Apr. 25, 1963 - Cardinal manager Johnny Keane will send another southpaw against the Giants today following Curt Simmons’s 4-3 success that nudged Alvin Dark’s National League champions out of their first-place tie with St. Louis. Ray Sadecki will face lefty Billy O’Dell in the final of the two-game set at Candlestick. “It just happens that the pitching turns of Simmons and Sadecki came up at this time,” said Keane. “But I believe the Giants will be seeing more southpaws this season in Candlestick Park. The Giants themselves indicated that lefthanders have the best luck in Candlestick.” That certainly was true in the case of Billy Pierce, a 36-year-old southpaw who had a 14-0 record at Candlestick before losing his last 2 starts. Pierce took a one-hitter into the sixth against the Cards yesterday and then was whacked for four hits and four runs. Dick Groat (center with Bill White and Ken Boyer) delivered a key double and George Altman followed with a single that drove in what proved to be the winning run. “Groat and Altman have put two bats in the lineup we didn’t have before,” said Keane. “And Groat’s glove at shortstop has given our pitchers a lot more confidence in the entire infield.” Groat is hitting .373 and Altman .375 for the 10-5 Redbirds.
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