1964: Loss #6 is Really Weird
A lot of weird things happened in the fateful streak especially tonight, game #156. The game would be a perfect match for Jayson Stark to write. He was only 13 at the time.
The Phillies led 4–0 lead after two innings but never scored again. They left two runners on base in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Trailing, 4–2, in the top of the eighth, two Braves singled; Jack Baldschun relieved and got the first out at third base on a bunt attempt… Mike De La Hoz loaded the bases with an infield dribbler to third for a hit; LHP Bobby Shantz relieved to face Ed Bailey, a LH hitting pinch-hitter; Shantz’s fourth pitch goes off C Gus Triandos’ glove for a run-scoring passed ball.
Phils on top, 4–3, going into the top of the ninth… Two singles put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs; PH Frank Bolling fouled off two pitches, then hit a ball up the middle. SS Ruben Amaro dove, stopped the ball, flipped to 2B Tony Taylor for an out but Taylor dropped the ball for an error, bases loaded; Rico Carty drilled Shantz’s first pitch for a bases-clearing triple over CF Tony Gonzalez’ head… Ed Roebuck relieved, got an infield pop-up for one out… De La Hoz hit a liner to LF, Cookie Rojas caught the ball near his shins, Carty scored… 3B ump Ed Vargo ruled Rojas trapped the ball; De La Hoz on 2B; Rojas ejected… Umpires conferred and overruled Vargo’s decision for second out; Braves manager Bobby Bragan ejected… Roebuck stepped off the mound, tossed the ball to Allen who stepped on third base. Phils appealed that Carty left the base before Rojas made the catch… Vargo had gone out to watch the line drive to Rojas; home plate ump Al Forman ruled Carty out for leaving early, setting off another argument… Veteran LHP Warren Spahn, the Braves eighth pitcher, retired the Phillies in order.
4–3 ninth-inning lead turned into a crushing 6–4 loss.
The Reds won their seventh straight, longest in the majors, to pull with a half game of the Phillies. The Cardinals are 1 ½ games behind.
