Elyria Chronicle-Telegram - October 4, 1980

Phils Still Cautious

by The United Press International

MONTREAL (UPI) - The Philadelphia Phillies, one victory away from the National League East title, are doing a good job of containing an impulse toward celebration.

The Phillies defeated the Montreal Expos 2-1 Friday night behind Mike Schmidt's 47th home run of the season and the pitching of Dick Ruthven, 17-10, Sparky Lyle and Tug McGraw.

"I don't want to get too excited," said McGraw. who pitched two innings of scoreless relief en route to his 20th save of the season. "I think that would be a way of giving in to the pressure. I think we should contain it within ourselves for another two games."

"It was a big game for us." said Schmidt. "I think we feel confident but as they say. There is still a lot of baseball to play.' This is the way it started last weekend when we won the first one in Philadelphia and they took the next two."

Philadelphia manager Dallas Green termed the victory important.

"But we still need one more to go with it," Green said. "The pitching is the answer to this series and we sure got it tonight. We've come a long way as a baseball club this year."

Montreal manager Dick Williams was visibly dejected. "The day off we had didn't hurt us." Williams said. "The game was pitching and defense. They had a little more than we did."

Williams then threw a challenge at the Expos, who are trying to claim their first title in the team's 11-year history.

"If we don't win tomorrow we're just a second-place team," Williams said.

•

Phil 2, Expos 1

Mike Schmidt drove in both runs with a first-inning sacrifice fly and a homer in the sixth as Philadelphia beat Montreal.

Schmidt's 16th game-winning RBI of the season gave Philadelphia the jump in the weekend series between the Phillies and the Expos, who started the series tied for first

Right-hander Dick Ruthven. 17-10, pitched 52-3 innings and gave up the Expos' only ran before veteran lefthanders Sparky Lyle and Tug McGraw relieved.