Down two games with 3 left to play, the Los Angeles Dynamos needed to win out against the Houston Hoots to make the World Series. Don Drysdale took the mound and kept those hopes alive, taking a 2-hit shutout into the 9th, and winning it 4-1. After giving up two 1st-inning singles, Drysdale cruised most of the rest of the way. Houston ace, Bob Gibson, nearly matched Drysdale, but a 4th inning two-run home run by Turkey Stearnes put LA in front. Houston had a chance in the 8th when Drysdale walked Ernie Lombardi and Eddie Mathews to lead off the inning. Tim Raines laid down a bunt to put the tying run on 2nd. With speedy Arky Vaughan pinch-running for Lombardi, Honus Wagner grounded to a drawn-in Rogers Hornsby for the 2nd out, and Oscar Charleston flew out to keep the shutout for Drysdale. Meanwhile, Stearnes home run was the only hit Gibson allowed heading to the 9th, when Tony Gwynn and Craig Biggio had back-to-back singles. Stearnes followed with a triple, and Drysdale entered the 9th with a 4-0 lead. Willie Stargell hit a homer with one out to end the shutout, but Drysdale still picked up the win. The teams combined for just 8 hits, with 5 of those coming in the 9th. LA has closed the gap to just one game, but will need two more wins to seal the comeback.
