Doylestown Daily Intelligencer - October 2, 1980
Carlton, Home Runs Defeat Chicago, 5-0
By Paul Giordano, Intelligencer Writer
PHILADELPHIA – If Greg Luzinski’s stroke is back. If Wednesday night’s home run was any indication of what is to come, the Phils have better than a 50-50 chance to catch Montreal and win the National League East this weekend at Montreal.
Sure one shot out of four swings doesn’t guarantee what could possibly be, but it is something for Phillies’ fans to get excited about. And, it does make Mike Schmidt a better hitter. When Luzinski’s swinging the big stick, the opposition can no longer pitch around Schmidt. They have to pitch to him.
Wednesday night, manager Dallas Green decided to give Luzinski another try and in the sixth inning, Luzinski came through, hitting his 19th home run of the season off Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Dennis Lamp on the first pitch, following Schmidt’s 45th round tripper of the campaign.
The Phils, behind the two-hit pitching of Steve Carlton, went on to top the Cubs, 5-0, and kept ½ game behind the Expos, who also won and are off tonight. If the Phils win tonight (Channel 17, 7:35 p.m.) they will go into the three-game weekend series at Montreal tied for first place.
“I still feel Greg will come through,” Green said after the win. “If he does, power wise, we’re in better shape as a team.”
“I hope to continue to do that,” Luzinski, who hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 24, said. “But I don’t worry about me, being benched and all. I worry about the ballclub. It takes all 25 to win.
“Sure I feel I’m a big part of this thing, no question about it, and if I hit one it makes it a lot easier for Mike Schmidt and the guys who hit in front of me. And when Lonnie Smith’s in there, I pull for him.
‘I’ve been benched, but I’m sure there’s a reason behind it. Dallas wanted to get the offense moving, and guys like Lonnie Smith are part of the ballclub, too.”
“When I saw my name on the lineup card, I wasn’t thinking about what I had to do, wasn’t even thinking about the Montreal series. I still have a personal goal and that’s to win this thing.
“But if I’m struggling, and especially being in the middle of the lineup, I can see his (Green’s) thinking. I don’t think anyone’s pulling for me any more than Dallas Green. He knows as well as I do if I’m hitting it makes Mike Schmidt a better hitter.”
The Phils, really, didn’t need all that much hitting Wednesday night. Carlton was at his best. Until Mike Vail’s leadoff single in the eighth inning, Carlton has the Cubs shut down with a no-hitter, retiring 22-of-23 hitters, only allowing a second-inning walk to Carlos Lezcano.
“Lefty was outstanding, no question about it,” Green said. “He had a super slider, an outstanding curve ball and his fast ball had good pop on it. He had no-hit ingredients.”
EXTRA BASES – Carlton picked up win number 24, second to his 27 in 1972. It was his 45th career shutout. It’s the second time Carlton has gone over 300 innings in one season. He pitched 346 in 1972. His ERA, 2.34, is second to Dodgers’ Don Sutton’s 2.21… Schmidt is two home runs shy of NL record for third basemen, set by Eddie Mathews in 1957, 47… Bob Walk goes against Randy Martz in tonight’s season home finale… Phils have won 16 of last 23 and 10 of last 15.