Topeka Capital-Journal - October 16, 1980
Philadelphia solves Quiz, rallies in 8th for 6-4 win
By Alan Eskew
PHILADELPHIA -- The Kansas City Royals are limping home, definitely in trouble in this 1980 World Series.
They are down two games to none after blowing a lead and losing 6-4 to Philadelphia Wednesday night.
And there are a lot more problems.
George Brett was in pain from hemorrhoids and had to leave the game in the sixth inning after slashing two singles and walking.
"I was talking to him (Brett) after the game; he said it was bothering him, so I took him out," manager Jim Frey said. "We'll have to wait until Friday on Brett. He has two days and it's a day-to-day thing. We hope he's better."
Dan Quisenberry, the Royals' best relief pitcher, failed to protect a two-run lead with only nine outs to go in Game 2.
"We thought we had the ball game," Frey explained. "Quisenberry has been doing it for us all year. He has 33 saves. He just didn't do it tonight.
"When (starting pitcher Larry) Gura came off the mound after his last inning, he said he didn't feel he had his fastball anymore. He couldn't pop the fastball. I guess he was telling us he just ran out of gass.
"When you're two down it's not very good. We plan to do better at home."
In Game 1 Tuesday, 20-game winner Dennis Leonard could not win after being staked to a 4-0 advantage.
There is a break in the action Thursday as the two teams travel to Kansas City. Friday night, Rich Gale, who has not pitched since Oct. 5 and has a sore shoulder, and Dick Ruthven, will be the probable pitchers.
Brett will spend the day at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. Royals officials said he would eitehr have surgery to remove the hemorrhoids, or have them lanced. Dr. Paul Meyer, Royals team physician, said Brett would probably be able to play on Friday.
The Phillies are nullifying the Royals' speed by keeping them off the bases.
In two games, Willie Wilson is 1-for-9 and has struck out five times. U.L. Washington is 1-for-8. Frank White, the Most Valuable Player in the American League playoffs, is 2-for-8. Wilson has scored the lone run from the group.
The Royals pounded out 11 hits, including three by Hal McRae, and got five walks off Phillies' starter and winner Steve Carlton. But Kansas City left 11 runners stranded, and the Phils also turned four double plays.
The Royals had scored three runs off Carlton in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead.
Quisenberry, who had a victory and a save in the playoffs, came out of the bullpen in the bottom part of the seventh to replace Gura, who was perfect for four innings. Quisenberry retired the Phils in order in the seventh, but surrendered four runs on four hits and a walk in the eighth.
Quisenberry opened the inning by walking Bob Boone. Pinch-hitter Del Unser followed with a double that rolled to the center-field wall. Pete Rose bounced out to first baseman Pete LaCock with Unser moving to third.
With the infield pulled in close, Bake McBride bounced a chopper over White's head and into right field to score Unser with the tying run.
Mike Schmidt then drilled a shot to the right-field warning track that Jose Cardenal played poorly. Cardenal elected to play a bounce off the wall, but the ball did not travel that far.
By the time Cardenal retrieved the ball, McBride was able to score from first, beating the throw home and sliding under John Wathan's tag.
The Phils added an insurance run when Keith Morland singled home Schmidt.
Kansas City, frustrated the first five innings by Carlton, scored a single run in the sixth and three in the seventh.
Carlton walked the bases loaded in the seventh, issuing free passes to Wilson, Chalk (Brett's replacement) and McRae. With one out, Otis pounded a double into the left-field corner that scored Wilson and Washington. Wathan's sacrifice fly scored McRae.
Otis led off the sixth inning with a single to center, advanced to second when Wathan walked and scored when Phils' second baseman Manny Trillo made a throwing error on a high bouncer hit by Aikens.
After the Phils got the lead in the eighth, they brought out Roon Reed to protect it. He gave up a single to McRae, but struck out Darrell Porter, who was hitting for Chalk, and Wathan, who is hitless in 19 trips in post-season play.
Gura retired the first 13 batters he faced before Keith Moreland legged out an infield hit with one out in the fifth.