Phils, McGraw hold off Padres

By Hal Bodley, Gannett News Service

SAN DIEGO – Larry Christenson sat in a St. Louis coffee shop about two months ago and talked about the Phillies homestretch.

"Nobody really is counting on me, but I have a feeling I am really going to be able to help the team the last six weeks," the righthander said. "After all, I will be rested and fully recovered by then."

At the time, it seemed like idle chatter. Christensen had been on the disabled list since May 25, having undergone surgery for the removal of bone chips from his right elbow.

CHRISTENSON gave his teammates a strong arm for nearly seven innings last night and Tug McGraw gained his 15th save as the Phillies edged the San Diego Padres, 3-2.

"I guess I got a little tired in the seventh, but it's great when you have a guy like Tug to come in," said Christenson, who has won two of three decisions since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 11.

The victory was the Phils second in a row and got this 11-day road trip off on a successful start.

"Christenson did a good job got us," said Manager Dallas Green. "I think he got a little tired in the seventh, but you can't ask for a better job then the one Tug gave us."

McGRAW PUT out the first threat in the seventh inning when the Padres scored two runs, and then pitched out of an intense jam in the eighth. He put the Padres down in order in the ninth.

The Phils jumped in front in the second inning against loser Steve Mura and appeared to be breezing until the seventh.

"I though L.C. was losing it some in the seventh," said catcher Keith Moreland, who had a double and drove in a run with a single. "He was missing with some of his pitches and was getting the fastball up. You can't ask for a better effort, though. His fastball was outstanding.

“I am feeling stronger each time out,” said Christenson, whose record is 5-1. "I would have liked to go the distance, but I can't complain about the results.”

THE PHILS vaulted in front, 2-0, in the second, then tacked on another run in the third. With one down, Moreland doubled to left, went to third on Garry Maddox single to right and scored on Manny Trillo's infield out. Maddox, who had stolen second and gone to third on Trillo's out, scored when Larry Bowa singled to deep shortstop.

Christenson kept the rally alive with a single to left and Pete Rose followed with a single to left, but Gene Richards threw Bowa out at the plate. It was the 16th time this year Richards has had an assist from the outfield.

Bake McBride opened the third with a walk. With Mike Schmidt batting, McBride was caught trying to steal second, but was safe when Tim Flannery dropped the ball for an error. After Greg Luzinski fanned, Moreland, singled to right and it was 3-0.

The Padres mounted several threats in the first six innings, but poor base running and other fundamental breakdowns cost them.

In the second, with runners on first and second arid one out, Luis Salazar was picked off second base by Christenson. In the sixth, Richards raced to second with nobody put on Rose's error, but, when Ozzie Smith hit a chopper back to the mound, Christenson quickly turned and Richards was trapped between second and third – an easy out.

The Phils loaded the bases in the in seventh with two outs and chased Mura in favor of Mike Armstrong. But the righthander got Moreland to fly out to end the threat. With one down, Rose bunted for a single. McBride flied out, but Mura walked Schmidt and Luzinski.

The Padres pulled to within a run in the seventh and it took solid relief by Tug McGraw to choke off the rally.

Salazar ripped a single to left to 'open the inning and Gene Tenace walked. Flannery flied to left, but Christenson was finished when pinch hitter Broderick Perkins lined a double down the left-field line to score Salazar and send Tenace to third.

McGraw was immediately summoned. Tenace scored when Richard grounded out and the threat ended with Smith also grounding out.

McGraw was brilliant in the eighth.

Dave Winfield led off with a screaming double to left-center. McGraw then got Willie Montanez to fly to right, fanned Jerry Mumphrey , and got Tenace looking at at third strike.

PHIL UPS – The Padres have a 30-29 record here, but are 23-46 on the road... Randy Jones, originally scheduled to start last night's game for the Padres, probably won't pitch again this year. The former Cy Young Award winner is suffering from tendonitis in his shoulder... Umpire Lee Weyer, out most of the season because of illness, was back in action last night, handling third... Dick Ruthven and Nino Espinosa will go against Bob Shirley and John Curtis tonight beginning at 9 o'clock.

McGraw Paces Phils Victory

Philadelphia 3, San Diego 2

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Rookie Keith Moreland scored a run and drove in another and reliever Tug McGraw protected starting pitcher Larry Christenson's lead, as the Philadelphia Phillies outlasted the San Diego Padres 3-2 Friday night.

Christenson, 5-1, was relieved in the seventh by McGraw, who pitched the final 22-3 innings to earn his 15th save.

After two-hitting the Padres for six innings, Christenson allowed a single by Luis Salazar, a walk to Gene Tenace and a run-scoring double by pinch-hitter Broderick Perkins to bring on McGraw.

Tenace scored on a groundout by Gene Richards to cut the Philadelphia lead to 3-2.

Loser Steve Mura, 4-7, surrendered three runs on nine hits through 6⅔innings. The loss was the fourth straight for the 25-year-old right-hander.

Moreland ignited a two-run Phils second inning with a double off the leftfield wall. Garry Maddox followed with a single, stole second, took third on Manny Trillo's grounded out which scored Moreland, and scored himself on an infield single by Larry Bowa to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.

A bloop single to right by Moreland drove in Bake McBride for an unearned run in the third. McBride led off with a walk and was apparently thrown out attempting to steal second. He was ruled safe, however, after rookie second baseman Tim Flannery dropped the ball for an error on what would have been the third out.

Christenson's victory was his second since returning to the Phillies on Aug. 11 after undergoing arm surgery.