In 80 innings pitched, Downs collected a 5.62 earned run average (ERA), walking 26 batters and allowing 103 hits.

[8] Downs made his major league debut on September 2 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in the second game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.

Downs allowed eight hits in the contest, walking one batter and striking out two; he pitched a complete-game shutout to earn his first major league victory.

[10][11] Downs took his first loss against the New York Mets on September 13, allowing three runs in three innings pitched; the game's winner was future Phillie Tug McGraw.

[12] He pitched in one more game for the Phillies, a four-inning start against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 19,[13] before he injured his shoulder and was deactivated for the season.

[19] Downs threw four pitches: a standard four-seam fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider, whose development he credited to his Spartanburg manager—Hall of Famer, Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame member, and perfect game pitcher Jim Bunning.