June 28, 1963 - The St. Louis Cardinals protected their National League lead today, breezing past the Houston Colts, 9-2. Bob Gibson pitched a six-hitter and Curt Flood (pictured) drove in four runs with three singles. The Cards now have won all six of their games this season with the Colts. Houston contributed to its latest setback with five errors and four unearned runs. The Colts have lost 11 of their last 12 games and have replaced the New York Mets in the National League cellar. Julian Javier hit and scored and his 11th straight game for the Cards, producing a double and a single. George Altman drove in two St. Louis runs with a triple and a sacrifice fly. “Gibson kept his good stuff all the way,” said Redbird manager Johnny Keane, happy to have a lopsided victory after five successive one-run decisions. “Bob was still throwing hard in the ninth inning.” The only Colt to hit Gibson well was Rusty Staub, Houston’s good-looking 19-year-old first baseman, who had three hits including a leadoff triple that set up a run in the seventh. Staub’s drive to left field caromed off Duke Carmel’s head, but Duke refused to take an eight-count. “I slid out of Flood’s way because he looked like he was going to run right into me,” Carmel explained, rubbing a small bump on his head. “You know, every time I play left field, something happens. Everything’s all right when I play center.”
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