Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports
On this day in Los Angeles Dodgers history, Sandy Koufax set a strikeout record, starred in an away game at the Astrodome and threw the franchise’s first no-hitter.
On June 22, 1959, Koufax took the mound at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and pitched a complete game to help the Dodgers defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6–2. Koufax gave up 10 hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out 16 batters, setting an MLB record for most strikeouts in a night game.
Gil Hodges provided some early support with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to drive in Jim Gilliam, then LA tacked on three more runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Hodges and a one-run single by John Roseboro, and two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Don Demeter to seal the game.
In 1959, Koufax was just 23 years old and had yet to establish himself as a star in the league. That season, he appeared in 35 games (23 starts) and posted an 8-6 record with a 4.05 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.49 WHIP, 173 strikeouts and 92 walks in 153.2 innings.
Koufax shines in record-setting game at Astrodome
By 1966, Kufax had established himself as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and he proved why with a complete game victory against the Houston Astros on June 22. The Astros drew a record 50,908 fans that day, a record that would stand for the next 22 years.
Kufax again allowed 10 hits but struck out six to limit the number of runs to just two in a 5–2 victory. The Dodgers’ offense scored three runs in the sixth inning on a two-run RBI single by Jim Lefebvre and a two-run RBI single by Maury Wills, and added two more runs in the ninth on a bunt RBI single by Willie Davis and a run-scoring RBI single by Lou Johnson.
The 1966 season was Koufax’s final major league season before arthritis forced him to retire at age 30. That year, he went 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA, 2.07 FIP and 0.99 WHIP in 41 starts, striking out 317 batters and walking 77 in 323 innings, winning his third Cy Young Award and finishing second in MVP voting.
Early in the 1966 season, the Dodgers faced the Astros in the first-ever MLB game played on artificial turf at the Astrodome.
The Dodgers’ first no-hitter
On June 22, 1891, Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Tom Lovett threw the first no-hitter in franchise history against the rival New York Giants.
The Dodgers’ offense provided four runs of support for Lovett, more than enough for him to pitch the 13th no-hitter in National League history and the first in six years.
Lovett enjoyed considerable success with the Dodgers, notably winning 30 games in the 1890 season. In 1891, he pitched 44 games (43 starts) with a 23-19 record, a 3.69 ERA, a 3.55 FIP, a 1.34 WHIP, 129 strikeouts and 129 walks in 365.2 innings, 39 of which were complete games.
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