Win puts Phils 1½ back

Maddox’ speed is key as Pirates bow

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

PITTSBURGH – The Phillies finally did something right in Three Rivers Stadium. It took all of 11 innings and all the swiftness of Garry Maddox, but the Phillies at last defeated the Pirates on their own artificial turf, 5-4.

The Phils are now finished with the Pirates after having gone 2-7 in Three Rivers Stadium and 7-11 overall against the defending world champions. The rare win broke a five-game losing streak and moved the Phils within 1½ games of first-place Montreal in the National League East standings.

"You can damn near give this game to Garry Maddox," said Phillies Manager Dallas Green.

MADDOX BEGAN claiming the game in the 11th, after Steve Carlton had blown a three-run lead in the seventh to send the game into extra innings tied, 4-4. The Phils' fleet center fielder greeted Pirate reliever Kent Tekulve with a single to center. Then, on Green's command, Maddox stole second.

Greg Gross, who entered the game in the seventh as a defensive replacement for left fielder Greg Luzinski and contributed to the evaporation of the lead, grounded back to Tekulve for the inning's first out.

It was then that Maddox decided to take matters into his own hands, or feet, as it were. On his own, Maddox stole third before Bob Boone struck out.

"TEKULVE'S STYLE – the way he drops down to throw – is something he can't alter just because I'm on base," said Maddox. "All I had to do was get as good a jump as I possibly could. I was doing it as an offensive move to help us score a run."

As it turned out, it helped immeasurably. Del Unser, pinchhitting for reliever Tug McGraw, who got the win, followed with a soft line drive that found its way into left field for a hit. Unser later described it as his biggest hit of the season.

Maddox bad performed another bit of artful baserunning in the sixth. After singling and going to third on a single by Larry Bowa. who went 3-for-3 but left the game after the sixth with a pulled hamstring muscle, Maddox stayed in a rundown long enough for the Phillies to come out of it with runners on second and third.

"SIXTEEN TOSSES," said Green of the rundown. "Garry was running (from third) on contact. The worst you can get out of that is first and third, but Garry stayed in long enough to get us second and third."

Maddox remained the runner at third because Bowa, who had been on first, was already on the bag when the Pirates allowed Maddox to get back to it safely. Boone, who had hit a chopper to third to begin the rundown, meanwhile moved up to second.

That set up a sacrifice fly by Carlton, which gave the Phils their 4-1 lead.

"THERE'S NO technique to it." said Maddox. "You just try to stay in it as long as you can."

The game might have been over then. But the Pirates rallied in the seventh, first getting a leadoff home run by Bill Robinson. Two outs later, Phil Garner and Steve Nicosia put together back-to-back singles before pinchhitter Kurt Bevacqua lined a 3-2 pitch into left-center. Gross first broke in on the ball, then, realizing his error, raced back toward the warning track. But Gross never caught up with the ball and both runners scored.

Carlton pitched through the eighth without incident, then McGraw worked through the ninth and 10th. Sparky Lyle. acquired from Texas on Saturday, pitched the 11th for his first save in the National League.

"IT JUST felt good to get into a game that was close," said Lyle. "I threw all sliders. One of them backed up and went the other way. That's okay, as long as they move."

They moved, and they helped the Phils take a game as crucial as any they have played this season.

PHIL UPS Pete Rose doubled in the ninth to move into fourth place on the all-time doubles list with 651... Phils are off today, then open three-game series in Chicago tomorrow, with Bob Walk opposing Rick Reuschel... Other matchups: Marty Bystrom vs. Lynn McGlothen and Dick Ruthven vs. Dennis Lamp...Carlton went into the game having won 14 times after the Phils had lost the game before his start.

Victory over Pirates may be turning point

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

PITTSBURGH – Over the course of a baseball season, some six months long, few games – or even series – can actually be singled out as truly critical. Of course, some games have more meaning than others. But games that can have as much impact on a team's psyche as its position in the standings are rare indeed.

Usually, the crucial few – call them turning points – if you will are recognized only in retrospect. The Phillies played such a game on Aug. 11 in Chicago after they had lost five straight to the Pirates here.

Fans will recall that the Phillies blew a lead in the late innings to the Cubs on that day and the score was tied when the game was suspended. But the next afternoon, the Phils pulled it out and went on to sweep New York to suddenly assert themselves as a bona fide contender in the National League East.

It will not, however, take the passage of time to qualify last night's game against the Pirates as one of those in the category of crucial. It was vital not only because of the bearing it might have on the East pennant race, but because it was the Phils' best – and last – chance to leave Three Rivers Stadium with some measure of self-respect.

The Phillies' decade-long frustrations in this nightmare of a ballpark are well documented. They had, since 1970, lost 68 of 98 here prior to last night. And this season they had lost five straight, six of seven. Twice before, in 1970 and again in 1977, they had gone 1-8 against the Pirates in Three Rivers. They did not want to repeat that humiliation in 1980.

As for the Pirates, who went into the contest in third place, trailing division-leading Montreal by five games, winning was all but mandatory. Despite all their wins of the past over Philadelphia, the Bucs knew this was the one they needed to remain a part of the pennant race.

Monday's 3-2 victory over the Phillies would mean little if the Pirates could not win again. In that game, the Phils had the Pirates on the ropes, but failed to deliver a knockout punch. Much the same thing happened last night.

The Phils cruised into the seventh inning with a 4-1 lead, only to watch in horror as the Pirates tied it against . Steve Carlton, the National League's most dominant pitcher. Carlton had not blown a three-run lead all year, but last night be gave up a home run to Bill Robinson and a two-out, two-run pinch double to Kurt Bevacqua.

Clearly, more was at stake than the mere outcome as the game went into the 11th inning, when Garry Maddox singled, stole two bases and scored on Del Unser's pinch single to give the Phils a 5-4 win.

"That," said Phillies Manager Dallas Green, "was a nice game to win, especially since we had it and couldn't put it away."

Added Unser, whose single made a loser out of Pirate reliever Kent Tekulve, "This is probably my biggest hit of the Season as far as pinchhitting goes. Sooner or later, everybody will pick each other up. Tonight, I got my chance.

"Maybe this will motivate us. But we still have to play well in Chicago (the Phils' next stop on this seven-game road trip). You have to take one day at a time, believe in yourself one day at a time."

Maddox, who stole third on his own before Bob Boone fanned for the inning's second out, seemed more relieved that the Phils had put three games between themselves and the Pirates than ecstatic over a win he all but created alone.

"I'm glad we won," he said. "And, I'm glad I contributed. To have them come back and tie the game off Steve Carlton definitely put it in their favor. Then, to come back and win a game like this... You can't help but look at the scoreboard and see Montreal losing and know how fast things can change around. Now, the Pirates are going to need help to catch us – that's why the three games are so important.

"It's nice to establish early in a season how you're going to play in a certain park. But, this late in the season, you're not trying to win just because of the park."

But the park, and the timing, and the team the Phillies beat, all meant something. And there is more than a good chance that some time before spring training next year, someone will point to this game and call it a turning point.

Phillie Relievers Offer Peace of Mind, Win Over Bucs

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 4

PITTSBURGH — The New York Connection with the help of Legs and the Journeyman pulled the Phillies out of the jaws of the death trap Wednesday night.

Tug McGraw and Sparky Lyle, a pair of sterling southpaw relievers who did their best work while in New York uniforms, shut out the Pirates the final three innings and gave the Phils a chance to score a run in the top of the 11th inning to squeeze by the Bucs 5-4.

The victory pulled the visitors within 1½ games of Montreal in the National League East. The Expos lost 5-2 to the Mets.

Garry Maddox used his bat and his legs to set the decisive run in motion against Kent Tekulve, the third Pittsburgh pitcher. Maddox started the 11th with a single up the middle. He stole second, his 23rd of the season, but was forced to hold that bag as Greg Gross bounced out to pitcher.

While Bob Boone was batting, Maddox suddenly darted to third and mad it with a belly flop slide.

"Tekulve has a sort of slow delivery. I just saw a chance to go and I went. I'm just glad I made it, because this was a run we really needed," Maddox said.

Del Unser, who has played for six major league teams, then directed the soft line drive over short stop for a single, which allowed Maddox to motor home.

“I was up there trying to hit a little line drive someplace. I didn't want it to be quite as soft as it was, but when it hit the ground I was a happy guy," Unser said. "A team that's made up of a lot of individuals who do big or little things to help pick up victories. Tonight I got a chance to contribute big. It's probably my biggest hit of the year since this victory is so important in the stretch drive."

The Phils led early 3-0 and 4-1. When they reached the seventh inning with Cy Young's agent, Steve Carlton, on the mound, the 4-1 lead seemed very secure. But when the Phillies are playing in Three Rivers Stadium, insecurity is the name of their game.

The visitors got to Burt Blyleven for three runs in the fifth inning. Larry Bowa, who had three straight singles before a mild hamstring pull forced him out of the game, started the fifth with the second of his singles. Bob Boone bunted him to second, but he stayed there as Carlton was retired catcher to first for the second out. Pete Rose battled Blyleven for a walk. Bake McBride beat out a high chopper to first to load the bases.

Then Mike Schmidt worked the count to 3-2 and bite the bullet as he took a slightly high pitch for a walk to force home the first run. Greg Luzinski followed with a line shot off the leftfield fence for a double that sent two more runs home. A fly ball by Manny Trillo ended the inning.

Lee Lacy retrived one run for the Pirates in the bottom of the fifth with his seventh homer. But the Phils got that back in the sixth when Maddox singled, went to third run on Bowa's single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlton.

However the Phils, who ended the season 2-7 at Three Rivers, had to grimace before they could smile. Bill Robinson began the seventh with his 12th homer. After Carlton got the next hitters, Phil Garner and Robinson Steve Nicosia reached him for singles. That brought Kurt Bevacqua on to hit for Blyleven. lined a double just in over the glove of Gross, who had replaced Luzinski in leftfield.  Both runners scored and it was a 4-4 game.

McGraw came on to limit the Pirates to one hit the next two innings and wound up with his second victory in six decisions.

"I had the screwgee working pretty good tonight, but apparently I still have trouble getting out lefthanders. Maybe I better take another course in relief pitching,” McGraw said.

The only hit off him a one-out single by John Milner, his former Met teammate, in the 10th. When Vance Law, as a pinch runner, stole second McGraw reached back for a little extra.

"I pitched Omar Moreno as nasty as I could and was happy to see him hit that little pop fly off the wrists," McGraw said. "Tim Foli presented a different kind of problem. You gotta keep that little guy from getting anything up, cause he'll pop it into an open space on you. 1 just kept it down and finally go him to ground out."

Unser was pinch-hitting for McGraw when he drove home the big run, so that got McGraw the victory. Lyle picked up his first save in a Philadelphia uniform, while allowing only a walk to Robinson in the 11th.

"It was nice to be out there with the game on the line. That hasn't happened to me in a long time," Lyle said. "I still am a few steps away from having my best stuff. But at least it was good enough to get the job done.”

The Phils have today off for travelling to Chicago, where they play the Cubs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Pittsburgh’s Family Isn’t Giving Up Yet

Tales of Hoffman by Harry Hoffman

PITTSBURGH — The Family has not disbanded. The World Champions do not have their throne up for sale. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not made of stuff that crumbles easily.

Saying the Bucks have capitulated just because they are five down with 17 to play is like making quitters out of some of the great comeback artists throughout history.

It would be like General MacArthur saying:

"I shall not return," as he hurried out of the Philippines early in World War II.

Or like Admiral Dewey screaming:

"Let's back the hell out of here. I don't like those damned torpedoes."

Or like Patrick Henry proclaiming:

"Just let me live, I don't care about my liberty."

Tuesday the Pirates got the plays they needed when they needed them. They bunched their hits at the right time to produce just enough runs for pitcher Jim Bibby. Then they got strong ninth-inning relief from Kent Tekulve when it appeared the Phils were about to bury them deeper into third place in the National League East.

Actually, it's not easy to knock the Phils' effort in the 3-2 defeat that pushed them 2½ games behind Montreal going into Wednesday night's action here and in New York.

The Phils were up against one of the premier pitchers in the league in Bibby, who has been a right-handed Steve Carlton for the Bucks all season. The visitors lost one run in the third inning when right fielder Dave Parker back-handed a drive off his shoe top that was hit by Pete Rose.

Dick Ruthven and then Sparky Lyle in the ninth shut down the free ing Pittsburgh attack after the third inning to give the Phils' offense some room for a comeback.

When Mike Schmidt started the ninth inning with his 39th homer, it appeared they were on their way. But Tekulve, who has been doing the same thing to a lot of teams for a long time, slammed the comeback door in their faces to give the Bucks a needed lift.

This year the Pirates have suffered down the stretch of the season because their main man, Willie Stargell, has been on the disabled with aching legs. Wednesday night before the game, he was out on the field hitting pepper to some of his teammates and spouting the kind of philosphy that has made him the guts of the Pirates for a long time.

"Sure, I'd like to be out there playing and helping these guys get it done. But sometimes The Man says it can't be so you have to go along with Him," Stargell said. "But these guys, with or without me on the field, are not about to give up our championship without a battle. There is still a lot of knocking ahead. Philadelphia and Montreal play a lot of games against each other. We play the Expos here a couple of times.

"This division has been tight all year and it will stay tight. I think it will come down to the last series, and everyone knows how tough the Family can be in October," Stargell said.

The Phils will testify just how tough they can be every month of the season. When they entered combat with them for the last time Wednesday, the Phils were trying to find a way to scrounge out their second victory in nine starts here. Philadelphia did manage to win four of nine against Pittsburgh back at Veterans Stadium.

"We can't dwell on what happened yesterday or the day before," Green said before the game. "They don't give things away, that's why they are champs. We have to go out there and grind it out behind our guy (Steve Carlton). But even if we don't win this game, we can't let that affect what we do on the rest of the trip. One game does not decide anything, unless it's the last game of the season and the title is on the line."

The Phils play three games in Chicago starting Friday night and two in St. Louis before coming home for a nine-game stand, which includes three games with the first-place Expos. Green has worked hard to fashion the Phils into his kind of family that responds to pressure the way the Family in Pittsburgh has responded to pressure for a long time.

The success or failure of the manager's master plan was not decided here last night. The six games remaining with the Expos, which include the final three of the season, will determine just what kind of family togetherness Papa Green has fostered in Philadelphia.