Phightin’s sweep Redbirds

Cardinals have lost 5 straight and 9 of 12, while the Phillies are on a rampage. Phils totally dominate in this series - Cardinals never really in it and never had the lead during the entire series!  - quote attributed to Cardinal manager Bike Mike after the series.

8/22 - Busch Memorial Stadium
Phillies 4, Cardinals 2
Robin Robers vs Curt Simmons
Chalk this one up to the Phightin's pen not allowing a run, while the Cards pen gave up 2.  A Garry Maddox sac fly in the 8th broke a 2-2 deadlock.  A Mike Schmidt solo shot to lead off the 9th gave Philly a 2 run lead.  Jim Konstanty got the win and Tug McGraw posted his 6th save with a perfect 9th.

8/23 - Phillies 5, Cardinals 2
Terry Mulholland vs Bob Gibson
Terry Mulholland (3-0, 1.88) continues to surprise and confound the NL with his dominant pitching performances.  1 run and 6 k's over 6 innings is as good as it gets for Philly's "other" lefty.  Cardinal starter, HOF'er Bob Gibson was not his dominant self at all.  Battlin' Larry Bowa went 3 for 5 and scored 2 runs.  Greg Luzinski hit his first homer of the year as a pinch hitter.  Ken Boyer and Ted Simmons would combine for 4 of St. Louis' 6 hits.  Boyer would score both Cardinal runs.

8/24 - Phillies 9, Cardinals 0
Chris Short vs Steve Carlton
A 4 hit shutout by Chris Short would be the story of the day.  Short, who was 0-2 heading into the game with an inflated ERA finally gave his team the pitching performance they were expecting. Philly's offense bombarded St. Louis to the point of submission.  Johnny Callison had a 3 for 5 day to boost his season average to an unbelievable .517.  Mike Schmidt homered for the 7th time this season and is still shockingly hitting 7th.