RetroSimba

In a matchup against the Giants, Cardinals ace Bob Gibson pitched a complete game, struck out 14 batters and slugged a home run, but it wasn’t enough to win.

On Aug. 30, 1972, the Giants beat the Cardinals, 3-2, at St. Louis despite Gibson’s dominant performance.

Giant killer

Gibson, 36, carried a 10-game, three-year winning streak against the Giants into his 1972 start versus them. He hadn’t lost to the Giants since Sept. 17, 1968, when Gaylord Perry pitched a no-hitter against the Cardinals at San Francisco. Since then, Gibson had posted records versus the Giants of 3-0 in 1969, 3-0 in 1970 and 4-0 in 1971.

In his only 1972 start against the Giants, Gibson held them hitless in the first inning, but yielded three singles, resulting in a run, in the second.

In the sixth, Gibson struck out the side, Bobby Bonds, Jim Howarth, Chris Speier, and led off the bottom half of the inning with a home run into the left-field seats against starter Jim Willoughby, tying the score at 1-1. It was Gibson’s fifth home run of the season and matched the career high he first achieved in 1965.

Price is right

Each of the nine Giants in the starting lineup struck out at least once against Gibson and he held the Giants hitless from the third inning through the eighth.

“Gibson may be close to 37, but he still amazes me every time he gets out there,” Giants coach Joey Amalfitano told the Associated Press. “He’s one guy I’d pay to watch.”

The Cardinals were unable to break though against Willoughby, a rookie right-hander, and the score remained tied at 1-1 through eight.

In the ninth, a tiring Gibson yielded a walk and three singles, including RBI-hits by Dave Rader and Tito Fuentes, giving the Giants a 3-1 lead.

Bernie Carbo hit a solo home run off Willoughby in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough for the Cardinals. Boxscore

“I’d trade those 14 strikeouts for a win anytime,” Gibson said.

Previously: Willie Mays on Ray Washburn: ‘Never saw a better curve’

Previously: The story of Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry and a slam