Reading Eagle - May 12, 1980

Ruthven, Trillo Put the Hurt on Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) – Who would expect pitcher Dick Ruthven and second baseman Manny Trillo, one coming back from off-season elbow surgery and the other just reactivated after three weeks with an ankle injury, to be the muscle in the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup?

That was the case Sunday when Trillo and Ruthven, batting eighth and ninth, each drove in two runs, and Ruthven got his third victory of the season in a 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

“That’s my best effort this season, by far,” said Ruthven, 3-2.  “I made good pitches and got a lot of strikeouts with men on base.”

Ruthven struck out eight and walked none, allowing two runs on 10 hits in seven innings.  Mike LaCoss, 3-3, was the loser.

“That was more like the Dick Ruthven we know,” said Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green.  “He had all his pitches going for him, and he was better able to spot the ball.  A well Dick Ruthven is when I’ve been rootin’ and hopin’ for since spring training.”

Ruthven started the Philadelphia scoring in the second with an RBI single that drove in two runs.  Three more runs in the third, the final one on an RBI single by Trillo, chases LaCoss.

Pete Rose walked in the seventh, then stole second, third and home.  A double by Trillo in the eighth drove in the Phillies’ final run.

Cincinnati got one in the sixth on Dan Driessen’s RBI double, one in the seventh on Harry Spilman’s pinch home run and one in the ninth on an RBI single by (Cesar) Geronimo on his fourth hit of the game.

“I’m no base-stealing expert, but I think third base is easier to steal than second,” Rose said.

“They (pitchers) just don’t watch you that close, especially if there’s a guy like Mike Schmidt or Greg Luzinski hitting.”

Rose scored from third when Schmidt drew the throw stealing second.

The Philadelphia victory ended a four-game Cincinnati winning streak and prevented the Reds from sweeping the three-game series.