Series 17: Kennedys take two of three from Obamas

Obamas 24-17, Kennedys 21-20

Pitcher use: Johnson and Seaver need three games, Plank and Marichal need two, Gibson and Nichols need one. Drysdale pitched one inning in finale

Game One: Kennedys 7, Obamas 5 (11 innings)
WP: Gibson (6-3)
LP: Gomez (3-3)
Save: Fingers (9)
HR: Bench (9), Brett (9), J. Robinson (2), Boudreau (5), Morgan (7), McCovey (6)

Game Two: Kennedys 4, Obamas 3 (10 innings)
WP: Marichal (5-4)
LP: Plank (4-4)
Save: Koufax (2)
HR: F. Robinson (12), Bench (10), Boudreau (6)

Game Three: Obamas 9, Kennedys 1
WP: Johnson (5-4)
LP: Seaver (3-5)
HR: Foxx (12), Schmidt (13), Yount (3)

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Two extra-inning losses to open the series did serious damage to the Obamas' chances in the Division A race, as they fall to third place, two games behind the Franklins, with three games on the schedule.

The Obamas trailed in the opener 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, but got back-to-back homers from Lou Boudreau and pinch-hitter Jackie Robinson to open the frame and tie the score. They mounted no further threat against Bob Gibson, however, and Johnny Bench tagged Lefty Gomez for a two-run shot in the 11th for the winning margin.

Gibson at one point retired 13 straight batters.

The Obamas never led the second game. They fell behind 3-0 after three and tied it on solo homers in the seventh by Frank Robinson and Boudreau. But they got just two baserunners the rest of the way, one on an error. Bench drove in Henry Aaron in the 10th for the go-ahead run, and Sandy Koufax retired Charley Gehringer with the tying run on second to end it.

The Obamas were held to just two runs in seven innings by Tom Seaver in the nightcap, but battered reliever Don Drysdale for seven runs in the eighth after Seaver gave way to a pinch hitter. The big inning was capped by Jimmy Foxx's grand slam.

Walter Johnson tossed a complete game six-hitter, striking out eight, in his best start since his season-opening no-hitter. Boudreau was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs; for the series, the Obama shortstop was 5-for-12 with five RBIs, two clutch homers and four runs scored.