Corpus Christi Caller - May 17, 1980

Phillies squelch Astros, 3-0

By The Associated Press

HOUSTON – Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green looked at Friday night’s 3-0 shutout of the Houston Astros from several different angles and he liked all of them.

“Anytime you shut out Houston it’s a good performance,” Green said. "Any time you beat J.R. Richard, it's a good performance, and anytime you beat Houston in the Astrodome it s a good performance.”

The Phillies did all three as Dick Ruthven, 4-2, went the distance and scattered five hits to prove he’s fully recovered from off-season arm surgery.

"He was struggling in spring training but he’s back now where Dick Ruthven should be,” said Green.

Richard, 4-2, dropped his second straight decision after winning four in a row last month.

"I didn’t think J.R. had his outstanding stuff, but he pitched very well,” Houston Manager Bill Virdon said. "It's hard to win without runs.”

It was Houston's fourth consecutive loss, their longest losing streak of the season, and the shutout extended the Astros' scoreless string to 22 straight innings.

Philadelphia took the lead in the fourth off Richard when Del Unser tripled to the right-center-field fence just out of Cesar Cedeno's reach. Unser trotted home on Mike Schmidt's fly to Cedeno.

The Phillies added two runs off Richard, 4-2, in the eighth inning on Bake McBride's two-run single. Philadelphia had loaded the bases on an error, a single by Manny Trillo and Pete Rose's walk.

Ruthven improved his record to 4-2, walking but one batter in his route-going performance.