New York Daily News - May 1, 1980

Bomback two-hits Phils 2-0

By Jack Lang

If it is magic the Mets are selling at Shea Stadium, perhaps they should pitch Mark Bomback more often. He has a now-you-see-it, now-you-don't act that has the Phillies talking to themselves.

It took the Mets' 27-year-old rookie less than two hours last night to dispose of the Phillies for the second time in a week. This time he had them so off balance that he wound up w ith a two hit, 2 0 shutout before only 4.559 fans who sat in the rain.

A second inning leadoff single by Mike Schmidt and another by Garry Maddox in the seventh were the only hits the Phils could manage against Mark's 85 mph fastball and his well-controlled slider.

"You can't say he's overpowering." said Pete Rose, who didn't criticize Bomback but pointed out, "He only struck out two and one of those was Randy Lerch."

THE PHILS HIT only two fly balls. The rest of the night they were reaching out for Bomback's sliders and fastballs and hitting them into the ground. The righthander managed to get 16 ground-ball outs.

Twice he got Rose on grounders, once in a critical situation. Rose went first-pitch swinging and bounced into a double play in the sixth after Luis Aguayo and Lerch had opened with walks. Bomback then got Bake McBride on a pop to Lee Mazzilli to escape his most serious trouble of the game.

"I couldn't believe they weren't bunting In that spot." said John Stearns, who doubled twice, increasing his league lead to nine. "They let us off the hook there. Pete (Rose) is a good bunter, too."

Bomtack walked six, two more in the eighth when he was again in a jam. But those two passes came with two out, and he pitched out of trouble by getting McBride on a grounder.

THE COMPLETE game was the first of the season by a Met pitcher and the team's first shutout since Craig Swan blanked the Giants last July 25.

Bomback is the first to admit "I'm not overpowering, but I've got a good slider and I move the ball."

"That's the secret of his success," said Doug Flynn. "He moves the ball."

"The key to Mark's success," said Stearns, "is that he's not overpowering with his fastball, but he spots it on the inside corner and he keeps the hitters off balance."

Bomback said his stuff last night was better than what he had when he went seven innings against the Phils in their park last week.

Stearns scored the only run Bomback would need when he hit his first double in the fourth and scored on a Dan Norman single. The second run came against Dickie Noles in the eighth when Jerry Morales reached on Schmidt's error, stole second and came home on an error by Bowa.

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Craig Swan warmed up under stands last night and will start again Saturday after being given extra day of rest... Steve Henderson still unable to swing bat properly and was last-minute scratch in favor of Dan Norman, who drove in winning run... Pat Zachry will be reactivated next week. Meanwhile, Torre must decide which player he must cut when Pat returns. Could be Kevin Kobel or John Pacella.