Reading Eagle - August 20, 1980

Bowa’s Bat Lifts Phils

 

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Fortunately for the Philadelphia Phillies, shortstop Larry Bowa’s bat has been larger than his mouth in the last five games.

 

Bowa is another in that growing legion of athletes who refuses to discuss his performances with the media. He is angry about a story that exposed him to some national attention he felt was unwarranted.

 

However, the infielder drove in two runs Tuesday night, including the winner, in a 7-4 triumph over the San Diego Padres.

 

The Padres had jumped to 3-0 lead off Phillies’ righthander Dick Ruthven. Gene Richards singled, and on a pickoff attempt continued to third on a throwing error. He scored on an infield out.

 

Then Dave Winfield singled, took second on an infield out and scored on Jerry Mumphrey’s single. Mumphrey, who stole his 26th and 27th bases since June 2, scored on Luis Salazar’s single after that first steal.

 

Green Concerned

 

“Sure I was concerned,” said Phillies’ manager Dallas Green. “I didn’t know if Dick would get his act together. He was struggling with everything. Fortunately we came back and he (Ruthven) kept us tight.”

 

Ruthven actually went seven innings, gave up six hits and earned his 11th victory against eight losses, with help from reliever Tug McGraw, who was credited with his 13th save.

 

The Phillies picked up a run in the second on Bake McBride’s double and a Bowa single. They got another in the third on a pair of singled around an infield out, and a third in the fourth as Bob Boone doubled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly.

 

The Padres went ahead 4-3 in the top of the fourth on Salazar’s triple and a sacrifice fly.

 

Trillo Connects

 

Then came the fifth. With two out and none on, Manny Trillo blasted his third home run in five games, a first for him. Garry Maddox doubled, and Bowa followed with another two-bagger to score the winning run.

 

All that was left was a two-run pinch double in the seventh by George Vukovich.

 

San Diego manager Jerry Coleman was asked how he felt as the Padres went down for the eighth straight time, 12th in 13 and 17th in 24 since the All-Star break.

 

“On a scale of one to 10, I feel minus 10,” Coleman replied.

 

“If we have pitching we can play,” said the Padres’ manager. “We can’t get enough runs to stay in most games.”

 

The Padres were upset in the seventh, when Mumphrey was called out on a third strike. Mumphrey protested to umpire Ed Montague the ball was low, but wound up with a fine for tossing his bat in anger.

 

“It wasn’t even close,” said Mumphrey. “I wasn’t even thinking strike. I was shocked when he said strike. I don’t know how he could miss it.”

 

Two were on base at the time, and Mumphrey represented the tying run at the plate.

 

The Phillies in extending their winning streak through six games, moved to within 2½ games of first place and just half a game out of second place as front running Pittsburgh and runner up Montreal both lost.

 

It is the first time this year the Phillies are 10 games over .500. The club now has homered in 10 games, three shy of the club record. Hit streaks extended were Lonnie Smith (9), Trillo (6), Maddox (6) and Bowa (5).

 

Trillo is batting .325.

 

McGraw has six saves and an 0.86 ERA since coming off the disabled list July 17.