Super Steve’s hot July
Steve Carlton’s amazing 1972 season intensifies as he wins six games in July. Winning streak keeps climbing.
Start #19 (10-6, 2.70)
July 3: 5th straight win, 4-2, over the Giants at the Vet; 2 hours, 8 minutes; 43,016 attendance. 9 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 2 Dave Kingman home runs. The Phillies won only eight games in June, four going to Lefty. July began 0-3 until today.
Start #20 (11-6, 2.66)
July 7, Gm 2 of doubleheader: 6th straight win, 4-2, over the Padres at the Vet. 9 innings, 9 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts.
Start #21 (12-6, 2.52)
July 11: 7th straight win, 4-1, over the Dodgers at the Vet. 18,443 for a Tuesday night. 9 innings, 5 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts.
Start #22 (12-6, 2.65)
July 15: No decision in 11-4 win over the Giants in Candlestick Park. 5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, Bobby Bonds, Chris Speier home runs. All Phillies runs came in top of 7th inning. 11 runs was their season high.
Start #23 (13-6, 2.59)
July 19: 8th straight win, 3-2, 11 innings, over the Padres in San Diego Stadium. 11 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts. Allowed one run in each of the first two innings.
“I think I’m good luck for Steve,” said Bill Robinson. “He likes to have a hitter stand in there with a bat when he warms up. I’ve done it six times since I’ve come up and he’s won six straight games.”
Start #24 (14-6, 2.48)
July 22: 9th straight win, 2-0, over the Dodgers in Dodger Stadium in 2 hours flat. 9 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts.
Won his own game with a two-out, two-run triple in the top of the 7th inning against Tommy John.
Start #25 (15-6, 2.37)
July 28: 10th straight win, 2-0, over the Cubs at the Vet on a one-out, walk-off homer in the 9th inning by Willie Montanez. Game took 1 hour, 41 minutes. 12,453 on a Friday afternoon. 9 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, 102 pitches. Joined Earl Moore (1910) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (1913) as the only Phillies pitchers to win 10 in a row.
“Same old story. Shut ‘em out and hit a home run. I only wanted one run, though. I feel spoiled this way,” said Carlton.