Hey, folks: Big update here. I've been meaning to fill out that first post so people can easily navigate - getting to that today!
Sept. 23, 1985
Two games coming against the Mets. Dick Howser believes in Joe Johnson and thinks we should do two more turns with a five-man rotation, and then we can play with that final off day. Johnson will need to give us 60 or so great pitches, and then we’ll go with a number of relievers (this time no Mike Maddux). Offensively, Dave Concepcion starts, as does Bill Lyons at second base and Tony Armas in center field. Alright then.
Game 1985-150: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 8, Mets 4 / 89-61
A gritty, big-time win. Joe Johnson allows just one run despite seven hits allowed in four innings. Then it’s Todd Worrell, who lets up two runs to give the Mets a 3-2 lead in the fifth. In the sixth, however, we come alive thanks to a Mike Schmdt RBI single, then a few batters later, a UL Washington pinch-hit grand slam. Biggest hit he’s had since joining the club. Paul Assenmacher and Bill Campbell close it out. Our strategy pays off.
Montreal wins and stays two up.
Sept. 24, 1985
Guys are tired right now. Paul Molitor gets a day off, with Bill Lyons moving to third. Need pitching tonight.
Game 1985-151: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 7, Mets 2 / 90-61
We get pitching. John Denny goes the distance, striking out eight, walking two, and allowing two hits and two runs to improve to 15-9 with a 2.59 ERA. UL Washington again strikes big with a triple and two RBI. Bill Lyons walks three times, proving a catalyst. And three of our first four runs were bases-loaded walks via Rick Aguilera. We’ll take it.
And finally, Montreal loses a game. We’re one back once more. We haven’t been tied in a while, so let’s hope.
Sept. 25, 1985
In the Florida State League, the Clearwater club is awaiting the winner of the Daytona Beach vs. Fort Lauderdale series. They swept Fort Myers thanks in part to Gregg Jefferies (.688/.722/1.063), who took home series MVP honors. Yup, in four games he went 11-for-16.
Detroit is still up one on Toronto in the AL East, while Seattle increases its AL West lead over Kansas City to 3.5 games. Two against St. Louis. Here we go.
Game 1985-152: Busch Stadium - Phillies 4, Cardinals 3 / 91-61
Did our boys ever play this one!
We get down 2-1 in the fifth after a Ken Oberkfell home run, but in the seventh, Juan Samuel bangs a huge RBI triple to tie it up. An inning later, we put two on with two out, and Paul Molitor pops one foul that Andy Van Slyke drops. A huge error, as Molitor comes right back to single in both runs. Huge hit for Paul in a second half littered with them. Scott Sanderson (8 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 3 K, 2 BB) gives up a third St. Louis run, but Larry Andersen slams the door. Goodness.
Montreal wins to stay up one. Exhale.
Sept. 26, 1985
A lot of talk in Houston that Dickie Thon is playing his last games as an Astro. He has only hit .256 this season in 236 plate appearances (performance related; no injuries) and is a free agent after 1987. I’d imagine a non-contending team might want to take a look.
Game 1985-153: Busch Stadium - Phillies 7, Cardinals 2 / 92-61
Yes! A two-game sweep in St. Louis. Charles Hudson pitches a complete game, surrendering two runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out eight. Tony Armas has a big game, hitting his first home run as a Phillie, as well as a double, and Mike Schmidt knocks No. 33. Juan Samuel hits a big homer, too, driving in two as he ups his average to .245.
It’s our seventh-straight win, and there’s that big run I just begged for the day before it started.
And ladies and gentlemen, the Montreal Expos lost, meaning
we’re tied for the National League East division lead with nine games left to play. The season has reset.
Here. We. Go.
Sept. 27, 1985
On to Wrigley. Nine games left.
Game 1985-154: Wrigley Field - Cubs 4, Phillies 3 / 92-62
Shoot. Steve Carlton stays in a bit too long, allowing a seventh-inning home run to Jody Davis to tie it up. Erases home runs by Juan Samuel and Darren Daulton. In the ninth, a Dave Martinez single scores Steve Kemp, who had doubled.
Montreal loses, as well, so we’re still tied.
Sept. 28, 1985
Joe Johnson day, one last time. Godspeed.
Game 1985-155: Wrigley Field - Phillies 6, Cubs 2 / 93-62
Joe Johnson! He goes 4.1 IP, giving up two runs on five hits, doing exactly what he has to do to keep us in the game. He leaves with the game tied, thanks to two Terry Puhl RBI singles. After him, Don Carman (1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 2 BB), Bill Campbell (1 IP), and Kent Tekulve (2 IP, 3 H, 1 K). UL Washington (a red-light player for us) hits a big two-run home run to help put it away.
And guess what? Montreal loses to St. Louis,
putting us in first place for the first time in more than two months. Seven games to go and a one-game lead in the division. Wow!
Sept. 29, 1985
Clearwater begins the Florida State League Championship Series tomorrow. That’s a five-day layoff between games, though it felt like 15.
Mike Schmidt is tired. Very tired. John Denny on the bump.
Game 1985-156: Wrigley Field - Phillies 7, Cubs 6 / 94-62
Hoo baby! A tight-rope walk in this one. We get down 3-1 early thanks in part to a Mel Hall home run. Then comes the fifth - tired but wired Schmidty hits a two-run triple, and a Cub error on a Juan Samuel grounder scores him. Then, Tony Armas slams a two-run homer. The Cubs strike a few more times to tie it up in the seventh, but in the ninth, Juan Samuel doubles off Lee Smith to score Schmidt. Larry Andersen notches his ninth save.
By the way, hell of an effort by Schmidty, who badly wants this team to cross the finish line in first.
We hold the one-game lead over Montreal, and our magic number is six. Next up is the biggest three games of the 1985 season.
If we sweep the Expos, we win the division with that final victory. Anything less means a dogfight in those final three. Here are the scenarios:
- Phillies win 3-0: Phillies up 4, win division
- Phillies win 2-1: Phillies up 2
- Expos win 2-1: Division tied
- Expos win 3-0: Expos up 2
Obviously, our goal is to win all three, but two of three would be great.
The season’s final power rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers - 99-56
2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - 94-62
3. Toronto Blue Jays - 97-59
4. San Diego Padres - 83-72
5. Montreal Expos - 93-63
The Padres? Well, they’re in the midst of a 10-game winning streak. They started that streak barely above .500, and now they have the fourth-best record in the National League. A team to watch for 1986, it seems.
Meanwhile, check out that AL East. The Tigers self-destruct down the stretch, losing 10 of their last 13 to the Yankees and Red Sox. But all could change in a New York minute, as Detroit hosts Toronto for three starting Tuesday. The eyes of the baseball world will be on Montreal and the Motor City this week.