Syracuse Herald-Journal - October 4, 1980

Phillies Grab Lead

Schmidt Hits No. 47

by The Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) — Mike Schmidt and Tug McGraw, with opposite lifestyles but a common purpose, have pushed the Philadelphia Phillies to within one game of the National League East title.

Schmidt, 31, is a serious-minded type who views baseball as a scientific challenge. McGraw, 36, views life as something to be enjoyed. He has a natural satirical nature.

They combined their efforts Friday night to trigger the Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos.

The triumph boosted the Phillies one game ahead of the Expos in the division. All they have to do to take the title is win one of the two games left with the Expos, today and Sunday.

Schmidt drove in both runs, one on a first-inning sacrifice fly and the other in the sixth on his 47th homer of the season.

The homer tied the major league record for a third baseman set by Eddie Matthews of the Milwaukee Braves in 1957. The two RBI also boosted Schmidt's league-leading total to 119.

Starter Dick Ruthven, 17-10, gave up Montreal's only run in the sixth, when he was relieved by Sparky Lyle. McGraw took over in the eighth and struck out five of the six hitters he faced in two innings, earning his 20lh save of the season.

"That's the best I've ever seen Tug McGraw pitch,' said Gary Carter, the Expos' hard-hitting catcher and player of the month in the NL for September.

McGraw, however, expressed the Phils' feeling of wariness. He recalled last weekend started the same way in Philadelphia.

The Phillies won the first of a threegame series from the Expos only to lose the next two and fall out of first place.

"I didn't get excited after we won tonight because I don't want the same thing to happen that happened last weekend," said McGraw.

Schmidt said of his home run off Montreal loser Scott Sanderson, 16-11, "It was a fast ball low, a darn good pitch. I was lucky to hit it out of the ballpark."

Schmidt conceded that he was nervous.

"The Expos say they're relaxed. We'll, I'm nervous. But I like the butterflies jumping around in my stomach, the adrenalin pumping. When that stops I better quit this game."

Montreal Manager Dick Williams was somber.

"They did a job on us tonight." said Williams. "Ruthven was tough and Lyle and McGraw shut us down. Our guy didn't pitch all that bad. We had several opportunities and weren't able to do it."

Williams referred to the first inning, when they had two on and Ruthven worked out of the jam by getting Carter after throwing him 12 pitches. He also alluded to the sixth when they scored and had two on, but Lyle shut the door on them.

"We just have to win two in a row," Williams said. "We did it last weekend."