Reading Eagle - September 20, 1980
Phils Pinched
Jerry Martin Gets Winning Hit
CHICAGO (AP) – Jerry Martin is having a bad year for a Chicago Cubs team that could lose 100 games, and his clutch hit that beat the Philadelphia Phillies didn’t give his spirits much of a lift.
“I got a fastball and I was just lucky to find a hole,” Martin said Friday after his ninth-inning pinch-hit single gave the Cubs a 4-3 win over the Phillies.
The loss moved the Phillies to 1½ games behind the Eastern Division-leading Montreal Expos, who were defeated by St. Louis 9-8 on Friday night. Chicago is in last place in the division.
In other games, the Pirates beat the Mets 4-3; the Reds beat the Dodgers 10-7; the Giants beat the Astros 4-3, and the Padres beat the Braves 7-4.
“It doesn’t matter who I beat anymore,” said Martin, who was traded by Philadelphia to Chicago two seasons ago. “I haven’t hurt the Phillies much this year. In fact, I haven’t hurt anyone much this year.”
Martin, who is hitting .227, was the 20th player used by Cubs Manager Joey Amalfitano.
“I had one non-pitcher left,” said Amalfitano. “It’s every manager’s dream to have 30 ballplayers because it gives you more maneuverability. But it came down to one, and Lee Smith got Lonnie Smith.”
Lee Smith, 2-0, came on in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded, one out and the Cubs trailing 3-2. He struck out Lonnie Smith and got Bake McBride on a grounder to end the threat and set the stage for Chicago’s two-run rally.
“It was a tough loss,” said Phils’ Manager Dallas Green. “We need every one we can get a hold of. I thought we had this one nailed down. You’re going to lose some, but you don’t want to lose the ones like this.”
The Cubs’ rally started when pinch-hitter Larry Biittner led off with a double into right-center field. Pinch-runner was caught at third on a sacrifice attempt by Steve Dillard, but pinch-hitter Johnson then drew a walk off Warren Brusstar, 2-1. Ivan DeJesus singled Dillard home to tie the game.
Tug McGraw came on for the Phillies and Martin lined a single to right to score Johnson.
Philadelphia clipped Cubs starter Rick Reuschel for a run in the first on a single by McBride and Mike Schmidt’s triple. But the Cubs got the run back in the second on Dillard’s fourth home run of the season.
Ramon Aviles led off the fifth with his second homer of the season. Philadelphia made it 3-1 in the seventh, when Aviles beat out a bunt, took second on a sacrifice and scored when Pete Rose blooped a single to short left.
The Cubs cut the lead to one run in the seventh when pinch-hitter Lenny Randle beat out an infield single, stole second and came home on DeJesus’ single. Sparky Lyle then came on and threw a wild pitch, but retired Mike Vail on a routine fly and Bill Buckner on a grounder to escape the jam.