May 7, 1984
Game 1984-28 - Veterans Stadium: Phillies 5, Braves 4 / 12-16
After taking a 4-1 lead in the seventh, Charles Hudson allows a two-run homer in the eighth, and Al Holland surrenders a bomb in the ninth. But we get the win with a sacrifice fly walkoff in the ninth. Good news: Mike Schmidt goes 3-for-5 after a benching, while Juan Samuel triples and steals a base (but also strikes out and commits an error). Love that guy.
May 8, 1984
Sixto Lezcano tells us he’s not happy riding the pine all the time. I was hoping there’d more of a 50-50 platoon out there in right field, but we’ve seen a lot of righties so far; moreover, Joe Lefebvre (96 PA, .318/.375/.489, 10 XBH) has been too darn good to bench. I’ve given Lezcano a couple innings in left field; maybe I’ll put him out there more often, even against righties. We’ll see.
Game 1984-29 - Veterans Stadium: Braves 14, Phillies 7 / 12-17
A 5-0 lead in the fourth quickly becomes a deficit, as the Braves score 11 unanswered runs. Jerry Koosman’s ERA is now at 6.95; he’s skating on thin ice. Mike Schmidt homers, one of three hits to keep his hot streak going. And Lezcano gets two hits including a dinger, so he’ll start tomorrow.
May 9, 1984
Game 1984-30 - Astrodome: Phillies 3, Astros 1 / 13-17
Von Hayes slams a second-inning, three-run homer, and Kevin Gross strikes out seven, walks none, and allows just six hits in eight innings. With a 2.25 ERA, Gross is my best starter.
May 10, 1984
Game 1984-31 - Astrodome: Phillies 12, Astros 3 / 14-17
The offense comes alive. Schmidt goes 3-for-6 with a homer, Matuszek adds two hits, and Hayes’ 3-for-6 brings his average to .243.
May 11, 1984
Game 1984-32 - Jack Murphy Stadium: Padres 6, Phillies 3 / 14-18
A three-run, Graig Nettles home run squashes our hopes. Offense only has five hits, too.
May 12, 1984
Game 1984-33 - Jack Murphy Stadium: Phillies 7, Padres 3 / 15-18
Von Hayes (2-for-5), Greg Gross (2-for-5), and Bo Diaz (3-for-4) all have good games to back Charles Hudson.
May 13, 1984
Game 1984-34 - Jack Murphy Stadium: Padres 3, Phillies 2 / 15-19
A heartbreaker, as Al Holland blows the lead and the game in the ninth.
In the power rankings, we’ve moved up to 17th after a 4-3 week. The top five:
1. Detroit Tigers - 21-11
2. Toronto Blue Jays - 23-12
3. Kansas City Royals - 20-13
4. Montreal Expos - 22-14
5. Milwaukee Brewers - 20-14
The Tigers and Blue Jays have great weeks; that AL East race looks ridiculous, with Toronto, Detroit, Milwaukee, Boston and Baltimore all at .571 or better. Both the AL and NL west division races are weak, with Kansas City and the Dodgers, respectively, outclassing their rivals.