60 YEARS AGO/125: REDS FALL DOWN, GO BOOM REDUX

After a day off to return home, the Dodgers and Giants readied themselves to swap series with the Reds and Braves before the two teams would meet for (what was supposed to be) the final time in '62 at Dodger Stadium (beginning on Labor Day, which was September 3 that year).

The Reds came into LA flat after a mortifying doubleheader loss to the Houston Colts, and they had no traction at all on that Tuesday evening (August 28). Bob Purkey, the ace of Cincy's staff, served up homers to Tommy Davis and Duke Snider (making his first start at home since May). Johnny Roseboro and Jim Gilliam pulled off a double steal in the eighth that marked the second time in '62 that the Dodgers' catcher stole home. (His career total: five.) Johnny Podres scattered eight hits and struck out six in going all the way for the Dodgers, improving his record to 11-10. Final score: Dodgers 8, Reds 1.

IN San Francisco, Juan Marichal was cruising along with a shutout in the seventh when he served up a game-tying three-run homer to Braves' catcher Del Crandall, but Felipe Alou's eighth-inning grounder to short was hit just slowly enough for him to beat the relay to first and permit Chuck Hiller to score the tie-breaking run. Willie Mays (#39) and Harvey Kuenn (#9) had homered earlier for the Giants. Marichal struck out Joe Torre in the top of the ninth with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to nail down his 17th win. Final score: Giants 4, Braves 3.

SEASON RECORDS: LAD 86-46, SFG 83-48, CIN 81-52