Carman debuted as a reliever, earning a save in his first ML appearance, but was converted to a starter prior to the 1986 All-Star Break, and finished the season 10-5, 3.22. He broke his pitching thumb in a January 1987 auto accident and surrendered a Phillies club-record 34 HR the following season while winning a career-high 13 games. Carman would spend one more year as a full-time starter for Philadelphia before returning to the bullpen during the 1989 season, when he led the NL with 15 losses (13 of them coming in his 20 starts). He won six games and saved one other while making all but one of his 59 appearances as a reliever in 1990, and finished up his career by pitching in 28 games for the Reds in 1991 and two games for the Rangers in 1992.
(SG)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 20, 1986:
Philadelphia's Don Carman pitches a perfect game until Bob Brenly doubles leading off the 9th, and Carman ends up combining with Steve Bedrosian for a 10-inning 1–0 win over the Giants. Juan Samuel's home run in the top of the 10th provides the game's only run, the 2nd time in Phils' history that an extra inning homer has won a 1–0 game (Northey, 1944).