4/25/61:"Well hi everybody, this is Vin Scully"
"Here's a final from Busch Stadium, The Cardinals on a 2-hitter by Curt Simmons shut out the Braves by a score of 5-0. Ken Boyer with a homer for the Redbirds. Here, the Dodgers on a first inning explosion of home runs lead their long-standing rivals from the North by a score of 4-1 in the 2nd."
The explosion would give way to a late Giants rally that forced extra innings and "Say Hey" and his friends a dramatic 6-5 win in 12 innings.
Mays himself started the fireworks with a 2-out solo homer off Don Drysdale, then came the Dodgers with a barrage of homers in the bottom of the 1st by Charlie Neal, (solo) Wally Moon with 1 on and another solo by Don Demeter. John Roseboro added another solo shot in the 2nd, making the score 5-1 and giving Giant starter Jack Sanford a deficit his teammates would overcome much to the shock of the LA Coliseum faithful.
The Giants scored runs in the 6th and 7th, cutting the Bums lead to 5-3. Then, with Larry Sherry in for Drysdale, the Giants tied it with 2 in the 9th, the tying run scoring on a would-be DP which instead was a force to 3rd, scoring Jose Pagan and giving Harvey Kuenn a RBI. On to extras and more heroics from "Say Hey."
Bottom of the 11th, Don Demeter led off with a single but was forced out when Willie Davis bunted too hard to Stu Miller. John Roseboro then swatted a double to center, giving one Willie a chance to test another Willie as Davis tried to score from 1st with 1 out. Mays' smooth as silk throw to home easily cut down Davis, then Junior Gilliam lined to McCovey to end the threat.
Top of the 12th, after Chuck Hiller grounded to 2nd to lead off, Al Dark chose to let Stu Miller bat. Miller singled to center, sending up Willie Mays who then cracked a double to center. Al Dark decided to send Miller home from 1st, taking advantage of the weak arm of Willie Davis with 1 out. Miller scored with great ease, then proceeded to shut down the Dodgers in the home half of the 12th, giving the Giants a hard-earned rivalry game win, 6-5. Ron Perranoski took the tough-luck loss for Walt Alston's club.
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