Montreal Gazette - July 3, 1980

Ace Rogers, ‘no-star’ Expos sparkle in drubbing of Phils

By Ian MacDonald of The Gazette

MONTREAL – All of a sudden, it boils down to a situation where Andre Dawson and Gary Carter are likely to be the first place Expos' only players on the National League all-star team.

Dawson and Carter played like all stars here last night but so did pitching ace Steve Rogers as the Expos parlayed all of this with their flying feet to down the Phillies 6-1.

The victory came against major ' league win leader Steve Carlton, who was tough for seven innings but came undone in the eighth.

The win also restored the Expos two-game lead over the runner-up Phillies. They are two-and-a-half ahead of the defending champion Pirates.

Nobody worthy?

Carlton, of course, is deservedly on the star team with his 13 wins but the National League, in its wisdom, has decided that no Expos pitchers deserve the honor.

"What?" said an incredulous Rogers when told the makeup of the pitching staff.

"That's a damn shame. Woodie (lefthanded reliever Fryman) should have been chosen. They don't even have a lefthanded reliever. What a shame. That's a joke."

Rogers could have been considered for a fourth dream game chance as well but the 29-year-old isn't worried about himself.

"I'm just thinking now of being 11-6 at all-star time. I'm thinking of winning my next game and I'll have all star statistics even if I'm not there. I'm not surprised."

Pirates' manager Chuck Tanner, who will select the alternates for the star team, has been asked by NL president Chub Feeney to take the second place finisher in the fans' voting wherever possible.

Carter was fourth

Carter was fourth among the catchers in the voting – and that's a joke. This may be a tough decision because Ted Simmons, who was second, must be picked and John Stearns is probably the only Mets' player who deserves consideration. Every team must be represented by at least one player.

The outfield situation is interesting because Dawson stands an excellent chance even though he was tenth in the voting. In fact, Dawson's, teammates Ron LeFlore and disabled Ellis Valentine polled more votes than he did.

However, Hawk is the only centre-fielder among the top 10. Tanner will have to determine whether to use Reggis Smith or Dave Parker as a centrefielder for the first three innings as things stand now.

"If I'm not picked I won't be disappointed," said Hawk after a glittering performance which saw him reach base four times in as many chances, steal a base, score two runs, and generally blaze around the bases liked a misplaced Olympic track star.

"The main thing that I'm thinking about right now is going to New York and wipe out the Mets. Naturally, if I'm selected I will go because I have a bonus clause about that in my contract. Otherwise, I will welcome the three days rest to give my hand a chance to get better."

Rogers had his hands full in the first inning with the bases loaded and nobody out. The rightie caught Greg Luzinski looking, gave up a run on a fielder's choice by Garry Maddox and after walking Greg Gross induced Bob Boone to fly to left.

That's all that Steve allowed the Phillies and Carter bailed him out of what might have been a hairy situation in the eighth.

The score was only 3-1 Expos at that time. Though they hadn't been able to hit Carlton very well, Phillies' catcher Bob Boone was having even more trouble catching 'lefty' and two wild pitches gave Expos two of their runs.

With two out in the Phillies' seventh, they had runners at first and second. Gross connected for their third hit of the inning and while Ron LeFlore's fine throw kept the lead runner Manny Trillo at third, Maddox made a wide turn at second.

Rally-ending out

"As soon as I got the ball – boom!" Carter said about his rifle throw to second which saw Rodney Scott tag Maddox for the rally-ending out.

"We could have had a bases-loaded situation with Boone at bat. Instead, we were out of the inning."

Rogers revealed that he didn't have a curveball but by working well with Carter he got away with using just the slider and two speeds of fastball.

Rogers had a perfect day at the plate as well. He singled up the middle for a two-out, full-count run batted in to tie the score in the second. He walked twice and dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt.

Speed big help

The Expos' offence though was speed manufactured once again. Dawson legged out a double in the third, advanced on a flyball to left and raced home when Carlton's side arm delivery eluded Boone.

In the fifth it was Scott turning on the burners. Rodney forced Rogers for the second out He was picked off first but beat the relay to second for a steal.

Again he was picked off second but when Boone threw behind him, he set off and pilfered third. Then he too walked home on a 'wildie'.

EXPOSES – Bill Lee's right knee is swollen and tender after he twisted it following a Monday workout Hopes of taking the lefthander off the disabled list by the weekend have been shelved...

Pete Falcone is the only lefthander the Expos will face in their five-game seies at New York. Falcone goes against Scott Sanderson in the Saturday game...

Charlie Lea starts tonight at Shea and then it will be David Palmer and Bill Gullickson in tomorrow's twi-nighter. Steve Rogers draws the Mets' struggling ace Craig Swan in Sunday's finale before the three-day all-star break...