Chicago Outslugs Philles

6 Runs In First Aid Cubs, 10-7

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 Bitter's ground ball for his first error of the season Vail singled to score DeJesus, and Steve Ontiveros walked to fill the bases.

Blittner then scored on a balk before Blackwell unloaded his first homer in 563 major league at bats. P

hiladelphia Manager Dallas Green blamed himself for Blackwell's homer.

“With first base open and the pitcher up next, he (Larson) threw four straight fastballs to Blackwell." Green said. "I should have gone out there and reminded him that first base was open."

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 sacrifice fly by Maddox gave the Phillies another run in the fifth.

Saviors

Schmidt and Luzinski Are Phillies’ Lifeblood

By Randy Montgomery, Intelligencer Journal Sports Writer

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 a shambles, despite manager Dallas Green's insistence the pitching will be all right.

The Phillies posted a 16-8 record in May and won 11 of their last 16, but the only sign of consistent major league pitching has 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 mediocre pitching stand up.

Schmidt, who 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- 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 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 and McBride slump, any or all, or get hurt, Green better hope he's prophetic about his pitching.

Phils Tandem A Smash Hit

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Not since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle chased Babe Ruth’s home-run record 19 years ago have two sluggers boomed away in tandem like the Philadelphia Phillies’ Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski.

In 1961, the first year the schedule was expanded from 154 to 162 games because of the addition of 10 new teams, it seemed the entire nation’s attention was riveted on the two New York Yankee sluggers.

Maris failed to break the Babe’s 154-game record of 60 homers, but slammed his 61^st on the final day of the season.  Mantle, ill with a virus and almost forgotten in Maris’ final pursuit, finished with 54 home runs.

Together, Maris and Mantle combined for 115 home runs that year, breaking the mark of 107 set by Ruth, 60, and Lou Gehrig, 47, in 1927.

Schmidt and Luzinski have always been considered a potent duo, but never before have they both gotten hot at the same time.

Schmidt leads the major leagues in both home runs, 14, and RBI, 38, and is tops in the National League in runs with 35.  Luzinski is second in homers with 12 and has 27 RBI.

Schmidt, the No. 3 batter, has hit in 23 of the last 37 games for a .294 batting average.  In May he has hit .293 (27 for 92), including 10 home runs and 25 RBI.

Luzinski, batting cleanup, is hitting .308 in May (27-89), with eight home runs and 17 RBI.  Four times, he and Schmidt have cracked back-to-back homers.

They’ve had a lot of help from teammate Bake McBride, who has hit in 21 of his last 23 games for a .320 average, three home runs and 23 RBI.

The Phillies lead the National League in doubles (82), home runs (40) and runs (212).

And it’s a good thing, because the Phillies’ pitching is in shambles, despite manager Dallas Green’s insistence that his pitchers will be alright.

The Phillies posted a 16-8 record in May, winning 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 1½ games behind the world champion Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL East has been their hitting.

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 hit groove and hopes he can continue his deadly short, compact swing.

Schmidt insists that he isn’t in any special groove.

Vail Clubs Phils

CHICAGO (AP) – Mike Vail had his opportunity, proved his point and Friday received the ultimate compliment from the great Pete Rose who said, “I’ve never seen Mike Vail have a bad day at the plate.”

Vail blasted four hits, including a two-run homer and a double, and Tim Blackwell hit his first major league homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

For two seasons Vail has been begging and badgering the Cubs to “play me or trade me” and finally got the opportunity when Dave Kingman suffered a shoulder injury two weeks ago.

Vail has responded by hitting at a .403 clip in addition to playing a more than adequate defense.  He no longer insists on being traded but is willing to wait and see what happens.

“Mike Vail will be in the lineup until he stops hitting,” said Manager Preston Gomez.  “Dave Kingman will be back tomorrow, but Vail will start in right field.”

Unaware of Gomez’ proclamation, Vail said, “From now on I’ll do what the manager says.  If I’m in the starting lineup, fine.  If not, I figure I’ll get a chance to pinch-hit with the bases loaded.

“I’ve had my chance and proved what I’ve always said:  that I can hit and I can play good defense,” said Vail.  “I feel I should be in the lineup on a regular basis.”

Vail singled in a six-run first inning capped by a three-run homer by Blackwell, his first in 563 major league at-bats.  Vail doubled in the second inning, hit his second homer in the fifth with a man on base and singled and scored in the seventh.

The lusty attack enabled Rick Reuschel, 4-4, to turn in his first complete game of the season, despite a yield of 13 hits including home runs by Bob Boone and Bake McBride.

The Phillies came close but never could overcome the six-run lead the Cubs established in the first inning during which Pete Rose committed his first error, leading to four unearned runs.

Not making any excuses, Rose said, “It was an easy play but that’s the first time we’ve played on natural turf in over a month and I just closed my glove too soon.  We didn’t even get a chance to have infield practice.”

Heavy morning thunderstorms prevented batting and infield practice, and Rose’s bobble of Larry Biittner’s ground ball following a walk and a single by Ivan DeJesus led to a run.  Vail singled in the second run, and a walk to Steve Ontiveros left the bases loaded with two out.

Losing pitcher Dan Larson, 0-1, then balked in a third run scored before Blackwell hit his homer.

Vail cracked his two-run homer in the fifth and singled and scored in the seventh to provide the margin of victory.