Allentown Morning Call - July 26, 1980

Phillies win opener, 5-4, in 12 but drop nightcap

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Tommy Boggs pitched a seven-hitter and catcher Bruce Benedict drove in two runs last night, boosting the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and forging a split of their doubleheader. 

Mike Schmidt went 4-for-4, including two homers, and walked with the bases loaded in the 12th inning to help the Phillies snap a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 triumph in the opener. 

Boggs. 5-5, pitched the Braves to their fifth victory in seven games. Phillies rookie Dan Larson, 0-4, took the loss.

Chris Chambliss opened the fourth inning with a ground-rule double and one out later. Bob Horner was walked to set up a force play. One out after that, shortstop Larvell Blanks walked to load the bases for the Braves, and Benedict singled to bring in two runs. 

In the Atlanta ninth, against reliever Dickie Noles, Brian Asselstine doubled and Matthews singled to drive him in with the game's other run.

In the opener, Schmidt also had a double and a single to support the route-going performance by Dick Ruthven, 9-7. The 12-inning showing by Ruthven was the longest in the National League this season. Pittsburgh's Jim Bibby pitched 11 earlier in the season. 

Horner hit a two-run homer in the Braves' three-run third inning, giving him 21 for the season, 14 this month and bringing the slugger within one of the record for home runs in July. 

The Yankees' Joe DiMaggio, the Tigers' Hank Greenberg and Milwaukee's Joe Adcock share that major league mark for July homers. 

The homer gave Atlanta a 4-2 load, but Lonnie Smith homered to cut the Philadelphia deficit to one run and Schmidt tied it with his second homer of the contest.

The two homers gave Schmidt 28 for the season, the NL lead, and 261 for his eight-year career a club record. Del Ennis had led the Phillies with 259 career homers in his 11 years with the club. 

The two-homer opener marked the 24th time Schmidt has hit two or more homers in a game. 

Smith's homer was his first in the majors.