Baseball Game of the Week - July 31

Each Saturday this blog will feature a "Game of the Week." I wish I had the NBC Game of the Week theme song from the mid-70s. The first game will feature the Philadelphia Phillies vs. the surprising New York Mets. The Mets lead the NL East by 7 1/2 games, mostly due to phenomenal pitching from their starting rotation.

Larry Christenson  (8-5, 3.29 ERA) starts for the Phillies and he is opposed by Jon Matlack (11-8, 2.75 ERA).

Dave Cash opened the game with a single but was thrown out trying to steal second. After Larry Bowa grounded out Mike Schmidt doubled and Greg Luzinski walked but Ollie Brown grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first Jim Dwyer walked and was sacrificed to second by Bruce Boisclair. Dwyer went to third on John Milner's groundout and scored on a single by Ed Kranepool. Mets 1, Phillies 0

In the top of the third Christenson and Cash grounded out. With two out Bowa and Schmidt hit back to back doubles. Luzinski was walked intentionally and Brown singled to load the bases. Garry Maddox singled to score Schmidt and Luzinski. Phillies 3, Mets 1


The Mets answered right back in the bottom of the third. Dwyer walked, advanced to third on a single by Boisclair, and scored on a John Milner single. Kranepool loaded the bases with a single but Ron Hodges popped out, Mike Phillips struck out, and Rod Staiger popped out to end the inning. Phillies 3, Mets 2.

Bud Harrelson led off the bottom of the fourth with a double. Matlack tried to sacrifice but Harrelson was thrown out at third base. Dwyer followed with a triple to score Matlack and then scored on a single by Boisclair. Boisclair stole second, went to third on a grounder by Milner, and scored on a wild pitch. Mets 5, Phillies 3.

In the bottom of the 5th Hodges walked and scored on a triple by Harrelson. Mets 6, Phillies 3

Garry Maddox doubled to lead off the top of the 6th. He went to third on a fly ball and scored on a wild pitch. Mets 6, Phillies 4

In the top of the 7th Cash singled but it looked like he would be stranded when Bowa flew out and Schmidt struck out. Luzinski singled to send Cash to third and Brown singled to score Cash and put runners on first and second. Jay Johnstone came in as a pinch runner for Luzinski. Maddox cleared the bases with a double. Phillies 7, Mets 6.

It looked like the Phillies would be able to hang on and win in the bottom of the 9th. Tug McGraw was brought in to face the lefty-heavy Mets lineup. Boisclair singled and Milner walked. Kranepool singled and Boisclair was able to score on a throwing error by McGraw. Hodges singled to score Milner and win the game for the Mets. Mets 8, Phillies 7.

The Mets now lead the Phillies by 8 1/2 games.

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