Apr. 13, 1963 - Don Drysdale, the premier pitcher in the National League last year, survived a ninth-inning scare today and pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Colts. Drysdale, in winning his second start in five days, was sailing toward a three-hit shutout when Al Spangler led off the ninth with a double. Pete Runnels struck out, but a rookie, Rusty Staub (pictured), beat out a roller to second, sending Spangler to third. A wild pitch brought Spangler home. Bob Aspromonte gave the Houston crowd of 15,164 a thrill with a long drive to left, but Ron Fairly moved back near the line to catch it. Drysdale then ended the game by striking out Howie Goss, whose 12th-inning single with 3 on beat the Dodgers last night. It was Drysdale’s eighth strike-out. The Dodgers, who’d scored a measly three runs in their last three games, probably figured they were splurging when they got to southpaw George Brunet for three in the top of the third. Manager Walt Alston has seen heavier traffic in his hometown of Darrtown, Ohio (population 209) than he’s seen at home plate since the season began. But the Dodgers zeroed in on Brunet after Willie Davis walked with one out and promptly stole his third base of the season. Nate “Pee Wee” Oliver tripled to right-center, Tommy Davis doubled over centerfielder Howie Goss’s head, and Frank Howard ripped a single through the box before Russ Kemmerer came in to rescue Brunet. Moose Skowron, who’d gone 0-for-11 and failed to knock the ball out of the infield since joining the Dodgers, whacked his second single of the game following Howard’s hit, but a double play erased him. Drysdale hit a towering triple in in today’s game.
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