Allentown Morning Call - July 12, 1980
Rose, Schmidt team up to lead Phils into tie for East Division lead, 7-2
By Ralph Bernstein, Associated Press Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – If the Chicago Cubs were the United States' first line of defense, the whole population would be based in bomb shelters.
The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of the Cubs loose play and along with 14 hits pounded out a 7-2 victory last night that tied them for first place with the Montreal Expos in the National League East.
The Expos lost earlier in the day to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Not to take anything away from the Phillies, who won their eighth in 11 games and got excellent pitching from rookie Bob Walk and reliever Ron Reed, but the Cubs handled the ball like it was a time bomb.
For example. Mike Schmidt's two triples should have been an out and a single. Two of Pete Rose's doubles were catchable.
Chicago manager Preston Gomez was in a dangerous position when asked about his team's defensive antics. He was shaving.
"Our defense was..." and he used a few words that don't appear in the dictionary. "We looked like a class D club. I don't mind getting beat. It's part of the game. Of every run they get if we make the play they don't score.'' Gomez said.
Walk, who was lying on a table after the game having his right thigh treated as the result of being struck by a line drive in the seventh inning, described his victory as a rather sloppy game.
"I didn't pitch as well as the last time out." said the unbeaten righthander, who was brought up in the spring from Oklahoma City to help an injury-riddled pitching staff.
"I was wild tonight. I didn't know where the ball was going. 1 hung a lot of breaking balls. But the main thing is that we won and we're in first place.' Walk said.
Walk was pleased that he could come up with a victory on a hot. muggy night when he didn't really have his best stuff.
"That's the secret, make good with what's working," said Walk.
Phillies manager Dallas Green said he took Walk out at a time when the game was down to one pitch. The Phillies led only 3-2 at the time and the Cubs had runners at first and second.
"I felt it was time to give a fresh guy a shot. And that's why I took him out," said Green.
Rose hit three doubles in all to drive in three runs while Schmidt collected his two "gimme" triples, scoring twice.
While the Cubs were charged with only one error, a number of erratic fielding plays contributed to starter Lynn Mc-Glothen's sixth loss in 12 decisions and a three-run rally against a pair of relievers in the seventh.
Walk, a 23-year old rookie, worked 6⅔ innings and earned his fifth victory against no losses.
The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the third on Rose's RBI double. They made it 2-0 in the fourth on a run-scoring squeeze bunt single by Larry Bowa.
The Cubs rallied to tie in the sixth on consecutive run-scoring fielder's choice grounders.
Schmidt, who became the fourth player this year to hit two triples in one game, got his first in the sixth when Vail misjudged his high drive to right. Garry Maddox then delivered the lead run with a sacrifice fly.
In the Phillies' seventh, Lonnie Smith opened with a single, stole second and continued to third on a throwing error by catcher Mike O'Berry. He scored on Rose's second double. Then with one out. Schmidt hit a drive to left that Jesus Figueroa misplayed into a triple, scoring Rose. Schmidt scored on a single by Maddox to make it 6-2.
The Phillies' final run came in the eighth on consecutive doubles by John Vukovich and Rose.
Rose, Schmidt team up to lead Phils into tie for East Division lead
PHILADELPHIA ( AP) – Pete Rose hit three doubles and drove in three runs while Mike Schmidt collected two triples and scored twice, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 last night and tied the Montreal Expos for first place in the National League East.
While the Cubs were charged with only one error, a number of erratic fielding plays contributed to starter Lynn McGlothen's sixth loss in 12 decisions and a three-run rally against a pair of relievers in the seventh.
Bob Walk, a 23-year-old rookie, worked 6⅔ innings and earned his fifth victory against no losses with the help of 2⅓ innings of relief by Ron Reed.
The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the third on Rose's RBI double. They made it 2-0 in the fourth on a run-scoring squeeze bunt single by Larry Bowa.
The Cubs rallied to tie in the sixth on consecutive run-scoring fielder's choice grounders.
Schmidt, who became the fourth player this year to hit two triples in one game," got his first in the sixth when Vail misjudged his high drive to right. Garry Maddox then delivered the lead run with a sacrifice fly.
In the Phillies' seventh, Lonnie Smith opened with a single, stole second and continued to third on a throwing error by catcher Mike O'Berry. He scored on Rose's second double. Then with one out, Schmidt hit a drive to left that Jesus Figueroa misplayed into a triple, scoring Rose. Schmidt scored on a single by Maddox to make it 6-2.
The Phillies' final run came in the eighth on consecutive doubles by John Vukovich and Rose.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania officials have contacted Phillies players and their wives in connection with a criminal investigation of persons not employed by the club, Phillies' president Ruly Carpenter said.
His statement referred to news reports earlier this week linking team members with an investigation into the illegal prescribing of amphetamines by a Reading physician.
"Each individual interviewed cooperated fully and was assured that he or she was not suspected of any criminal involvement," Carpenter said in a five paragraph statement read by the team's public relations director Larry Shenk.
"The officials from the Commonwealth requested that none of the details of the interview, including the identities of the individuals interviewed, be disclosed at this time," Carpenter said in the statement issued shortly before last night's game.
Amphetamines, commonly known as "uppers," are stimulants.
First reports of the amphetamine investigation said eight Phillies' players were involved, but only four were named. They were shortstop Bowa, third baseman Schmidt, first baseman Rose and outfielder Greg Luzinski.
Still another report included the names of pitchers Steve Carlton, Randy Lerch and Larry Christenson. All have issued denials or refused to comment.
The reports angered both club officials and the team. Some of the players have refused to talk with reporters – even about baseball – because of the adverse publicity.
Phillies' manager Dallas Green said he thought his players had been treated unfairly by the media, but said he did not believe the reports had any effect on their performance.
"We've been through adversity before." Green said after Thursday night's game.
Green also disclosed that Carpenter held a meeting with the players to discuss the amphetamine subject, but he declined to disclose details.
So the club has thrown a blanket of silence on the subject. And the latest development that interviews of the players and wives remain confidential – seems to have strengthened their resolve to stay silent.