Monessen Valley Independent - September 30, 1980
'Biggest' Hits For Phils' Trillo, Expos' Tamargo
United Press International
They were separated by miles, hours and circumstances but their object was the same: winning the National League East title.
And that's why Manny Trillo and John Tamargo had the exact same thought Monday night.
"That's the biggest hit I've ever had," Tamargo said after his pinch-hit, three-run home run with two out in the ninth inning lifted the Montreal Expos to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
"I once hit a home run in San Francisco on opening day to win a ballgame but I think this may help us to win the division ...."
The triumph kept Montreal atop the National League East standings — just a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, who edged Chicago, 6-5, in 15 innings.
"We have to at least be close to Montreal, that's why it was my biggest hit," said Trillo, who connected for a two-out single to cap a three-run 15th-inning rally that saved the Phillies.
Ironically, a major figure in Philadelphia's rally was Garry Maddox, who wasn't even supposed to play. Maddox was benched Monday, apparently for losing a line drive in the sun in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Expos, which allowed two runs to score.
After the Cubs broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the top of the 15th, Lonnie Smith and Pete Rose drew leadoff walks off Doug Capilla and advanced on a wild pitch. Bake McBride then scored Smith with a groundout.
One out later, Maddox singled off Dennis Lamp, 10-13, to bring in the tying run. Keith Moreland singled and Larry Bowa walked to load the bases before Trillo lined a 1-1 pitch up the middle, making a winner of Kevin Saucier, 7-3, by scoring Maddox.
But the Phillies, who have six games remaining — including a three-game series with Montreal — still have to overcome the Expos.
In Montreal, Manager Dick Williams is getting a charge out of the stretch run.
"This pennant race is bringing out some good baseball, it usually does," he said "You see these guys play like you know they are capable of performing. It's not a daily thing, they couldn't keep up that pace."
For the Expos, Gary Carter reached on a throwing error by Ken Reitz leading off the ninth and advanced on a sacrifice. After Larry Parrish was walked intentionally, Willie Montanez hit into a fielder's choice, moving Carter to third. With Tony Bernazard running for Montanez, Tamargo stepped up and slammed his first home run over the right-field fence off George Frazier, 0-4, to make a winner of Woodie Fryman, 7-4.
The Expos tied the score 2-2 in the eighth on Rowland Office's sacrifice fly after the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the seventh on Pete Vuckovich's single.
Green Benches Veterans
United Press International
PHILADELPHIA (UPI) — Philadelphia manager Dallas Green snook up his lineup Monday night for the Phillies game against the Chicago Cubs and benched centerfielder Garry Maddox, who reportedly blamed the move on a sports writer.
Green also benched leftfielder Greg Luzinski and catcher Bob Boone, who have been in severe batting slumps. Luzinski had only two hits in his last 21 at-bats while Boone was hitless in his last 18 at-bats.
Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Jayson Stark said Maddox took him aside before the game and told him he was trying to "bury" him in his article about Sunday's game.
Stark had noted that Maddox lost a line drive in the sun in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Montreal Expos. The miss allowed two runs to score, breaking open a tight game.
Stark said Maddox felt the writer unfairly brought up an earlier game against San Diego in which the centerfielder lost two balls in the sun. In both games, Maddox was not wearing sunglasses.
Maddox said he felt the story led to his benching by Green and asked that he be treated more fairly in the future, Stark said.
In another development, shortstop Larry Bowa reportedly criticized Green on his Philadelphia radio show for shaking up the lineup in the final stages of the third (sic) pennant race with the Expos.
Bowa said he felt Green betrayed the veterans after allegedly telling them they would be the starters for the big games.
Maddox was replaced in the lineup by veteran Del Unser, while Luzinski and Boone had their positions fielded by rookies Lonnie Smith and Keith Moreland, respectively.