June 12, 1963 - The Los Angeles Dodgers regained the National League lead today by destroying the Houston Colts, 9-1, before a crowd of 17,389 at Dodger Stadium. With St. Louis bowing to Philadelphia, the Dodgers regained first place by .002 percentage points over St. Louis and San Francisco after spending 24 hours in the runner-up spot. Although the Colts clubbed 10 hits, Johnny Podres had it when he needed it to score his first triumph since May 21. Podres struck out nine and did not walk a man. The Dodgers whaled away for 13 hits and tied a National League record by hoisting four sacrifice flies. The fourth one came in the seventh, when Tommy Davis decoyed second baseman Ernie Fazio. Fazio snagged John Roseboro’s deep pop fly but wound up with egg on his face when Davis made a delayed break for the plate, easily beating Ernie’s late and ill-aimed peg. The amazing Maury Wills (pictured) improved his average to .323 as he flogged four hits in five trips, also stealing his 15th base. For the eighth straight game since he rejoined the club in Houston, Wills got aboard safely as the leadoff man in the first inning. On seven of these occasions, he reached base on singles. Sandy Koufax (8-3) goes gunning for the Colts tomorrow night, opposing Bob Bruce (3-3).
Comments