Atlantic City Press - April 23, 1980
Moreland’s Pinch Hit Sparks Phils
Phila. 14, N.Y. 8
By Howard Gottlieb, Press Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA – Keith Moreland learned the virtues of baseball Tuesday night. With one swing of the bat, he upped a .000 batting average to .500. With the same flick of his wrist, he lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 14-8 come-from-behind win over the New York Mets.
Philadelphia manager Dallas Green sent Moreland to the plate with Larry Bowa on second and Luis Aguayo on first in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“I just tried to make some contact with the ball," said Moreland, who slammed the slider for a two run double to break an 8-8 deadlock.
"His (Met pitcher John Pacella) first few pitches were really effective. So I choked up a little. After I hit it, I just took off."
Pete Rose and Garry Maddox both walked to load the bases. Then Mike Schmidt blasted his second home run of the night, an arcing bullet that landed in the left field bleachers.
"Every ball we hit tonight was crushed," said Green. "There would have had to be an awfully strong wind to hold up the balls that Bull and Schmitty hit out of here."
The wind was gusting strongly toward home plate, but it was the Mets who nearly blew the Phillies away.
The New Yorkers exploded for six runs in the top of the second. Steve Henderson singled to lead off the rally. Jerry Morales walked, then Elliott Maddox smashed a long double to center field, which knocked in two runs.
Doug Flynn singled, and Mets starter Tom Hausman grounded into a double play. But the Mets kept flying.
Frank Tavaras doubled to left, and four consecutive singles put the Mets in front 6-2.
Schmidt put the Phils on top with a two-run homer to left field after Maddox doubled in the first inning.
"There are times when you can't wake sleeping dogs in this game," said Green. "But tonight was a little different than last night (when the Mets blanked the Phils 3-0). I just hope no one asks any tough questions. Because I don't know what happened."
The Phils picked away at the Met lead, scoring a run in the third inning when Pete Rose hit a sacrifice fly to knock in pitcher Scott Munninghoff, who tripled in his first major league at bat.
George Vukovich also stepped up to the plate for the first time this season last night and he also smashed a three-bagger.
His triple led off a four-run fifth inning. Rose walked. Bake McBride singled home Vukovich, then Greg Luzinski fired the ball over the center field wall to tie the score, 8-8.
"I crushed that ball," said Luzinski. "When I hit it, there was no doubt in my mind it was going. It was a fast ball, and I just attacked it."
After picking up 13 hits in his first six innings, the Mets went cold, settling for only one more single.
"Everyone did their job tonight," said Green. "Moreland, (Dickey) Noles, and Vukovich all pitched in. And Schmitty pitched in a hell of a lot. I'd say it was a total team effort. Wouldn't you?"
Leading 6-3 after three full innings, the Mets scored two more runs on two hits. Lee Mazzilli walked, and went to third on a Joel Youngblood double down the third baseline. Henderson smashed a deep sacrifice fly ball to center field and Mazzilli scored from third. Morales followed with a line drive single to right field, Youngblood charged home from third for the Mets eighth run.
The Phillies answered back in the bottom of the fourth, with one run. Luzinski singled deep left field. Catcher Bob Boone doubled, and Luzinski advanced to third base. Then Bowa hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Luzinski and moving Boone to third. But Aguayo flew out to left to end the inning.
"It was a very good game to win." said Luzinski. "After last night, this should give us a little lift."