The Dodgers, still reeling, lost their fifth straight game on August 15, 1962, when Don Drysdale came up empty in the second and third innings. To be fair to Big D, it wasn't all his fault: the third run in the second inning came when Willie Davis and Johnny Roseboro each air-mailed throws intended to nab Bill Mazeroski, but only succeeded in letting the Pirates' slick second baseman score on his own two-run single.
Bob Friend was not overpowering for Pittsburgh, allowing eleven hits in 8 2/3 innings, but the Bucs turned two double plays behind him and the Dodgers were not able to muster any hits with runners in scoring position. Roberto Clemente had three RBI for the Pirates on two singles, raising his seasonal BA to .333. Final score: Pirates 6, Dodgers 3.
AT Wrigley Field, the Giants built a 5-2 lead after four and a half innings, thanks to back-to-back homers from an unlikely duo: Willie Mays (#37) and Matty Alou (#2), who connected in the third inning. (Matty was a last-minute replacement for Willie McCovey, who turned up gimpy this day after straining a hamstring attempting to take the extra base the day before.)
But Billy O'Dell ran into some bad luck in the sixth, when Cubs leadoff man Don Landrum reached safely thanks to first baseman Orlando Cepeda throwing the ball behind the Giants' lefty as he covered the bag for the ostensible 3-1 putout. A baserunner later, Ernie Banks hit a three-run homer to tie the game. In the eighth, Stu Miller was wild (two walks) and Dick Bertell slapped a two-run single off Don Larsen as the Cubs handed the Giants a blown lead loss, nixing their chance to gain more gain on the Dodgers. Final score: Cubs 7, Giants 5.
SEASON RECORDS: LAD 79-42, SFG 77-43
