Celebrate '68: Gibson Blanks Marichal And The Giants In San Fran

                On July 6, 1968, just days after facing Don Drysdale in Los Angeles, Bob Gibson went head-to-head with Juan Marichal in San Francisco. More than 28,000 souls packed the stands at Candlestick Park to witness this one. Marichal was a 15-game winner at that point, and Bob Gibson was coming into the City by the Bay on fire, having won seven in a row. During that seven game winning streak Gibby had sprinkled in the impressive 47 consecutive innings thrown without allowing a run. That streak had come to an end against Drysdale five days earlier. However, Gibson was not done shutting down and shutting out his opponents. He would win his eighth in a row in what proved to be a 3-0 win for the Redbirds. It was Gibson's 14th complete game of the campaign.

            The biggest hit of the day came in the first inning. It was a two-run blast by Gibson’s batterymate Johnny Edwards. It was only Edwards’ second home run of that season and boy was it a big one. The Cardinals put another run on the board in the second when Dick Schofield reached base on an error, which was followed by a double by Gibson that pushed him to third. Moments later, Schofield came into score on another error. The score was 3-0 and it was all Bob Gibson from there.

            Gibby did run into some trouble in the sixth. Willie McCovey singled to start the inning, Jim Ray Hart doubled, which moved McCovey to third, before Gibby issued a walk to Dick Dietz. The bases were loaded and there were no outs. If the Giants were going to have a shot in this one, it was then. They would not have a shot in this one though because Gibson struck out the next three batters in a haste. It took him just 11 pitches to set down Bobby Bonds, pinch-hitter Dave Marshall, and Marichal who had to know that his boys just missed a huge opportunity. Opportunities like that were a rarity when Bob Gibson was on the bump.  

            Only one more batter reached base against Gibson the rest of the day, which came when Dietz walked in the eighth. Gibson sailed the rest of the way. As did Marichal. The final line for the Giants All Star was 10 hits allowed, three earned runs, while striking out five. Gibson allowed just six hits and struck out nine. It was his 14th complete game of the season. Gibson's record moved to 11-5, his ERA dropped from 1.13 to 1.06, as the Summer of ’68 continued. It would be a Summer in baseball that will never be forgotten.

Check out the box score here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN196807060.shtml

Sources included: The St. Petersburg Times, The Victoria Advocate, The Pittsburgh Press, and Baseballreference.com