Doylestown Daily Intelligencer - June 19, 1980
Carlton Wins Seventh Straight On Moreland's Double In Ninth
by the Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) - For the Philadelphia Phillies' extraordinary pitcher Steve Carlton, sometimes even the ordinary is good enough.
The 35-vear-old left-hander, now 12-2, leads the major leagues in victories and added his seventh straight Wednesday night when he went eight innings to defeat the San Diego Padres 5-1.
"That was probably as close to normal patching as we've seen from Carlton this year, " said Phils' manager Dallas Green. "But he's tough when he has to be. That's the sign of a good pitcher."
Carlton left the game in the ninth for pinch hitter Keith Moreland after allowing the Padres just one run on seven hits and striking out nine.
"I didn't think he was as sharp as when he beat us last Saturday in Philadelphia," said San Diego's Gene Tenace."But when he had to make some pitches, he made them."
Carlton now boasts a 1.74 earned run average and leads the major leagues in strikeouts with 127.
The game was tied 1-l with runners on second and third and one out in the ninth, when Moreland cracked a two-run double off reliever Bob Shirley, 5-3, to key a four-run inning.
A pair of Padre errors on a pickoff attempt at second let in the Phils' final two runs.
"I'm just glad to get a chance to hit and win some ball games," said Moreland, relegated to the role of reserve catcher behind all-star receiver Bob Boone. "I don't expect to play much. My role is to help the pitchers' stay in shape. There was some talk about trading me, but I very much wanted to stay in Philadelphia."
Injuries to starters Rick Wise and Randy Jones resurrected Eric Rasmussen from the bullpen, and the 6-foot-3 right-hander responded with an excellent effort.
Rasmussen is only 1-6, but he went 6-2/3 innings giving up just one run and seven hits.
"I guess I'm back in the starting rotation by default," Rasmussen said. "But I really looked forward to facing Carlton. I battled him good. I'm satisfied. If you can beat him, you're beating the best."
The Phils got a run in the first on Bake McBride's triple and Mike Schmidt's ground out, giving the all-star third baseman a tie for the major league lead with 51 runs batted in.
San Diego tied it in the seventh when Fred Kendall singled after Carlton had allowed a two-out single and a walk to put runners at first and second.
Pete Rose made a little more history when he singled in the third inning to give him 2,535, for third place on the all-time list of singles hitters behind Ty Cobb and Eddie Collins.
Rookie right-hander Juan Eichelberger, 0-0, just recalled from the minors, makes his first start for the Padres in this afternoon's game. He faces Phils' rookie right-hander Bob Walk, 2-0,. in the finale of the two-game series.