But for seven more innings vs. the New York Mets at the Polo Grounds, Koufax remained as unhittable as anyone in baseball history. From June 4th through July 12, he'd appeared in eleven games, ten as a starter, and allowed just 35 hits in 82 2/3 innings pitched. Batters had hit .125 against him.
(The only pitcher whose opponent batting average was lower over such a span--requiring at least 70 IP--was Johan Santana, who held batters to a .119 BA during an 11-start stretch from mid-June to early August in 2004. Santana gave up 10 HR during that span, however; batters' OPS against him during that time frame was .419. Koufax gave up just 3 HR during his skein, and batters had managed an OPS of only .373.)
As reported in his autobiography, Sandy lost his feeling for the ball as the game progressed, and was removed in favor of Larry Sherry at the start of the eighth inning. Larry made things a bit interesting in the ninth, allowing the tying run to come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but he retired Richie Ashburn to preserve the team shutout. The Dodgers received scoring hits from Tommy Davis (#91, still comfortably in possession of the league lead), Willie Davis, and Johnny Roseboro. Final score: Dodgers 3, Mets 0.
SEASON RECORDS: LAD 59-31, SFG 58-31
