Sept. 3, 1984
Gonna give Jeff Stone a start in left field, so Von Hayes can sit a game. Just hoping for a win.
Game 1984-137: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 5, Cubs 1 / 57-80
Steve Carlton turns us around with nine strikeouts in six frames. Kenneth Walker pitches two innings of one-hit, three-strikeout ball - that’s my boy. And Jeff Stone’s first plate appearance this year? A triple. His second? A double.
Sept. 4, 1984
Game 1984-138: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 5, Cubs 1 / 58-80
Yes. Get us to 63 wins. Charles Hudson pitches well (6.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 3 BB). Schmidty hits his 24th. Samuel steals his 57th.
Sept. 5, 1984
Great news from Florida: The GCL Phillies have won the Gulf Coast League! They beat the Gulf Coast Rangers in the best-of-seven championship series four games to two. Catcher Bob Gsellman hit three home runs and drove in eight, but our series MVP was Scott Hufford. The left fielder hit .421/.560/.842 with 7 RBI. Also a good series for pitcher Bob Scanlan, who put up a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings (shortened because of an injury in his first start).
The GCL Phillies also won the regular season crown, going 35-19 on the short season. Top hitters included LF Keith Ross (190 PA, .295/.405/.513, 16 XBH), Hufford (217 PA, .291/.396/.503, 25 XBH), RF Rodney Wheeler (237 PA, .332/.422/.400, 11 XBH), and Gsellman, a catcher (182 PA, .226/.308/.503, 17 XBH). Gsellman’s 13 home runs led the GCL.
Scanlan was tops on the mound (90.2 IP, 2.88 ERA, 43 K, 39 BB), while Mike Miller also performed well (77.1 IP, 3.96 ERA, 39 K, 17 BB). An abbreviated season for prospect Michael Jackson (46.2 IP, 3.09 ERA, 22 K, 15 BB), but he should nonetheless move to Spartanburg to start 1985.
Meanwhile, my A squad Peninsula Pilots is facing the Hagerstown Suns (Orioles) in the Carolina League’s championship series. Best of seven begins today, with our Scott Madden (120.2 IP, 2.39 ERA, 70 K, 37 BB) facing Hagerstown’s Mark Leiter (80.1 IP, 2.91 ERA, 63 K, 34 BB).
And when the Northwest League season ends, it’ll be our Bend Phillies against the Bellingham Mariners for that league’s title. Suffice it to say, our rookie leagues have been outstanding this season.
Game 1984-139: Busch Stadium - Cardinals 4, Phillies 3 / 58-81
Yet another blown bullpen loss. We’re up 3-2 in the eighth, but doubles off Larry Andersen end it. Obviously we need some reinforcements in 1985. Juan Samuel hits his 15th triple of the season and drives in two.
And with that loss, we have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. For just the third time since 1976, we’re staying home this October.
Sept. 6, 1984
Game 1984-140: Busch Stadium - Cardinals 3, Phillies 1 / 58-82
Danny Cox schools us with a complete game, while John Denny just gives up too much (but really not that much). Von Hayes provides all the offense with a home run, one of our three hits.
Sept. 7, 1984
Game 1984-141: Olympic Stadium - Phillies 3, Expos 2 (12) / 59-82
Paul Owens tries to give Kevin Gross a complete game, but Gary Carter hits a leadoff homer against him in the ninth to tie it up. Good relief follows from Tug McGraw, Larry Andersen and Don Carman, who registers his first career save. We win it with a Glenn Wilson RBI single in the 12th. Len Matuszek adds a homer, and Von Hayes notches three hits.
Meanwhile, a big series happening in Toronto. Detroit took the first game of this three-game set, putting them 0.5 ahead of the Blue Jays in the AL East. Yup, after absolutely throttling the American League all season, the Jays are suddenly on the outside looking in. Incredible.
Sept. 8, 1984
Game 1984-142: Olympic Stadium - Phillies 9, Expos 6 / 60-82
Our 60th win comes after a huge eighth inning. Down 3-1, we score eight to put us ahead for good. (Arturo Gonzalez makes it interesting by allowing three in the ninth). In that inning, we bring 13 men to the plate. Darren Daulton hits both an RBI double and a single; Jeff Stone notches two singles; and Mike Schmidt hits an RBI double. Ten hits total in the inning.
Meanwhile, Toronto beats Detroit thanks to a go-ahead Jesse Barfield homer in the eighth. They’re now up 0.5 games.
Sept. 9, 1984
Game 1984-143: Olympic Stadium - Phillies 7, Expos 5 / 61-82
A sweep in Montreal! We effectively end the Expos’ season, as they’re now 11 back of the Pirates (who are basically battling with the Cardinals for the flag) with 19 to play.
We start Jeff Stone in center field for the second-consecutive day, and he comes through, going 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, plus his first stolen base of the season. At this point I’ll find ways to get him more playing time (sitting Von Hayes a little more often; giving Dave Stegman periodic rests, as well). Our makeshift bullpen is able to hold it together late.
New power rankings have us 20th. The top-five:
1. Detroit Tigers - 93-50
2. St. Louis Cardinals - 84-59
3. Toronto Blue Jays - 92-50
4. Los Angeles Dodgers - 86-58
5. Pittsburgh Pirates - 85-58
Detroit took the last game in that big series against Toronto; the teams will meet one last time next weekend (Sept. 14-16) in the Motor City. The Jays have the easier schedule down the stretch - both teams play a lot of Milwaukee, but Toronto also gets the bad Red Sox, while the Tigers have to take on the above-.500 Yankees.
In the NL East, the Pirates hold a one-game lead over St. Louis. The Mets are 6.5 out and on their last legs. And in the AL West, Kansas City is holding tight to a three-game lead over Seattle. We have some good races!
Finally, tomorrow is game five of the Carolina League championship series, and Peninsula can put it away! They won games one, two and four by 15-5, 5-3, and 11-4, losing game three 2-1. Let’s go Pilots!