Atlantic City Press - May 31, 1980
Vail, Cubs Overpower Phillies
Chicago 10, Philadelphia 7
CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Vail ripped four hits including a home run and Tim Blackwell’s first major league homer capped a six-run first inning as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-7 Friday.
Rick Reuschel, 4-4, was the winner and turned in his first complete game despite yielding 13 hits. Dan Larson, 0-1, suffered the loss and was the victim of four unearned runs in the first inning.
Lenny Randle opened the first by drawing a walk, stole second and moved to third on a single by Ivan DeJesus. Randle then scored when Pete Rose bobbled Larry Biittner's ground ball for his first error of the season. Vail singled to score DeJesus, and Steve Ontiveros walked to fill the bases.
Biittner then scored on a balk before Blackwell unloaded his first homer in 563 major league at bats.
Bob Boone’s two-run homer in the second cut the lead, but the Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the second on a single by Randle, another stolen base, an error and a sacrifice fly by DeJesus.
Philadelphia added three in the third when Rose doubled and scored on a single by Mike Schmidt. Greg Luzinski doubled, and Garry Maddox followed with a two-run single.
Schmidt's double and a sacrifice fly by Maddox gave the Phillies another run in the fifth.
Bake McBride homered for the Phillies in the ninth.
Luzinski, Schmidt Making Up for Shaky Pitching
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski have been carrying the Philadelphia Phillies on their bats.
It’s no secret that the Phillies’ pitching is in shambles, despite Manager Dallas Green’ insistence the pitching will be all right.
The Phillies posted a 16-8 record in May, won 11 of their last 16, but the only sign of consistent major league pitching has come from Steve Carlton (8-2).
What has kept the Phillies winning and enabled them to creep one game behind the world champion Pittsburgh Pirates has been their hitting. They lead the National League in doubles (79), home runs (38) and runs (205).
Schmidt and Luzinski, the third and fourth hitters in the lineup, have been the key to this torrid attack. They have made the club’s staff mediocre pitching stand up.
Schmidt has hit in 22 of the last 26 games, boasts a .291 batting average. In May he has hit .287 (25 for 87), including 10 home runs and 24 RBI.
Luzinski is hitting .308 in May (26-for-84), with eight home runs and 17 RBI. Four times, he and Schmidt cracked homers consecutively. They’ve had a lot of help from teammate Bake McBride, who has hit in 20 of his last 22 games, a .320 average, two home runs and 22 RBI.
Overall, Schmidt leads the league in runs (33), is tied in RBI (37), and tops with 14 homers. Luzinski is second in homers with 12.
How long, however, can the two power hitters, plus McBride, carry a pitching staff.
Dick Ruthven (5-4) still is on the comeback trail from off-season elbow surgery. Larry Christenson (3-0) is on the 60-day disabled list and underwent an elbow operation this week that makes it doubtful he’ll pitch again this season, and Randy Lerch is 1-6. After that you have Dan Larson and Bob Walk, recently recalled from the minors.
Some years ago when Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain were big winners for the old Boston Braves, and had little or no other help, someone coined the phrase, Spahn and Sain and a day of rain. All the Phillies can shout is “Carlton and HELP!”
If Luzinski, Schmidt, McBride slump, any or all or get hurt, Green better hope he’s prophetic about his pitching.
Both Luzinski and Schmidt are keeping a low profile about their hitting. Both know how quick the ball can start going right at people instead of between them Luzinski likes his groove and hopes he can continue his deadly short compact swing.
Schmidt insists that he isn’t in any special groove. He also claims he's not swinging for the fences just, trying to make contact. He admits he'd like to hit .300 or more to prove he can be a consistent hitter in addition to one of the games best power swingers.