Drysdale Fires Four‑Hitter as Dodgers Edge Cards, 3–2
49,938 Brave Coliseum Winds; L.A. Wins Third Straight by Same 3–2 Score
LOS ANGELES, April 16 — The Dodgers seem to have settled into a pattern this spring — and a winning one at that. For the third time in four games, Los Angeles posted a 3–2 victory, this time behind the strong right arm of Don Drysdale, who scattered four hits to hand the St. Louis Cardinals their fourth straight defeat.
A paid crowd of 40,919, swelled to 49,938 by Ladies’ Night, watched Drysdale notch his second win of the young season. The big righthander overpowered the Redbirds when it mattered most, stranding runners in key spots and refusing to yield after a shaky start.
Cardinals Strike First
St. Louis, under pressure from front‑office chief Bing Devine, who reportedly issued a “win or else” ultimatum before the game, came out swinging. Local product Ellis Burton opened the contest with a ringing double and scored when Maury Wills misplayed a grounder.
In the fourth, Ken Boyer belted his second home run of the series, a towering drive that briefly put the Cardinals ahead 2–0.
But that was all St. Louis could muster. Drysdale, buzzing fastballs over the corners, shut the door from there.
Dodgers Break Through in the Third
The Dodgers’ decisive rally came in the third inning, when they strung together five hits off longtime nemesis Larry Jackson, who entered the night with a 12–5 lifetime mark against Los Angeles.
With one out, Jim Gilliam doubled off the left‑field screen. He held at third on Charlie Neal’s sharp grounder between short and third, then scored on Wally Moon’s sacrifice fly to Burton.
Duke Snider followed with a single that sent Neal to third, and Neal crossed the plate when Gil Hodges’ bad‑hop grounder caromed off shortstop Daryl Spencer’s cap and bounded into center.
Manager Solly Hemus visited Jackson on the mound but elected to stay with him. The next pitch was lined into right by Johnny Roseboro, scoring Snider with what proved to be the winning run.
Drysdale Takes Over
From that point on, the Dodgers mustered only one more hit, but Drysdale made the three‑run burst stand. St. Louis threatened in the eighth when Burton blooped a single and Boyer drew a walk, putting the tying run aboard. But Neal drifted under Bill White’s pop‑up to end the inning and the last Cardinal threat.
The Redbirds managed only four hits all night — two by Burton — and never solved Drysdale’s late‑breaking fastball.
Dodgers Move Into Tie for First
The victory lifted Los Angeles into a tie with San Francisco for the early National League lead. For the Cardinals, who have yet to win a game, the frustration continues despite Hemus’ lineup shuffling and Devine’s stern warnings.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, appear to be settling into their stride — and into a familiar scoreline.
Courtesy of The Los Angeles Times April 17, 1960 via Newspapers.com