Chicago’s Billy Williams, Ernie Banks and Jim Hickman hit 4th-inning home runs as Fergie Jenkins (12-10) beats the Astros, 6 – 1, at Wrigley Field.
Roberto Clemente makes “an impossible catch” in Pittsburgh’s doubleheader sweep of the Braves. So says manager Larry Shepard. The grab is described by Les Biederman in the Pittsburgh Press: “The one play that brought the fans up screaming was a Roberto Clemente fielding special. Mike Lum, the Chinese rookie outfielder, was the victim. Lum hit a shot off Steve Blass that was headed for the right field wall, near the 375-foot-mark. Clemente took off in pursuit and ran as hard and as fast as he could. Just as he approached the wall, Clemente reached up and caught the ball, still with his back to the diamond. He crashed into the wall, bruised his chin and fell down. He was stunned for a second but held the ball.”
In the 1st inning, Washington SS Ron Hansen turns the 8th unassisted triple play in major league history and the first in 41 years. Cleveland’s Joe Azcue hits a liner to Hansen, who steps on second base to double Dave Nelson, and tags Russ Snyder sliding into second base for the third out. Hansen’s effort is not enough, as Washington loses, 10 – 1.
Reds right-hander George Culver, facing 34 batters, throws a no-hitter, beating the Phillies, 6-1. Philadelphia tallies an unearned run in the second inning of the Connie Mack Stadium contest when Dick Allen reaches base on a throwing error by the third baseman, goes to second on another error on the same play, gets to third base on a groundout, and then scores on a sacrifice fly.
Pittsburgh edges Atlanta, 3 – 2, and Roberto Clemente burns Hank Aaron, sort of. Bill Mazeroski puts Pittsburgh on the board first with a 2nd-inning solo home run while Joe Torre singles and scores Atlanta’s first run, then doubles to drive in the other. Clemente, for his part, singles and scores the Bucs’ second run, then singles home the third and deciding run. Aaron has a fine day at bat (3 for 4), but not on the bases. Leading off the 7th, with the Braves down, 3 – 0, he singles but is quickly picked off by Bob Veale. Three innings before, he is burned in even more embarrassing fashion on a play which involves all three of the future Hall of Famers and Torre. Charley Feeney of the Post Gazette writes: “Hank led off the 4th with a single, but on a hit-and-run, he was decoyed by both Gene Alley and Maz, who faked fielding a phantom grounder. Aaron was standing on second when Clemente caught Torre’s fly ball and was easily doubled up.” The one time he does manage to stay on base, representing the tying run in the 8th inning, he fails to score on Torre’s double.
On July 29, 1968, Washington Senators shortstop Ron Hansen turns an unassisted triple play – the eighth in the game’s history and the first in 41 years. With runners on first and second, Cleveland’s Joe Azcue hits a line drive to Hansen, who makes the catch before retiring the two runners. Three days later, the…
At Shea Stadium, Reds Ps Jim Maloney and Clay Carroll combine on a one-hit, 5 – 3, victory. Maloney gives up a run-scoring double to Cleon Jones in the 1st inning and then is lifted in the 6th after walking three batters. Carroll gives up two run-scoring grounders, but pitches four hitless frames.
Ken Holtzman and the Cubs beat the Dodgers’ Don Sutton, 1 – 0. It is Sutton’s second straight 1 – 0 loss to Chicago; he is now 0-10 against the Cubs, and Holtzman will top him the next three times they face each other.
Dave McNally outduels Mickey Lolich to give Baltimore a much-needed win over the Tigers, 5 – 1.
On July 27, 1968, At Memorial Stadium, Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers earns his 20th victory of the season – a 9-0 shutout of the Baltimore Orioles. The Tiger right-hander is the third pitcher in history to reach the milestone this quickly, with only Rube Marquard (Giants, July 19, 1912) and Lefty Grove (A’s,…
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