Reading Eagle - September 4, 1980

Good Pitching

Phils Complete Giant Sweep

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The Philadelphia Phillies are thinking big now, thanks to some little hits and a lot of good pitching.

They totaled 28 hits, but only three for extra bases, in a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants which ended Wednesday night with a 4-3 victory.

They haven’t hit a home run in 10 games, yet they lead the National League East by a half-game over Pittsburgh and a full game over Montreal. Tonight they’re in Los Angeles to face the Dodgers, Western Division leaders, in the opener of a four-game series.

Pitcher Dick Ruthven got the only extra base hit Wednesday night. He doubled off Allen Ripley, 7-8, in the second inning when the Phillies scored three runs with the help of three infield hits, including a bunt single by Larry Bowa.

“I had an 0-2 count on the first batter, Manny Trillo, and he got a hit. It was just a slow roller, but I should have a guy out when I get two quick strikes on him,” said Ripley. “Then Ruthven got the hit on an 0-2 pitch.”

In the sixth, a squeeze bunt by Bowa scored Trillo, who had opened the inning with another infield hit, and made the score 4-0.

“That squeeze scored a bit, important run for us,” Manager Dallas Green said after his team’s second consecutive one-run victory.

The Giants fought back against Ruthven, 14-8. With a run in the bottom of the sixth on Joe Pettini’s RBI single and with two in the ninth, when Pettini led off with a single and pinch-hitter Chris Bourjos belted a two-run homer.

It was the first major league hit by Bourjos, called up from the minors last week.

“I never thought the first hit would be a homer,” admitted the outfielder who hit just nine this season for Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League.

“I didn’t know anything about him, but I still didn’t have to hang a slider on a 1-2 pitch,” said Ruthven, who left the game after getting one out in the ninth.

Tug McGraw finished up, getting his 16^th save, but gave up a two-out double to Terry Whitfield before striking out Mike Ivie.

“We don’t make them easy,” noted Green.

The Giants’ Guy Sularz joined teammate Bourjos in breaking into the big league hit column. He singled in the sixth inning, and Phillies first baseman Pete Rose, who has 3,526, tossed him the ball to keep as a souvenir.

“When he threw it, I kind of bobbled it I was so nervous,” said the rookie infielder.