Keeping Score: 1980 World Series Game 2

Here is the next game in my "keeping score" feature on the 1980 World Series. This game was played on October 15th, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Game 2 began as a pitchers' duel between left-handers Larry Gura of the Kansas City Royals and Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies. Gura had a perfect game going for the first four innings and neither team scored a run until the 5th inning.

The Phillies had a 2-1 lead, and Carlton, while not as sharp as he typically was, looked in control. The Royals looked like they were facing an uphill battle after their all-star 3B George Brett had to be removed in the middle of the game because of hemorrhoids. However, with his pitch count closing in on 150, Carlton loaded the bases in the 7th inning on three walks. Royals CF Amos Otis continued his hot streak when he ripped a double into the left field corner driving in two, and eventually scored Kansas City's fourth (and final run).

Down 4–2 in the bottom of the 8th, the Phillies rallied on Dan Quisenberry to take a 6-4 lead. The big hits in this inning came on a game-tying pinch-hit RBI double by Del Unser and a go ahead chopped single by Bake McBride past the drawn in infield. Mike Schmidt drove in an insurance run with a double off the right-center field wall to score McBride just before the throw reached the plate. Ron Reed pitched the 9th inning and picked up the save as Philadelphia went up 2–0 heading to Kansas City.

ROYALS SCOREBOOK

PHILLIES SCOREBOOK