June 21 has been an odd date in my 1966 NL replay (Basic Game, actual lineups and rotations, actual games played). Two games in particular stand out.
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Perhaps spurred on by the hot Braves who are right behind them in the standings, Pittsburgh put their foot down and made a stand against the Reds. They batted around in the lineup in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings at Cincinnati driving the local fans home in droves. The offense didn’t HAVE to score 19 runs. Starter Woodie Fryman (CY) pitched a five-hit shutout.
Three Pirates scored at least three runs. Willie Stargell went 4 for 6 while Matty Alou drove home five runs on four hits. Normally, you don’t get that kind of production from your leadoff guy but Fryman himself went 3 for 6 with 3 rbis.
Pittsburgh’s 19-0 win was a big one for them as they are fighting off Atlanta’s surge. Fryman’s ERA dipped to 1.89 for the season to compliment his 5-2 record.
Los Angeles @ Houston
The Dodgers experienced something for the first time this year on June 21. Not only did Don Sutton (BXYZ) lose his first game but it was the first start for him in which LA did not win. Fifteen starts, fifteen wins. Sutton lasted only five innings against the Astros after giving up seven hits and five runs. Both were season highs for Sutton in his sixteen starts and previously, his shortest stint was six innings.
Sonny Jackson and John Bateman both collected three hits against Sutton for the Astros. Jim Wynn’s rbi double makes him the first NL player with 50 rbis. Turk Farrell (DYZ) earned a complete game win. As usual, he was stingy with the walks, giving up none. Currently, he’s given up 1.9 BB/9.
Houston won 5-1.
Sutton’s stats are still pretty formidable. He’s 15-1 with a 1.62 ERA. He’s one good reason why LA is in first place.
I find high scoring games like your 19 run outburst kind of exhausting. I rarely play another game right after one of those.