On May 16, 1984 — Steve Carlton lifts a grand slam, the first of his long career off Fernando Valenzuela to lead the Phillies to a 7 – 2 win over the Dodgers. Carlton had gone more than seven weeks without a victory You might say he took matters into his own hands as he recorded his first victory since opening day.

The big hit was Carlton’s first grand slam in the fourth inning.

“We haven’t been worrying about Carlton (2- 2),” said Claude Osteen, the Philadelphia pitching coach. “We were making errors, now we’re not. and the wins will start coming. It’s the same kind of start he had last year.”

The victory was the sixth in a row for the Phillies and moved them to with in 1.5 games of first place in the National League East. It also was Philadelphia’s first sweep of a three-game series in Los Angeles since September 1963.

“I knew it had been a long time,” said Philadelphia Manager Paul Owens “Just to win a series is tough These trips to the West are tough on us Eastern boys ’*

The Phils were tough on the Dodgers, who lost three in a row for the first time since the opening week Los Angeles has lost 10 of its last 14.

Fernando Valenzuela (3-5) made two bad throws, one to Carlton which landed in the right- field bleachers and one to second base that blew a double play chance.

Mike Schmidt began the Philadelphia fourth with a single. One out later, Glenn Wilson hit a tapper back to the mound. Valenzuela back- handed the ball, whirled and misfired to second, the ball rolling into center field.

The error put runners on second and third. Left fielder R.J Reynolds made a shoestring catch of a ball hit by Len Matuszek and it appeared the Dodgers might get out of the inning

However. Valenzuela hit Ozzie Virgil, loading the bases, and then walked Ivan DeJesus. forcing home the tying run. Carlton followed with his grand slam.