Opening Day in the 1981 season replay. 162 games here, no strike!
Traditional Opening Day from Riverfront Stadium. Phillies vs Reds. The Reds finished with the best record in the National League (66-42) but yet didn’t make a playoff appearance. The Phillies won the first half in the East and made the playoffs.
Opening Day starters is Steve Carlton (Grade 18) vs Mario Soto (Grade 13).
Phillies brought their bats. Pete Rose leads off the year with a triple down the 1st base line. After a strike out Gary Matthews takes a Soto change up over the left field wall. The score would remain 2-0 until the 5th when Bake McBride would double in Rose and would come home himself on a sac fly from Matthews.
In the seventh the Phillies would continue the offense with 3 more runs. Mike Schmidt, Garry Maddox, and Bob Boone with RBI. This would be more than enough for Carlton as he would only give up 2 runs late in the ninth before giving way to Sparky Lyle.
Final Score: Phillies 8, Reds 2
WP: Steve Carlton (1-0)
LP: Mario Soto (0-1)
HR’s: Phillies – Gary Matthews (1)
Season will resume after 1978 Tournament concludes. Also have 1984 Playoff Replay on tap.
Happy New Year to you all!