June 24, 1985
First thing in the morning is a call from Tim Terzic: Clearwater swept a doubleheader Sunday against Winter Haven, winning the two games by a total of 11-2, and guess who pitched one of those games? Oh boy.
In game one, Blaise Ilsley’s first inning: groundout, single, wild pitch, balk, strikeout, passed ball, strikeout.
The rest of his outing: groundout, strikeout, groundout, groundout, groundout, fly out, groundout, groundout, fly out, fly out, strikeout, strikeout, groundout, groundout, strikeout, fly out, strikeout, groundout, fly out, groundout, groundout, groundout, strikeout, fly out.
His game-one line: 9 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 8 K, 0 BB (WP, BK).
His five starts since being promoted to Clearwater:
- June 3 - 9 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 11 K, 0 BB, 94 GSC
- June 8 - 9 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 13 K, 1 BB, 83 GSC
- June 13 - 9 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB, 81 GSC
- June 18 - 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 8 K, 0 BB, 89 GSC
- June 23 - 9 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 8 K, 0 BB, 91 GSC
That’s five complete games, two earned runs, 16 hits allowed, 48 strikeouts, three walks, and a 0.40 ERA, a 5-0 record, and 2.6 WAR. In a month. Also, an average game score of 87.6.
My organization’s top five in WAR:
1. Mike Schmidt (MLB, 1B) - 4.2
2. Mike Miller (A, SP) - 3.2
3. Kevin Gross (MLB, SP) - 3.1
4. Pat Adams (AA, 1B) - 3.0
5. Blaise Ilsley in Clearwater (5 GS) - 2.6
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37. Blaise Ilsley in Spartanburg (9 GS) - 1.3
Clearwater now heads into the half-season break, and we’re now talking about moving Ilsley to Reading immediately.
June 25, 1985
Mike Schmidt is getting the day off in this first of three against St. Louis, and that means Paul Molitor bats cleanup for the first time all season. Let’s get weird for a game.
Game 1985-67: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 3, Cardinals 1 / 45-22
Charles Hudson does the job, scattering eight singles over 7.1 innings while striking out four. Larry Andersen and Bill Campbell hold it down. Paul Molitor notches an RBI double from the cleanup spot. Darren Daulton adds an RBI double, and Von Hayes contributes an RBI triple.
June 26, 1985
Juan Samuel is having a bad year at the plate (.232/.269/.390). Time to give him a few days off.
Game 1985-68: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 4, Cardinals 0 / 46-22
On a roll now. John Denny turns in one of his better performances of the season, giving up five hits and two walks in 7.1 innings, baffling Cardinal hitters with his off-speed and breaking stuff. Plus, he rips a two-run double off Joaquin Andujar to put us up. And the Samuel benching pays off, as Bill Lyons goes 2-for-2 with a walk, swatting his first home run of the season. He’ll get another day out there.
Around the league, Houston’s Terry Puhl’s 23-game hitting streak came to a close. I believe that was the longest of 1985, so far.
June 27, 1985
It’s a getaway day, so I get in earlier than usual, as does Dick. And just after he arrives, I’m informed he’s coming over with Tug McGraw. Minutes later, Tugger is sitting across from me with a tear in his eye. He’s decided to hang it up after the season.
It hasn’t been a great season for him (18.2 IP, 7.23 ERA, 8 K, 15 BB), as he’s been relegated to mop-up and non-essential duty. He knows it, too, but he wants to do what he can to help the team win. So he’s on board until season’s end - if it’s possible - and I tell him we’ll honor that and keep him rostered. He’s grateful, then decides he wants to call a small press conference when the beat writers get to the yard. He wants to let the guys know first, so we all head down to the clubhouse together as he makes an emotional speech.
“And hey, we’re having a hell of a year, but them damn Expos are right there. Let’s turn up that heat and take the crown; I want another ****ing ring!”
The boys are stoked, some sad - Schmidty and Larry Andersen, most notably. Tugger then calls the small conference outside the clubhouse.
“I pride myself on my work ethic, and I hope I rubbed off on my teammates and continue to rub off on the team after I’m gone,” he says.
Tugger, 40, spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Mets, helping them win the 1969 world championship. He came to Philadelphia in 1975, was the closer in 1980, and was on the hill when the team won it all in 1980. This is his 11th season with the Phillies.
Game 1985-69: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 2, Cardinals 1 / 47-22
Woo! Big sweep of St. Louis, and once again, Bill Lyons: In the sixth, in a newly tied affair, he singles home Glenn Wilson to put us ahead for good. Kevin Gross improves to 11-0, striking out seven in eight strong. He has to be making waves in the Cy Young conversation. A good win in honor of Tugger, and we move to one up over the still-hot Expos (30-7 since May 19).
And now it’s on to Montreal for a huge three.
Over at Wrigley Field, the wind was blowing, and man oh man. The Mets jumped out to an 8-0 lead against Chicago’s Scott McGregor, with Darryl Strawberry hitting a grand slam, Keith Hernandez swatting a three-run blast, and Hubie Brooks adding a solo shot. They get it to 10-2, and then the Cubs start chipping away.
It’s 10-4 in the seventh when four consecutive hits put the Cubs within three. Then in the eighth, Leon Durham hits a big two-run double, and Joe Carter hits a two-run single, to put Chicago up 11-10. It’s 12-10 in the ninth when closer Lee Smith allows three consecutive hits, putting runners on first and third with one out in a 12-11 game and Strawberry at the dish. The reigning MVP swings first pitch … and grounds into the 6-4-3 to end it. Brutal loss for the Mets, and a fun win for the basement-dwelling Cubbies.
Also today:
- SP Blaise Ilsley promoted to AA Reading
Giddy up.