Wilmington News Journal - April 26, 1980
Green sees red as Cards triumph
By Ray Finocchiaro, Staff Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA – George "Don't Quote Me" Hendrick hit two home runs and Phillie-killer Pete Vuckovich made them stand up in the St. Louis Cardinals' 3-1 victory last night at Veterans Stadium.
But Phils' Manager Dallas Green didn't want to hear any "good pitching beats good hitting" alibis when it was over. In fact, Green didn't want to hear ANY excuses, period.
"We seem to wait until the last bleeping minute to get anything going!" Green said of the bases-loaded, ninth-inning rally that couldn't produce a run against relievers Bob Sykes and Mark Littell, featuring two Phils tagged out at the plate on less-than-slam-bang plays.
"Then people say what a great team we have. Well, one of these days we'll have to put things together early and often... if we're as good as we say we are."
Green seemed particularly displeased with the play of Bake McBride, who opened the ninth with a pinch single to center, then barely made it to second when Del Unser followed with a pinch single to right.
"He would've helped the team if he'd have gone from first to third on that play,” Green said.
After Pete Rose advanced the runners with his first sacrifice as a Phillie, Sykes replaced Vuckovich and Greg Gross drilled a ball back to the mound that handcuffed the pitcher. Sykes still was able to recover and toss McBride out at the plate. Bake had broken into a trot about 15 feet from the plate.
"Apparently he's favoring his knee. Green said of McBride. "It's amazing that 6ne guy can almost get his arm torn off and still play…”
That would be Rose, who fell to the ground after tagging out Tim Herr in the eighth. Rose winced in pain as his left arm recoiled from the tag, then fell to the ground with a hyperextended elbow.
"That hurts like hell," said Green. "That's one of a first baseman's worst fears."
Green saw HIS worst fears continue after Garry Maddox walked to load the bases with two out.
St. Louis manager Ken Boyer brought in relief ace Littell to face Mike Schmidt, who hit a chopper down the third-base line. Catcher Ted Simmons gobbled it up, then tagged Unser coming down the line to end the game.
Schmidt, saying he'd "like that last at-bat over," said it was just one of those game against Vuckovich, who has beaten the Phillies seven straight times.
"I guarantee there isn't any negative thinking," said Schmidt. "The guy's got a good motion, puts spin on the ball and gets the ball over the plate when he has to. It's not the first time good pitching has beaten good hitting on this club and it won't be the last."