1969 NL Opening Day Game Stories

April 8,1969 The NL opened the 1969 season yesterday with 2 exciting games. The tradtitional MLB opener in Cincinnati saw the hometown Reds lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-9. Cincinnati allowed a large 8-1 lead slip away and lost in the final inning. In Atlanta, the Braves were able to get a win for the hometown fans by beating the San Francisco Giants 4-2.

Strat-O-Matic Report

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NEWSPAPER GAME STORIES FOR 1969 National League                Date: 4/8/1969
 
LOS ANGELES AT CINCINNATI
Dodgers......... 1 0 0  0 0 3  1 4 1  - 10 17  1
Reds............ 0 3 3  2 0 0  1 0 0  -  9 12  2
Win:Mikkelsen(1-0) Loss:Carroll(0-1) Save:Darwin(1st)
Homeruns- L.Gabrielson(1st), A.Kosco(1st), T.Perez-2(2nd), L.May(1st),
           J.Bench(1st)
 
7,840 fans were treated to a fine game at Crosley Field as only one run
separated the combatants at game's end.  The Los Angeles Dodgers won by the
slimmest of margins, 10 to 9.
 
The game was won by Los Angeles with a run in the top of the 9th inning.
After two were out Jim Lefebvre ripped a single.  Ted Sizemore came to the
plate and ripped a base-knock.  Ken Boyer then slapped a single.  For the
game Los Angeles out-hit Cincinnati 17 to 12.  
 
The victory was credited to Pete Mikkelsen(1-0) who went 1 inning, allowing no
runs. Mikkelsen got relief help from Bobby Darwin who gained credit for his
1st save.  Clay Carroll(0-1) was charged with the loss in relief.  He allowed
Los Angeles 5 runs in 2 and 1/3 innings of work.  
 
Third baseman Tony Perez launched 2 homeruns and had 4 RBI for Cincinnati but
his effort was wasted in the loss.
 
SAN FRANCISCO AT ATLANTA
Giants.......... 0 0 0  0 0 2  0 0 0  -  2  4  0
Braves.......... 1 1 0  0 0 2  0 0    -  4  7  0
Win:Jarvis(1-0) Loss:Marichal(0-1) Save:Upshaw(1st)
Homeruns- T.Francona(1st), B.Tillman(1st)
 
In a good matchup it was the Atlanta Braves 4, the San Francisco Giants 2 at
Fulton Co. Stadium.
 
Atlanta scored 2 runs in the 6th inning.  The key offensive moment was
provided by Tito Francona who thrilled the crowd when he cracked a two-run
shot.  Atlanta had 7 hits for the game and San Francisco had 4.  
 
The win went to Pat Jarvis(1-0) who allowed 2 runs in 8 innings. Cecil Upshaw
got the save, his 1st.  Juan Marichal(0-1) ended up with the loss.  
 
 

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