April 22, 1985
Off to Montreal for three.
Game 1985-12: Olympic Stadium - Expos 2, Phillies 1 / 10-2
Bill Gullickson is wicked, striking out nine while surrendering six hits. Dave Stegman gets our one RBI, and good news, Darren Daulton finally notches a hit. John Denny pitches well in seven innings, but a two-run Gary Carter double is too much.
April 23, 1985
Game 1985-13: Olympic Stadium - Phillies 2, Expos 0 / 11-2
Charles Hudson, Donnie Moore, Larry Andersen, and Bill Campbell team up for a four-hit shutout of the Expos. Dave Stegman knocks a solo home run, while Mike schmidt stays hot with an RBI single in the third.
Over in San Diego, Bill Buckner racked up his 2,000th career hit in a 4-3 win over Atlanta, who is 1-12. Whoa.
April 24, 1985
Game 1985-14: Olympic Stadium - Expos 5, Phillies 4 / 11-3
We lose our first series, but not for a lack of trying. Mike Schmidt (2-for-3) socks his sixth home run to even the score at 4-4 in the eighth, but Don Carman gives up the go-ahead run in the bottom half. We’ve been a bit uneven in the bullpen, with Donnie Moore, Larry Andersen, and Bill Campbell getting too much work, and Carman not enough. I think today’s outcome proved he needs more work to stay fresh.
April 25, 1985
Off-day, so let’s check in for the first time with our farm system.
The AAA Portland Beavers are 6-2 on the early going, headlined by 3B Rick Schu (.406/.457/.656, 4 XBH, 7 RBI). Jeff Stone is doing his thing (.333/.378/.455, 3 XBH, 4 SB), and LF Chris James has been solid (.276/.364/.448, 3 XBH). On the mound, Mike Maddux has settled in (16.2 IP, 2.16 ERA, 7 K, 7 BB), and Kelly Downs has been acceptable (16 IP, 3.94 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB). The bullpen hasn’t had much work - only Paul Assenmacher (5.2 IP, 3.18 ERA, 8 K, 1 BB).
The AA Reading Phillies are 6-9. 1B Pat Adams, who we picked up in the Jamie Easterly trade, has been scorching hot (.368/.463/.667, 8 XBH, 11 K, 8 BB). LF Keith Hughes has also picked it up (.296/.387/.481, 9 XBH, 13 K, 7 BB) after a tough start in AA last year. William Jester has pitched well in his second stint in Reading (30.1 IP, 4.15 ERA, 17 K, 11 BB), but Tim Belcher has walked far too many (25 IP, 3.96 ERA, 9 K, 20 BB).
A Clearwater is 8-2, led by 2B Keith Miller (.385/.529/.564, 5 XBH, 3K, 12 BB). 3B Howard Nichols has three early home runs and a .735 slugging percentage, and CF Luis Polonia has kept right going (.304/.377/.435, 4 XBH, 6 K, 6 BB). Shawn Barton has been terrific on the mound (17 IP, 2.65 ERA, 15 K, 4 BB).
A Peninsula is 6-13. 1B Ronnie Gideon has been the top player out there (.304/.378/.658, 12 XBH, 23 RBI, 14 K, 10 BB), and LF Keith Ross has also stunned (.355/.481/.548, 7 XBH, 12 K, 15 BB). The only starter carrying the load right now is Kevin Coker, who has a 4.20 ERA, 20 K and 10 BB in 30 IP. 1984 first-round pick Pete J Smith has struggled (24 IP, 7.50 ERA, 12 K, 16 BB).
And A Spartanburg is 4-4, led by pitching. Offensively, only CF Scott Hufford has done well (.292/.485/.583, 3 XBH, 2 SB). 1985 second-round pick Blaise Ilsley has been superb (16.1 IP, 3.31 ERA, 18 K, 4 BB).
Meanwhile, Sixto Lezcano of the Cubs is on the waiver wire. Oof.
April 26, 1985
Speaking of the Cubs, they’re in town for three.
Got some bad news from Spartanburg: 22nd round pick David Blakley tore his flexor tendon. The elbow injury puts him out for the year, and probably a bit into 1986. At 21, this is a big setback for the reliever with a good fastball and curve. Really sucks.
And in the majors, Seattle pitcher Rick Waits has an elbow injury taking him out for 1985 and a portion of the ‘86 season. The 32-year-old was signed a a free agent and pitched well before suffering his injury in his third start.
Back to the Cubs: We’re facing a lefty today, so UL Washington goes to the two-hole. Also, Mike Diaz starts for Glenn Wilson, and Tommy Thompson is back in for Darren Daulton, who now has two hits this season.
Game 1985-15: Veterans Stadium - Cubs 4, Phillies 2 / 11-4
After starting the season 10-1, we’ve gone 1-3. Joe Carter hits a three-run home run in the first, and that’s all they need. Otherwise, on a rainy night when there’s a 27-minute delay, Scott Sanderson pitches well (6.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 8 K, 2 BB).
April 27, 1985
Dick Howser is giving Mike Schmidt a rest for Mike Diaz. Steve Carlton is on the mound.
Game 1985-16: Veterans Stadium - Cubs 9, Phillies 4 / 11-5
We have a 4-2 lead in the seventh when Steve Carlton implodes, giving up four earned. A Ron Cey pinch-hit double really hurts. Tough to lose this series.
April 28, 1985
Game 1985-17: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 6, Cubs 1 / 12-5
A necessary win, as John Denny throws 8.1 solid innings. Von Hayes goes 5-for-5 with two doubles, while Darren Daulton hits a very satisfying three-run homer.
At AAA Portland, SP John Machin goes down with a herniated disk, a six-week injury.
No awards for us this week, and as for the power rankings:
1. Cincinnati Reds - 14-5
2. Milwaukee Brewers - 12-5
3. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - 12-5
4. Boston Red Sox - 12-6
5. Los Angeles Dodgers - 13-7
The Reds are pretty wild. C Butch Wynegar, who was just named NL Player of the Week, has a .435 OBP, while 23-year-old starter Jay Tibbs has a 0.75 ERA in 24 innings, and closer John Franco has a scoreless 10 innings to his name. But the weird thing: Pete Rose, who announced back in 1984 that he was retiring at season’s end, decided to come back and is 4-for-9 with his old team. I guess he couldn’t remove that bandage.