Reading Eagle - June 9, 1980

McGlothen Zips Phils

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Chicago Cubs’ manager Preston Gomez and pitcher Lynn McGlothen don’t agree exactly on the circumstances, but McGlothen has returned to the Cubs’ starting rotation.

McGlothen claimed he was ignored the first month of the season because he was one of six players who went home during the Players Association strike of the final week of exhibition games this spring.

“Evidently my decision to go home (in spring training) was a bad one and I’ve paid for it… I’ve been shown who is boss,” McGlothen said, no bitterness noticeable in his tone.

Gomez said the pitcher was never in any “doghouse” because of taking off during the spring walkout.

“We went with three starters the first month because of off days and rainouts,” Gomez contended after McGlothen, with ninth-inning help from reliever Bruce Sutter, beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 Sunday.

Gomez also noted that McGlothen lost four starts because of a groin injury.

Mike Tyson drove home McGlothen with the Cubs first run after the pitcher doubled in the third.  Chicago added an insurance tally in the seventh on a single by Tim Blackwell, a McGlothen sacrifice, and Ivan DeJesus’ RBI single.

McGlothen pitched eight innings, leaving for Sutter after Greg Luzinski opened the ninth with a double.  A two-out error and a walk loaded the bases against Sutter, but he retired pinch-hitter George Vukovich on a liner to short to end the game.

McGlothen quietly complained about his treatment earlier in the season.  He was demoted to the bullpen.

“I can’t put forth my best effort in relief,” McGlothen insisted.  “I don’t know why.  Maybe it’s mental.”

McGlothen is 4-1 against the Phillies in the last two seasons, and claims he has a formula to beat Philadelphia.

“I’m a fastball pitcher,” said the 30-year-old pitcher from Monroe, La.  “But when I get behind them (the Phillies) I don’t throw the fastball.  I give them a steady diet of breaking balls, even at the risk of walking them.

But he fed Luzinski a fastball that was lashed for a double in the ninth.

“I was ahead two runs, and I knew if a runner got on, Sutter was ready in the bullpen,” referring to one of the National League’s best relievers.

As for the Phillies, it was the fourth time they were blanked this season, second at home.  McGlothen allowed them only a total of three runs in beating them three times last year.

Phillies’ manager Dallas Green shrugged his shoulders and said the obvious:  “Our attack wasn’t much.  I thought the guy (McGlothen) pitched a good game.  But I was surprised we couldn’t grind out two runs.”

The only sour note for the Cubs was the end of Dave Kingman’s eight-game hitting streak.  The outfielder was hitless in four at bats.  Dick Ruthven pitched seven innings and took the loss, his fifth in 10 decisions.  The defeat ended a three-game Phillies’ winning streak.