LA takes 3 of 4 from Redlegs

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Tsitouris vs Osteen
LAD 6, CIN 5

Both teams errupted for a combined 7 runs in the opening inning.  LA scored 2 more in the home half of the 3rd to take a 5-4 lead.  Both teams exchanged runs in the 4th and then all of a sudden the offense went on hiatus.  Despite giving up 4 in the first LA's Claude Osteen hung on to get the complete game victory.  LA's tablesetters:  Maury Wills (3-5) and Willie Davis (2-4) scored 2 runs each with Norm Larker (2-3) knocking in 2.

GAME 2
Maloney vs Koufax
LAD 9, CIN 5

For the second day in a row both teams combined for 7 runs in the first inning.  Dominant starters like Maloney and Koufax got battered around like pinatas.  Koufax was able to hang on by a thread to get his first win of the season.  He fanned 7 in 8 innings and gave up 5 runs.  His season ERA is 3.91, close to 2 runs more than his historical numbers.  Maloney was even more of a victim giving up 9 runs in 5 innings to balloon his ERA to 6.62.  Wally Moon (2-4) knocked in 4 and scored twice.  Both he and Jim Lefebvre (2-3) homered as LA took both home games in this series.

Crosley Field
GAME 3
Drysdale vs Nuxhall
LAD 5, CIN 4

Once again there were fireworks in the 1st inning.  LA jumped out to a 4-1 lead.  Cincy chipped away at it, but wound up coming up 1 run short.  Don Drysdale (3-0, 1.88) staked his claim as one of the early favorites for the NL Cy Young Award.  Ed Roebuck came on board to get the final 4 outs and his 2nd save of the season.  Wes Parker (2-4, 2RBI) doubled twice.  Charlie Neal, Jim Gilliam and Tommy Davis also had 2 hit games as LA took their 3rd game in a row.

GAME 4
Podres vs Purkey
CIN 5, LAD 3

Needing to salvage at least one game to avoid the sweep the Redlegs got a great performance from starter Bob Purkey (8IP/2ER).  Combine that with Tommy Helms' (4-4) perfect day at the plate and Johnny Bench's (2-4) clutch hitting performance (2R/2RBI) and you have a winner for the Queen City.  Maury Wills (3-4) was on base all day, but the strong right arm of wunderkind Johnny Bench froze Wills right in his tracks on 1st.