Allentown Morning Call - September 22, 1980
Luzinski’s blast helps Phillies win, 7-3
CHICAGO (AP) – Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green says if the Phillies are going to go anywhere in the National League pennant race, they'll need a big contribution down the stretch from Greg Luzinski.
"Greg Luzinski has got to swing the bat and stay in the lineup," Green said yesterday after his hulking leftfielder helped the Phillies blast the Chicago Cubs 7-3 with a 15-hit barrage to move the team within a half game of the Eastern Division lead.
"Greg has not been able to go at full strength because of a recurring injured knee but now appears to have found himself again," Green said.
"I've made some big hits for this club, especially against Pittsburgh lately," Luzinski said.
The veteran left fielder's home run, his 18th of the year, came off Cub loser Dennis Lamp, 10-12. He also smashed a double in the eighth inning and Green said Luzinski was "finally getting some good hacks at the ball."
"When you hurt yourself and only play once in a while, it's tough to get your timing back," Luzinski said. "But if we are going to win this thing against Montreal I have to contribute. And I feel I'm capable of doing that."
Green also praised relief pitcher Ron Reed and called him " the forgotten man of my bullpen."
Reed replaced Philadelphia starter Dick Ruthven, 16-10, with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and got Mick Kelleher to fly out.
Reed, who then retired the next nine batters to pick up his ninth save, said later, "I am certainly not too happy about not being used too much," but added that "if I open my mouth it will be misunderstood so the best thing is not to say anything.”
Ruthven crossed up the Cubs' strategy with an infield hit in the second after Larry Bowa was intentionally walked with two out to load the bases. The Cubs tied the score in their half of the second on "" a run-scoring double by Jerry Martin.
Luzinski's homer came in the third and the Phillies scored three more runs in the fourth. Doubles by Manny Trillo and Pete Rose knocked in the first two and Bake McBride hit a sacrifice fly.
The Cubs cut the margin to 5-2 in the fourth when rookie Jim Tracy hit his first major league homer.
Ruthven was chased in the Cubs sixth after Martin doubled home Cliff Johnson, who had singled.
Luzinski led off the Philadelphia eighth with a double to left center and pinch runner Jay Loviglio scored on Garry Maddox's single to left.
Philadelphia third base man Mike Schmidt hit his 30th career homer at Wrigley field off reliever Dick Tidrow in the ninth. It was his 41st homer of the season.