phillie reliever Heintzelman who was brought on to pitch to slugger Willie McCovey.  Heintzelman coaxed a groundball to first baseman Waitkus, but he booted the grounder for the error allowing the tying run to score.
At this point Phille brought in Hanson to pitch to Ken Henderson who singled to center scoring Jim Ray Hart with what would be the winning run.   Don McMahon came in for San Fran and closed out the win with a 1-2-3 inning.

Game 2:
Sportsman Park
Meyer vs  Robertson

With the Giant staff short on rest, Rich Robertson made the start and promptly give up a 4 spot to the Phitin' Phils who sent 8 men to the plate and grabbing a lead they would not relinquish.  A Ken Henderson HR with Dick Deitz on base closed the gap to 4-2 in the top of the 2nd.  In the top of the 4th Dietz and Hendson stroked back to back doubles giving Henderson his third RBI for the game and closing the score to 4-3 Phils.
After 4, the Giants pulled starter Robertson after a 92 pitch effort, replacing him with Jerry Johnson who would go the rest of the way yielding 1 more run in the bottom of the eighth inning.  In the top of the ninth Russ Meyer closed out his 6 hit complete game victory sending the series to the city by the bay tied at one game apiece.

Game 3:
Candlestick Park
Perry vs Drews

Giant ace Gaylord Perry took the mound in game three against Philly's Karl Drews.  Both pitchers got off to good starts holding the opposition scoreless through 3 innings.  In the top of the 4th the Phils got it in gear with a vengeance against Perry.  With two outs, Del Ennis drove a single through the infield and Walt Jones was walked.  Then the wheels really fell off for Perry as Lopata and Hamner drive in a run each with back to back singles followed by a two RBI double by Bill Ryan giving the Phils another 4-0 advantage over the Giants.
In the bottom of the 7th Drews began to tire and the Giants touched him up for two runs closing the gap to 4-2 Phils before he was pulled from the game.
In the  8th Del Ennis drove a John Cumberland, on relief of Perry, pitch 346 feet over the wall down the left field line putting the Phils up 5-2.  The Giants had a comeback of their own planned for their half of the 8th.  Wih one out, Willie McCovey was walked ahead of a Dick Dietz single.  A Jim Ray hart line out to first brought Ken Henderson to the plate where he promptly drove in a run with a single of his own.  Bob Heise next stepped to the plate, he had come in at SS for the Giants after starter Hal Lanier had been hit for in the 7th.  Never known as a great hitter, Heise hit a ground ball to Phillie SS Hamner who fumbled it to the ground loading the bases with two out.  Pinch Hitter Frank Johnson stepped up to the plate for the pitcher Cumberland and lined a 3 RBI triple down the left field line giving the Giants an  improbable 6-5 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning.
With Giant closer Don McMahon looking for the 6 out save, Phillie catcher Lopata wasted no time driving a solo home run down the left field line and tying the score at 6-6 after 8.  this is where it would stay until the bottom of the 10th when Phillie reliever Konstanty walked both Dick Deitz and Jim Ray Hart to start the inning.  After Ken Henderson bounced into an easy double play, Bob Heise stepped up to the plate....two out, winning run on third...before stroking the game winning single and giving the Giants a 2 games to 1 lead in the series.

Game 4:
Candlestick Park
Bryant vs Simmons

San Fransisco spot starter Bryant lasts only two innings, throwing 70 pitches and getting out of several jams before yielding to fellow starter Mike McCormack after giving up two runs to the Phils.  After 3 1/2 the Phils once again had built up another 4-0 lead over the Giants two lefties.  Phillies starter Simmons would give up 3 runs through 6 before the trio of Ridzik, Person and Stuffel would shut down the Giant bats and this one would end 4-3 Phils, sending the series to a final game back at Sportsman Park.  Del Ennis (2-4, 1 RBI) paced the  Phightin’s offense.

Game 5:
Sportsman Park
Roberts vs Marichal

It was a rematch of game 1, with Phillie ace Robin Roberts facing high kicking Juan Marichal of the Giants.  The Giants struck first in the top of the first as Tito Fuentes, who had lined a triple down the first base line scored on a Willie Mays fielders choice ground out.  In the third a Willie Mays walk, McCovey single and a Ken Henderson single increased the Giant lead to 2-0 against Roberts.  Roberts and Marichal battled through the 6th with the score remaining 2-0 Giants.  In the 7th, the "Say Hey Kid"  would line a 1-2 pitch from Roberts 1-2 over the wall down the left field line to increase the Giants lead to 5-0 as through 7 Marichal would yield only two Phillie singles, and no runs.
In the 8th the Giants continued to score, adding two more runs against Roberts.   In the bottom of the 8th Marichal would begin to show signs of tiring, two walks, two Phillie doubles and a single would yield 3 runs and close the score to 7-3 Giants heading into the 9th.  Although Giant closer Don McMahon would have a bit of a rough outing, he would yield only 1 run in the ninth and send the Giants on to the NL LCS against the Red Birds of St. Louis.
This was a fantastic series, filled with timely pitching and hitting and some untimely errors.

--sumbitted by Mark Nixon--

Editor’s Note:  The Cinderella Jints have been on an incredible run with Mark Nixon at the helm.  After escaping 3 straight play in games they had to hold off the Phightin’s, who had the best record in the NL.  Special congrats to Jim Clouser who did a masterful job piloting the Phightin's to the best record in the NL during the regular season.