Schmidt's Slams Sink Reds

Mike Schmidt socked two homers to back Steve Carlton's complete game gem as the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies dumped the 1961 Cincinnati Reds 6-1 in Game 5 of their ALCS. The Phillies are now one win away from meeting the 1961 New York Yankees in the World Series.

Carlton fired 103 pitches with 74 landing in the strike zone

Carlton and Schmidt were a dynamic duo in that 1980 championship season. The 30-year-old Schmidt had a career year in homers and RBI in 1980 smashing 48 dingers and driving in 121 runs. Mike also landed his first National League MVP award that season and his fifth of ten Gold Gloves. Steve Carlton was in the twilight of his remarkable career in 1980, but the 35-year-old went 24-9 that season with a 2.34 ERA winning his third Cy Young award.

Schmidt made the Crosley Field crowd uneasy right off the hop pounding his first homer of the game - a two-run missile to center off Reds' starter Joey Jay. Pete Rose led off the game with his first of two hits, and Schmidt brought him in to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. Cincinnati cut the lead in half as Eddie Kasko drove a solo shot to left. Kasko was not known for his power hitting only 2 homers in 1961, but his steady play garnered him an all-star selection that season. Kasko had another chance in the fifth to do damage. With two out, Jay lined a single to right to turn the line up over. Leadoff man Don Blasingame singled to put runners on first and second, but Kasko popped up to Philly second baseman Manny Trillo to end the inning.

For the next five innings, Jay and Carlton were embroiled in a pitching duel. Jay was an all-star in 1961 winning 21 games to lead the Reds' staff and gave the Phillies all they could handle. Jay had his curveball working picking up 6 strikeouts, but in the seventh, he would be ironically chased from the game by Carlton. Hall of Fame Cincinnati right fielder Frank Robinson had already made two tremendous catches in this game, but he went to the well once too often. After retiring Bob Boone and Manny Trillo, Carlton's spot came up and Philadelphia manager Dallas Green decided to stay with "Lefty". Carlton ripped a low liner to right, and Robinson made an ill-advised play on the ball laying out for yet another sparkling grab. The ball snuck under his glove and rolled to the wall to put Carlton on second base. That would be all for Jay, and Jay Hook was brought into the game.

The Reds gave Rose a free pass to get to Larry Bowa, but Bowa made them pay poking an RBI single to center off Hook to score Carlton. It would be one and done for Hook as Howie Nunn came on to face Mike Schmidt. Schmidt then put the contest to bed ripping a three-run homer to left.