Phenomenal Pitching Seasons

Steve Carlton 1972 Philadelphia Phillies

April 15, 1972. vs. Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field

Philadelphia 2 Chicago 1

WP- Steve Carlton (1-0) LP- Ferguson Jenkins

HR-Deron Johnson; Billy Williams

Real Life: 8IP, 2R, 4H, 5K, 2BB. W-(1-0)

Replay: 8.33IP, 1R, 7H, 5K, 3BB, HR. W-(1-0)

Steve Carlton starts his ’72 replay with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on opening day. This was a great battle between two ace pitchers. A case could be made that Jenkins had the stronger individual effort. He went the full nine innings, allowed just two runs on four hits, struck out 13 and walked just one batter. Yet he allowed the go ahead run to score on a wild pitch. Carlton gave up just one run, a solo homer by Billy Williams in the bottom of the first. However, he gave up seven hits, fanned five and issued three walks. The first two runs in the game came on solo homeruns, Williams for the Cubs and Deron Johnson, for the Phillies. What would prove to be the winning run came in the top of the eighth. Denny Doyle doubled, then was sacrificed to third by Carlton. A wild pitch by Jenkins plated Doyle with Philadelphia’s second and eventual, winning run.