July 12, 1963 - Sandy Koufax performed as advertised at the Polo Grounds today. The 27-year-old left-hander from Brooklyn, generally acknowledged to be the best pitcher now working, produced his third consecutive three-hit shutout as he pitched the league-leading Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-0 victory over the New York Mets. His very presence accounted for a large crowd (34,889), and his magnetism kept most of the spectators in the park, although the outcome — New York’s 13th straight defeat — was settled in the first couple of innings. When Koufax finished the game by making Frank Thomas his 13th strikeout victim, he received an unusual round of applause as he walked off the field toward the television studio for his post-game interview. The victory moved the Dodgers five games in front of the San Francisco Giants. Koufax has 9 shutouts, a Dodger record, and the most by any National Leaguer since 1942. He leads the league in strikeouts, with 163 in 165 innings. This was the 46th time in his career he has fanned 10 or more in one game, extending a National League record he already owns. His earned-run average is 1.63, best among regular starters in either league. His current streak of scoreless innings stands at 27. As for Koufax’s handling of the Mets, it is simply ridiculous. They have not scored on him in 34 innings, going back 14 months to May 30, 1962.
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