Reading Eagle - September 22, 1980

Forgotten Man Saves Win for Phillies

CHICAGO (AP) – A forgotten man, a pitcher who threw one too many screwballs and a player “who got in some good hacks” have made Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green a happy man for awhile.

Philadelphia, which beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 Sunday, moved to within a half-game of the National League East division-leading Montreal Expos, who lost to St. Louis 4-1.

Green observed that Ron Reed, “the forgotten man in my bullpen,” replaced starter Dick Ruthven and retired Mick Kelleher with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and then got the next nine batters to preserve the win for Ruthven, 16-10.

“I know Ron has been unhappy because we have not used him too much,” Green explained, but added, “he came into the game when we needed him and helped get us the win.”

Despite the praise, Reed remains less than satisfied about his status. “I certainly am not happy about the present situation. As far as I’m concerned, I am the forgotten man in this bullpen. But there is no use complaining. I think I’d be misunderstood if I tried.”

Ruthven, who had never won more than 15 games in a single season, took exception to Green’s remark that “he threw one too many screwballs and I had to take him out.”

Said Ruthven, “My screwball may not have been working too well, but I don’t think Green knows when I’m throwing it. As far as I’m concerned, I did have good control.

The Phils’ offensive show – a 15-hit barrage – was paced by Greg Luzinski, who hit his 18^th home run off loser Dennis Lamp, 10-12, in the third.

The Phils scored three more runs in the fourth on doubles by Manny Trillo and Pete Rose and a sacrifice fly from Bake McBride.

The Cubs cut the margin to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth when rookie Jim Tracy hit his first major league homer, and chased Ruthven in the sixth after Jerry Martin doubled home Cliff Johnson, who had singled.

But Luzinski led off the Philadelphia eighth with a double off reliever Dick Tidrow and pinch runner Jay Loviglio scored on Garry Maddox’s RBI single for a 6-2 lead.

“Luzinski got in some good hacks and showed me that he is back on track after being in and out of the lineup,” Green said.

“I have had a lot of key hits for this club, especially against Pittsburgh,” said Luzinski. “If we are going to win, I have to play almost every day.”

Mike Schmidt accounted for the Phils’ final run when he hit his 41^st home run of the season and 30^th career shot in Wrigley Field off Tidrow in the ninth.