60 YEARS AGO/40: THE DODGERS TAKE A 3-1 SERIES LEAD VS. GIANTS

After losing three straight to the Cardinals at home, the Dodgers fell 4 1/2 games behind the Giants as their arch-rivals arrived in Los Angeles for a two-game series. It was crucial, even at this early stage of the season, for the Dodgers to win both games.

And, thanks to the timely re-emergence of Stan Williams and the clutch hitting of Tommy Davis, LA followed up its 8-1 win in the opener of the series with another precious victory on Tuesday, May 22, 1962. 

A tight pitching duel commenced between Williams, who'd struggled in his early starts (including one against the Giants back on April 16) and Jack Sanford (who would eventually win 24 games, but whose won-loss record that day would fall to 4-4). Jim Gilliam's RBI single in the third put the Dodgers ahead 1-0 in the third, but the Giants tied the score in the top of the sixth when Chuck Hiller, oddly batting third in the SF lineup, singled home Willie Mays (who, in a strange, unconscious nod to "post-modern baseball theory," was batting in the #2 slot). 

Tommy Davis, emerging from a brief slump, came up big for the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a two-run homer off Sanford. (Davis would have an incredible year against the Giants in '62: he wound up hitting .452 against them, with 8 HRs and 27 RBI in 21 games.) Willie Davis added insurance runs with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh.

Williams faltered in the ninth, allowing singles to Orlando Cepeda and Matty Alou (subbing for his brother Felipe). Larry Sherry came in and quickly induced a double play ball from Jose Pagan and retired pinch-hitter Willie McCovey on a grounder to first to cement the Dodger win and move them to within 2 1/2 games of the Giants. Final score: Dodgers 5, Giants 1.

SEASON RECORDS: SFG 28-13, LAD 25-15