Atlantic City Press - May 18, 1980

Christenson Paces Phils Past Astros

Phila. 4, Houston 2

HOUSTON (AP) – Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green said it's never a surprise when pitcher Larry Christenson hits a home run. But Christenson said he was surprised by his home run, a three-run blast that beat the Houston Astros 4-2 Saturday night. 

"It's always a challenge to hit one out in the Astrodome," Christenson said after his 400-foot blast. "In batting practice, I hit a couple of my best shots and they didn't even reach the wall." 

But Christenson's second-inning homer, the 10th of his career, sailed into the left-center field bleachers and provided all the runs the Phils needed against the sluggish Astros. 

Houston starter Joe Niekro, 4-3, who delivered the home run pitch, said, "I got a knuckleball up and it didn't do anything. He's very strong and he just gave it a ride." 

Christenson, pitching for the first time in 11 days, said his elbow felt fine but Green didn't want to take any chances. 

Kevin Saucier relieved Christenson to start the sixth when Christenson complained of sore tendons in his elbow. 

The Astros lost for the fourth straight time and for the eighth time in 10 games. 

Christenson, 3-0, clubbed his homer to key Philadelphia's four-run second inning. Greg Luzinski led of the inning with a single and later scored the first run on a fielder's choice grounder by Larry Bowa.

Manny Trillo singled before Christenson blasted one.

The Astros ended a string of 24⅔ scoreless innings in the third. Terry Puhl singled, Jose Cruz walked with two out and Cesar Cedeno drove them home with a single up the middle.

Deadline Drawing Nearer

NEW YORK (AP)— Compensation the issue that sparked a proposal from the players and then a promise from the owners was not discussed in an early session Saturday as negotiators for the baseball players and owners met in the face of a strike deadline less than one week away. 

“There was a good session as far as cleaning up language involving other than the compensation (issue), but nothing was touched as far as that was concerned,” said federal mediator Kenneth Moffett during a break in the talks. 

Marvin Miller, executive director of the players association, did not attend the early session, which was recessed after nearly two hours. The union leader had said he planned to spend the day talking to players by telephone ‘'to straighten out any confusion that might have arisen.”