Phillies alumni: Lefty becomes 'Super Steve'
With May out of the way, Steve Carlton began the month of June with a no-decision. He then embarked on the greatest winning streak in Phillies history.
He became known as ¡°Super Steve¡±
Start #12 (5-6, 3.12 ERA)
June 3: First no decision as Phillies lost, 6-5, to the Reds at the Vet. 7 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, 2 home runs. Tagged for 3 runs in the seventh and 1 in the eighth with Phils up 5-0.
Start #13 (6-6, 2.99)
June 7: 3-1 win over Astros before 10,712, smallest crowd to see him at the Vet. His first win in a month ends 5-game losing streak and team¡¯s 9-game spin. 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts.
Start #14 (7-6, 2.83)
June 11: Second straight win. 3-1 against the Braves before 32,348 on Cap Day at the Vet. Complete game, 9 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts. McCarver was behind the plate for the last time as he would be traded to Montreal for C John Bateman four days later.
Start #15 (7-6, 2.60)
June 16: No decision in 1-0, 11-inning loss to the Astros in the Astrodome. 10 innings, 6 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts. Bateman caught Lefty for the first time. He would be behind the plate for Lefty the rest of the season.
Start #16 (7-6, 2.85)
June 21: Second straight no decision as Phillies rally and win with 2 runs in T9, 9-7, in Atlanta. 5 innings, 9 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts.
Start #17 (8-6, 2.66)
June 25: Third straight win, 1-0, in Montreal. 9 innings, 4 singles, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts. SS Tim Foli was hit in the head by a Carlton pitch in the fourth inning setting off a brawl as manager Gene Mauch charged the mound and threw a punch at Lefty. 1B Joe Lis was hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth. Carlton retaliated.
¡°I¡¯m sorry about Foli. I didn¡¯t mean to hit him in the head. And I¡¯m sorry about Gene Mauch. I meant to hit him all over,¡± Carlton said.
Start #18 (9-6, 2.74)
June 29: Fourth straight win, 9-4, over the Mets at the Vet. 9 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts. Tenth complete game in 18 starts. At-bat, 2 hits, 2 RBI.
¡°I felt great. I just couldn¡¯t find the plate. I went out there and tried to throw too hard. Finally, I got tired and was forced to not throw as hard,¡± Carlton said.