Fighting for the NL East Crown

The St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies had taken different paths to get there, but the two teams entered a three-game series on Monday, September 13, separated by a mere half-game. The Phils’ season got off to a rough start with Mike Schmidt on the mend form a rib fracture and ace Steve Carlton struggling mightily. Lefty lost his first four starts while posting a miserable 6.85 ERA. With Schmidt healthy and Carlton back to Hall of Fame form, the Phillies had slowly climbed back into the NL East race, tracking down the Redbirds, who had faded after a hot April. The Cardinals pitching staff was anchored by All-Star fireman Bruce Sutter, who had 31 saves under his belt. A series win by either team would swing the division lead to the victor.

In the series opener, Carlton shutout the Cards on three hits while striking out 12. Bob Forsch pitched valiantly, but the two runs he allowed were one more than Lefty needed. The game was completed in 2 hours, five minutes and catapulted the Phillies a half-game ahead of their counterparts.

Stuper vs Krukow

Another Phillies victory on September 14 would have given them a one-and-a-half game lead over St. Louis with a chance for a sweep in the finale. To prevent such an outcome, the Cards’ sent rookie John Stuper (6-6, 3.67 ERA) to the bump in opposition of tall right-hander Mike Krukow (12-9, 3.06).

After the Cards had failed to score in the first 12 innings of the series, Darrell Porter finally broke through with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth, his ninth round-tripper of the season. In the home half of the frame, Stuper worked out of a one out, bases loaded jam to keep it a 2-0 game.

Stuper breezed through the next three innings without allowing a baserunner. The Cards, meanwhile, loaded the bases in the seventh but Stuper and Tom Herr struck out to end the rally. In the eighth, Stuper allowed a one-out walk to pinch-hitter Bob Molinaro and a single to Pete Rose. With Gary Matthews and Schmidt coming up next and the Redbirds clinging to a 2-0 lead, Whitey Herzog went to his closer, Bruce Sutter.

Bruce Sutter versus Mike Schmidt

It was no secret was Sutter’s game plan was. “You know you’re going to get that split-fingered forkball 90 percent of the time and the rest fastballs inside to righthanded hitters,” said Matthews.¹ The Phils’ left fielder worked a full count before hitting a smash destined for left field. Third baseman Ken Oberkfell knocked it down and prevented Molinaro from scoring on the infield single. The bases were loaded for Schmidt, the two-time reigning National League MVP and five-time NL home run champ.

A frenzied Veteran’s Stadium crowd of 32,854 cheered as Schmidt strolled to the plate. In their two matchups earlier in the season, Schmidt had doubled each time off Sutter. Such an outcome now would tie the game or give Philadelphia the lead. Sutter jumped ahead with two quick strikes. Schmidt battled back to even the count, then tapped a weak grounder back to Sutter. The Cards closer threw home to Porter, who threw to first to double up Schmidt.

The unflappable Sutter returned to the mound in the ninth and secure his 32nd save of the season, putting the Cards back in first place, where they would remain for the rest of the season. Like the Glenn Brummer game, it was one of the turning points of the Cardinals’ championship season.

Sources:

1. Jayson Stark, “Cardinals Hang on to Win, 2-0,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 15, 1982: 57. ↩︎