Celebrate '68: Gibson Drops One To Houston

                On May 12, 1968, the Houston Astros snapped Bob Gibson’s three-game winning streak and four complete game streak with a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals at Busch. Both clubs were haunted by unearned runs, but it was the Cardinals who would be haunted in the end after Denis Menke drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a bases-loaded single in the seventh.

                Larry Dierker stood on the bump for the ‘Stros.  He surrendered an early 1-0 lead in the first when an error by shortstop Hector Torres put Roger Maris in the position to knock Curt Flood in with a double. That lead disappeared in the second when an error by Dal Maxvill put Houston’s catcher Dave Adlesh in the same position Maris found himself in during the first. Just like that it was 1-1.  The tide turned in the fourth when Mike Shannon lined a home run over the wall in right to put the Birds up 2-1.

                The two hurlers battled until the seventh when Gibson ran into trouble from the get go. He had the top of the order in front of him, which began with centerfielder Ron Davis who singled to start the inning. He then hit rightfielder Norm Miller with a pitch, before leftfielder Jim Wynn bunted his way on to load the bases. Gibson retired the next two men but could not get Menke, who knocked in Davis and Miller. Up to that point, Gibson had struck out nine men. He finished off the seventh inning with his 10^th strikeout of the day.

                Gibson went one more inning. He was lifted for a pinch hitter when the Cardinals came to bat in the eighth. Hal Gilson took over pitching duties, but the Birds could not get to Dierker. The Astros hurler sailed into the ninth having scattered six hits. He allowed his seventh hit to Roger Maris to begin the ninth, then sat down the next three men in a row to end it.

                Gibson’s ERA sat at 1.43 at the end of this day. He had been charged with the two runs over eight innings. His performance was certainly good enough for the Cardinals to win. However, as we all know, there are days when the offense fails to come through for a pitcher who turns in a splendid performance.  There are also days when a pitcher turns in a splendid performance only to watch his counterpart do the same for the opposing team.

                To think about the fact that Gibson finished that season with an ERA of 1.12, and still lost nine games is astounding. It was the year of the pitcher though, and the Cardinals had to face their fair share of good and even great pitchers. With that said, they had one of the greatest of them all. He wore the 45… His name was Bob Gibson.

Check out the box score here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196805120.shtml

Sources included: The Southeast Missourian, The Victoria Advocate, The St. Joseph Gazette, The Alton Evening Telegraph, and Baseballreference.com