Aguayo Homer Lifts Phils

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Aguayo hit his first career homer to account for both Philadelphia runs as the Phillies survived a major league record-equaling strikeout performance by Pete Falcone to post a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets Thursday night.

Falcone, 1-2, struck out the first six hitters he faced at the start of the game to become only the second pitcher in modern National League history to accomplish that feat.

Falcone permitted only three hits in seven innings and finished with eight strikeouts. Two of the hits came in the fifth inning when Larry Bowa singled ahead of Aguayo's home run.

New York collected eight hits off' Philadelphia left-hander Steve Carlton, 4-1, who became the third four-game winner in the National League this season. and reliever Tug McGraw. who collected his second save.

McGraw came on in the seventh after Carlton had issued a bases-loaded walk to Elliot Maddox, forcing in the only Met run.

In the seventh, Doug Flynn singled with two out and Carlton walked hitter Jose Cardenal. Frank Taveras then beat out an infield hit and Maddox drew his RBI walk before McGraw came in to retire Lee Mazzilli on an inning ending groundout.

Falcone struck out Lonnie Smith, Pete Rose, and Gary Maddox in the first inning on 20 pitches and then retired Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Bob Boone on swinging third strikes in the second inning, using 14 pitches.

Bowa's infield out the first on pitch in the third inning ended the strikeout skein which had been performed four previous times in the major leagues since 1900, most recently by Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1973. 

Bad Pitch Costly To Pete Falcone

NEW YORK (AP) – Pete Falcone matched a major league record for strikeouts Thursday night, but it was a pitch that was not a strike that cost him the decisive runs in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2-1 victory over the New York Mets.

“The disciplined hitter would have let it go and made me come to him,” said Falcone, 1-2, of the pitch which rookie Luis Aguayo drilled for a two-run homer in the fifth.

For Aguayo, it was his first major league home run, but his reaction to that aspect of the situation was subdued.  “I just take it like another hit,” he said.

Steve Carlton gave up eight hits and four walks, but pitched out of trouble enough to get the victory.  Carlton, 4-1, became the third National League four-game winner this season with relief help from Tug McGraw, who picked up his second save.

Aguayo agreed that the pitch he his was not a strike.  “I think it was a ball, but I was ahead of him 2-0 and I was looking for a fastball.”  He got it.

“It was a bad pitch, down and in,” said Falcone.  “A veteran hitter would have taken that pitch.  That’s what makes this such a great game, you never know.”

Oddly, Aguayo and Falcone were teammates in the Puerto Rican Winter League in 1977.  “He didn’t play much,” Falcone said of Aguayo, “but maybe I should have paid more attention.  Now I know he’s a low-ball hitter.”

Despite Aguayo’s game-winning hit, the Phils got only three hits off Falcone in seven innings and the Met left-hander was the big story.  Falcone began the game with six successive strikeouts, becoming only the second pitcher in modern National League history to perform that feat.

He struck out Lonnie Smith, Pete Rose and Garry Maddox in the first innings, and then got Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Bob Boone swinging in the second.

Falcone didn’t know that he had matched a modern record at the time.  When informed that only one other NL pitcher had started a game with six strikeouts since 1900, he smiled.  “That makes you feel good,” he said.

“He had it all working for him tonight,” said New York Manager Joe Torre, “and a left-hander with that kind of control can be kind of nasty to hit.”  Falcone issued only one walk.

Larry Bowa, who singled in the fifth ahead of Aguayo’s homer, hit the first pitch from Falcone for a roller back to the pitcher to start the third inning and end the strikeout string.

Three American Leaguers – John Hiller, Ray Culp and Bert Blyleven – started games with six strikeouts, but only Andy Messersmith with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1973 had ever done it before in the NL.