So it was September 25th, 1965 and Maloney had another gem up his sleeve. Houston, having switched their names to the "Astros", having been previously the Colt .45s, got some good pitching too from an old pro. But it was not enough to beat Maloney, who had "it" again in this game!
And this game was in Houston, so it was inside. The Astros played in a "first" of it's kind, ballpark. The Houston Astrodome, the first doomed stadium to be used by a major league team.
Pete Rose stroked a single off Robin Roberts, who flashed some of that old magic from his glory days here. Roberts was a long way from his time with the Phillies in the 1950s, but you would never know that based on his performance. It was only the top of the 1st, but the Reds would need some runs early.
Rose was stranded and it was up to Maloney to be equal or better to the task. But Lee Maye lashed a double to lead things off in the bottom of the frame. Joe Morgan, who would later play for the Reds, walked. Things looked grim. But a double play and a groundout saved Jim.
Roberts himself allowed the first two batters to reach in the top of the second. On two singles. But then Robin too, got a groundout and a double play!
Maloney fanned Jim Wynn as part of a 1-2-3 2nd inning. Roberts fanned Maloney to lead off the top of the 3rd, and would have a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Anything you can do, I can do better?
Maloney himself walked his mound opponent with one out in the bottom of the 3rd. A groundout to first base (with first sacker Gordy Coleman making the play himself) by Maye moved Roberts into scoring position. But Morgan ended the inning by grounding out to third.
But the problem for the Reds was that the veteran had now settled down. It was all-too apparent in the top of the 4th. Roberts got dangerous Vada Pinson on a fly. Frank Robinson grounded out to third basemen Bob Aspromonte. Coleman hit a grounder to Roberts, who tossed to first and was out of the inning 1-2-3.
Maloney, locked in a scoreless tie here, walked a batter with one out in the bottom of the frame. But Jim got Wynn to lineout to Pinson in center. He ended the inning with a flourish by fanning Aspromonte. It was Jimmy's second K of the game.
Deron Johnson hit a comebacker that Roberts fielded and tossed to first for out number one of the 5th. Johnny Edwards grounded out to second. Leo Cardenas got the ball out of the infield, but it was only a flyball to left. Robin Roberts had now retired 11 batters in a row!
John Bateman led of the bottom of the 5th for the Astros by stroking a single. Sonny Jackson got a hold of one, but it was only a fly to left. Roberts' sacrificed Bateman to third, but Maloney got Maye to fan.
The Reds received a shot of confidence in the top of the 6th. Roberts was out of the game. But his replacement, Dave Giusti, got the first two batters out. That made it 13 straight Reds retired! Pete Rose kept the inning going with a single. And then, he scored on a triple by Pinson. What a difference not having to face Roberts made! 1-0, Cincinnati!
Maloney started the bottom of the 6th by fanning Morgan. Rusty Staub went out on a fly. Chuck Harrison ended the inning by taking a third strike. Jim was now in the grove. Not only did Houston have only 2 hits, but Jim had fanned 5 batters! And Maloney still had the shutout going!
Giusti gave up a hit and a walk in the top of the 7th, as Cincy looked for that all-important insurance run. But they couldn't get it in this inning as Maloney ended things with a fly ball out.
Maloney retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame. He also notched his 6 K of the game as he fanned Bateman. Cincinnati then looked like they were going to have a huge inning in the top of the 8th.
The first two Reds' batters walked, and then Pinson laid down the bunt. Second and third and just 1 out for the Reds. Giusti then intentionally walked Frank Robinson to load the bases. But Tony Perez, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement for Coleman at first in the bottom of the 7th, fanned. Deron Johnson was out on a liner to center.
Maloney started the bottom of the 8th by getting Jackson to ground out to Rose, playing second base. Pinch hitter (for Giusti) Jim Gentile grounded out to Rose's double-play partner, Cardenas. Maye then lined out to Cardenas.
Claude Raymond came on to pitch for Houston in the top of the 9th. Edwards flied out. Both Cardenas and Maloney went out on pop ups in foul territory! It was still only 1-0, Cincinnati. Would Jimmy get the shutout?
Morgan was out on a hard one to right. Staub grounded out to Cardenas. Only Harrison remained. Maloney got him to fly out to left fielder Tommy Harper.
Maloney finished the game with 6 K's. He walked 3 and gave up just 2 hits. He got the shutout. And it happened to be his 20th win (against just 8 losses) on the 1965 campaign. Maloney had recorded hus 5th shutout. He would start one more game that season, but Jim lost it to finish 20-9.
It was a season where in 4 games, Jim Maloney got, or flirted with, the no-no!
And this game was in Houston, so it was inside. The Astros played in a "first" of it's kind, ballpark. The Houston Astrodome, the first doomed stadium to be used by a major league team.
Pete Rose stroked a single off Robin Roberts, who flashed some of that old magic from his glory days here. Roberts was a long way from his time with the Phillies in the 1950s, but you would never know that based on his performance. It was only the top of the 1st, but the Reds would need some runs early.
Rose was stranded and it was up to Maloney to be equal or better to the task. But Lee Maye lashed a double to lead things off in the bottom of the frame. Joe Morgan, who would later play for the Reds, walked. Things looked grim. But a double play and a groundout saved Jim.
Roberts himself allowed the first two batters to reach in the top of the second. On two singles. But then Robin too, got a groundout and a double play!
Maloney fanned Jim Wynn as part of a 1-2-3 2nd inning. Roberts fanned Maloney to lead off the top of the 3rd, and would have a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Anything you can do, I can do better?
Maloney himself walked his mound opponent with one out in the bottom of the 3rd. A groundout to first base (with first sacker Gordy Coleman making the play himself) by Maye moved Roberts into scoring position. But Morgan ended the inning by grounding out to third.
But the problem for the Reds was that the veteran had now settled down. It was all-too apparent in the top of the 4th. Roberts got dangerous Vada Pinson on a fly. Frank Robinson grounded out to third basemen Bob Aspromonte. Coleman hit a grounder to Roberts, who tossed to first and was out of the inning 1-2-3.
Maloney, locked in a scoreless tie here, walked a batter with one out in the bottom of the frame. But Jim got Wynn to lineout to Pinson in center. He ended the inning with a flourish by fanning Aspromonte. It was Jimmy's second K of the game.
Deron Johnson hit a comebacker that Roberts fielded and tossed to first for out number one of the 5th. Johnny Edwards grounded out to second. Leo Cardenas got the ball out of the infield, but it was only a flyball to left. Robin Roberts had now retired 11 batters in a row!
John Bateman led of the bottom of the 5th for the Astros by stroking a single. Sonny Jackson got a hold of one, but it was only a fly to left. Roberts' sacrificed Bateman to third, but Maloney got Maye to fan.
The Reds received a shot of confidence in the top of the 6th. Roberts was out of the game. But his replacement, Dave Giusti, got the first two batters out. That made it 13 straight Reds retired! Pete Rose kept the inning going with a single. And then, he scored on a triple by Pinson. What a difference not having to face Roberts made! 1-0, Cincinnati!
Maloney started the bottom of the 6th by fanning Morgan. Rusty Staub went out on a fly. Chuck Harrison ended the inning by taking a third strike. Jim was now in the grove. Not only did Houston have only 2 hits, but Jim had fanned 5 batters! And Maloney still had the shutout going!
Giusti gave up a hit and a walk in the top of the 7th, as Cincy looked for that all-important insurance run. But they couldn't get it in this inning as Maloney ended things with a fly ball out.
Maloney retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame. He also notched his 6 K of the game as he fanned Bateman. Cincinnati then looked like they were going to have a huge inning in the top of the 8th.
The first two Reds' batters walked, and then Pinson laid down the bunt. Second and third and just 1 out for the Reds. Giusti then intentionally walked Frank Robinson to load the bases. But Tony Perez, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement for Coleman at first in the bottom of the 7th, fanned. Deron Johnson was out on a liner to center.
Maloney started the bottom of the 8th by getting Jackson to ground out to Rose, playing second base. Pinch hitter (for Giusti) Jim Gentile grounded out to Rose's double-play partner, Cardenas. Maye then lined out to Cardenas.
Claude Raymond came on to pitch for Houston in the top of the 9th. Edwards flied out. Both Cardenas and Maloney went out on pop ups in foul territory! It was still only 1-0, Cincinnati. Would Jimmy get the shutout?
Morgan was out on a hard one to right. Staub grounded out to Cardenas. Only Harrison remained. Maloney got him to fly out to left fielder Tommy Harper.
Maloney finished the game with 6 K's. He walked 3 and gave up just 2 hits. He got the shutout. And it happened to be his 20th win (against just 8 losses) on the 1965 campaign. Maloney had recorded hus 5th shutout. He would start one more game that season, but Jim lost it to finish 20-9.
It was a season where in 4 games, Jim Maloney got, or flirted with, the no-no!
No comments:
Post a Comment