July 4, 1963 - Like a carload of cherry bombs blowing sky-high, the Dodgers exploded for 8 runs in the sixth inning tonight — 4 on a grand slam by Ken McMullen — as a holiday turnout of 30,726 at Dodger Stadium saw Walter Alston’s gang take a 2-and-a-half game N.L. lead by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-7. The Dodgers ran their winning streak to four games and handed the Cardinals their fifth straight loss — their longest losing streak this season. The Dodgers’ eight-run inning was their biggest this year. They had not scored that many runs in an entire game since June 12. The Dodgers were trailing 4-2 when McMullen hit his grand slam — a 350-foot drive into the left-field stands — off Ernie Broglio, the losing pitcher. It was McMullen’s second major league homer. The 21-year-old Oxnard product received the red-carpet treatment when he returned to the delirious Dodger dugout. “It was off a curve that didn’t curve — just hung there,” said Broglio after the game. Jim Gilliam also drove in four runs for the Dodgers, two with a single and two with a double. Julian Javier was St. Louis’ big gunner, driving in three runs on a double and a single.
Comments