Sept. 15, 1963 - Lew Burdette and Ray Sadecki pitched St. Louis to within one game of the league-leading Dodgers today as the Cardinals took a doubleheader from the Braves, 3-2 and 5-0, at Busch Stadium. The two victories extended the Cardinals’ win streak to 10 games — the longest since 1952 for the club — and gave the Cards 19 victories in their last 20 games during their stretch drive to overtake the Dodgers in the National League race. The Dodgers, who led the Cards by 2½ games before today’s action, lost to Philadelphia, 6-1. Los Angeles will open a three-game series at St. Louis tomorrow night. Bill White’s 27th homer with one man on in the second inning and Ken Boyer’s homer in the fourth paced the Cardinal attack in the opener. Charlie James and Tim McCarver got 3 hits apiece in leading a 14-hit attack in the second game against Dennis Lemaster and four relievers. After the game, Stan Musial said, “In all my years with the Cards I’ve never seen a surge like this. No matter what happens, this has to be one of my greatest thrills in baseball.” When someone suggested it would be fitting for the Cards to win the pennant in his farewell year to baseball, Musial admitted: “I couldn’t think of anything nicer.” Burdette said beating his former teammates gave him no special satisfaction. “This was satisfying because I hadn’t started since Houston [on Aug. 25]. You like to feel you’re doing something, helping. And every game we win is a big one now, whether it’s against Milwaukee, Frisco, L.A. or anybody.” Catcher Tim McCarver said Sadecki’s performance in the second game was “the best I’ve seen him,” and Sadecki honestly agreed. “I’ve thrown as hard before, but I really had it this time. I stayed on top [overhand] to the righthanders, I didn’t throw from the side to the lefthanders, and I was able to put the fastball where I wanted it. I was putting it away from them, and those righties, trying to pull it, were hitting into double plays when I needed them.” There were three DP’s behind Sadecki.
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