Reading Eagle - September 30, 1980
Phils Rally in 15th
Players Unhappy With Green’s Move
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Philadelphia Phillies survived the Monday night purge but it wasn’t easy.
After falling behind 5-3 in the 15th inning, the Phillies rallied for three runs to beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5.
The triumph enabled the Phillies to remain one-half game behind the Montreal Expos in the two-team fight for the National League East Division championship.
Manny Trillo’s two-out bases loaded single drove across the winning run on a fastball from Chicago reliever Dennis Lamp, 10-13.
But back to the purge.
Phillies Manager Dallas Green benched three of his regulars to try and juice an offense that has been almost dormant for a week. He sat down left fielder Greg Luzinski, catcher Bob Boone and center fielder Garry Maddox.
Rookie Lonnie Smith replaced Luzinski and contributed two hits and started the game-winning rally with a walk. Keith Moreland, also a rookie, got two hits, one in the center of the 15th inning comeback.
Del Unser subbed for Maddox, who did get into the game in the 12th inning, and in the 15th singled home the tying run.
The players weren’t too happy about their manager’s move. Shortstop Larry Bowa, Maddox and others voiced criticisms.
“Dallas manages for the press,” Maddox said.
The Phillies have three more games with the Cubs before going to Montreal for a three-game weekend series that could determine the division winner. Montreal, which defeated St. Louis Monday night on a three-run pinch-homer by John Tamargo in the ninth inning, plays the Cardinals twice before hosting the Phillies.
An erros on a perfect double play ball by reliever Dickie Noles set up two unearned runs for Chicago in the 15th. One scored on a sacrifice fly and another on Carlos Lezcano’s double.
The Phillies appeared beaten. But Smith started the bottom of the 15th with a walk. Pete Rose also walked, and both advanced on a wild pitch. Smith scored on a ground out, Rose taking third.
Mike Schmidt popped up for the second out, but Maddox singled to center, scoring Rose and tying the game 5-5. Moreland followed with a single and Bowa walked, loading the bases for Trillo’s single to center.
“It was the biggest hit of my career,” said Trillo. “We got to stay close to Montreal.”
Rose, who drove in the first three Phillies’ runs, two in the third with a double and another in the seventh on a ground out, said the Phillies scored those 15th inning runs when it looked as if they were dead.
“These are the kind of games that win and lose division titles,” said the 39-year-old first baseman, who has been in a slump most of September.
Green voice was hoarse and the manager had some trouble talking.
“That’s having our backs against the wall,” Green rasped. “It (Trillo’s hit) certainly was a big hit for a game at this time. We really needed it. Maybe this clutch hitting will be the catalyst to get us over the hump. Something had to jar us out of it.”
Pinch Homer Vaults Expos
MONTREAL (AP) – John Tamargo, called “Load” by his Montreal Expos teammates, has hit a ton against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Tamargo, little-used catcher, lined a three-run, pinch-hit homer with two out in the last of the ninth Monday night to give the Expos a 5-2 victory over the Cards.
The fourth homer of his career and first of the season raised Tamargo’s average against St. Louis this season to a cool .417. More important, it left the Expos with a one-half game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
The Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5 in 15 innings Monday night.
“I hit a home run to win the season opener last year against San Diego when I was with San Francisco,” said Tamargo, who has seven of his 13 runs batted in against the Cardinals. “That was exciting, but this meant more because we needed this ballgame so much.
“I don’t know why I hit so well against the Cardinals. It’s the same way against the Pirates. There’s no telling why that happens, but I’m sure happy to be doing it when we need it.”
Gary Carter led off the ninth against reliever George Frazier, 0-4, with a ground ball to third baseman Ken Reitz, who threw low to first for only his eighth error of the season.
Warren Cromartie followed with a sacrifice bunt and Carter went to third when pinch hitter Willie Montanez force Cromartie at second on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Tamargo, batting for winner Woodie Fryman, 7-4, then lined Frazier’s second pitch over the right field fence.
Andrew Dawson, hitting in his 12th straight game, led off the fourth inning with his 16th homer of the season for a 1-0 Montreal lead against Pete Vukovich, who gave up only five hits in eight innings.
The Cardinals tied it on Garry Templeton’s leadoff homer in the sixth, his fourth of the year, and took a 2-1 lead in the seventh on a leadoff double by Tony Scott and a two-out single by Vukovich.
Montreal set the stage for the ninth-inning heroics with a run in the eighth on a leadoff single by Chris Speier, a sacrifice, a walk, the Expos’ 18th double steal of the season – spearheaded by pinch runner Ron LeFlore – another walk and Rowland Office’s sacrifice fly.
SportopicS: Good Day For Rich
By John W. Smith
There was one member of the Phillies’ family for whom Saturday wasn’t all that bad. Broadcaster Rich Ashburn, the most famous son of Tilden, Neb., enjoyed the reports on the Penn State – Nebraska game much more than the action he was seeing on the field.
Rich took advantage of the difference in starting times to watch the opening minutes of the football game in the press lounge, surrounded by a flock of newsmen with PSU sympathies. He complained that because of interference from the stadium, he couldn’t use his portable in the booth.
“Take a good look at him, boys; that’s the last you’ll see of him,” chortled Rich as Jarvis Redwine was introduced. “These big farm boys will eat them up.”
One broadcaster quickly offered Rich a $5 bet if he’d give seven points. “I’m giving two,” replied Rich. “The line is four,” the broadcaster retorted. They settled on four.
Jeff Hostetler fumbled on the first play and was sacked on the second. “All bets are off,” came the suggestion.
Curt Warner gained 22 yards on the next play. “I don’t believe it,” exclaimed Rich. Booker Moore raced almost as far on the next one. “What’s going on here,” said Ashburn, even more loudly.
But then the cameras picked up the flag which negated Moore’s run. “No wonder, they’re cheating,” said Rich. On the Cornhusker’s first play, Redwine dashed 10 yards. “Adios,” said Rich.
Soon it was time for him to Adios to the booth. And when Jeff Hostetler fumbled again it was really the start of the Adios for the Lions.
“I made about $75 all together,” Ashburn reported later. “People were thrusting money in my hand all afternoon.” Like the way the Nittany Lions were thrusting the ball in the hands of the Huskers.
A More Morbid Topic
With the Eagles playing Sunday, football was a natural topic both days. But there was also an unnatural topic Sunday. A man and woman had been discovered shot to death in the parking lot of the Hilton across the street. Ray Fitzgerald of the Boston Globe was among the discoverers, on his way to Mass.
Tom Boswell of the Washington Post noted he hadn’t been in on the action because he couldn’t get a room there. “I’m at the Airport Sheraton,” he observed. “No bodies and no cabs.”
When the troops gathered to await admittance to the dressing room after Sunday’s debacle, Bill Conlin of the Daily News had a thought: Better not let Fitzgerald go in first; he may find nine more bodies.”
Actually, the delay was appreciated because the elevator from the fourth floor (press level) to the first had uncommonly detoured a couple of times to the sixth. It was suggested that the operator was performing like the team. “Yeah,” said Dave Nightingale of the Chicago Tribune, “she lost the sixth floor in the sun.”
Dallas in Good Humor
Despite the poor play of the Phillies, the seriousness of the loss, his eighth-inning ejection, and an empty beer chest, Dallas Green was in good humor for the postgame gathering Sunday.
Part of the discussion dealt with the ejection. One writer had observed that Eric Gregg must have enough suits to outfit the entire league umpiring crew, at the different weights he’s rapidly gone through in the last two years.
“What did you say to him that you can repeat?” Boswell asked.
“Nothing,” replied Green. “It would be full of bleeps.” Somebody else asked if Dallas had said anything about his weight. “Every (bleep)in’ word.”
It was noted that at least Greeg still has disco ability, based on his mid-game performance with the Phanatic. “That’s about all he can do,” said Dallas. “He used to be a good umpire. Used to be. I told him that, too.”
But Dallas admitted he isn’t in good shape either. “Getting out there is a problem,” he said. “I’m out of breath when I get there. You can argue only so long on a breathful of air.”
Well, you could walk out there.
“I can’t do that,” Dallas replied. “You guys would write about that. I got to set an example.” Sunday the Phillies surely needed one.