Sutton, Cey lift L.A. over Phils

By Hal Bodley, Gannett News Service

LOS ANGELES – Don Sutton has been pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1966. Before last night, he had been involved in 27 decisions against the Phillies.

To veteran Phils few can ever remember the 35-year-old righthander ever as effective as he was last night.

Sutton limited the Phils to just three singles – none after the fourth inning – and rode Ron Cey's 23rd homer of the year to a 1-0 victory over Steve Carlton.

Carlton, who suffered his eighth setback compared to 21 victories, turned in his usual outstanding effort, but it was not enough last night.

Sutton, who left after eight innings in favor of Don Stanhouse, struck out 10 batters, walked only two and reduced his National League-leading earned run average to 2.15.

Carlton gave up only six hits, pitched out of several jams, but his teammates could not overcome Cey's second-inning, leadoff homer.

The setback ended the Phils' four-game winning streak and was their first loss after three successes in Dodger Stadium this year.

Even though the Phils lost, they remained in first place in the division by a percentage point over Montreal, which defeated San Francisco. Pittsburgh, a game back, lost to Atlanta.

"I have seen Don Sutton pitch some great games," said Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda, "but I have never seen him so overpowering. He probably could have gone out in the ninth, but his toe (it was broken earlier in the year) was bothering him.

"This was a very important victory for us, to come back after losing on Thursday night 3-2 and beat Steve Carlton. Believe me, it took an effort like this to beat Carlton."

"Both pitchers were outstanding," said Phils Manager Dallas Green. "Sutton was just a little bit better. He moved the ball in and out, changed speeds, and I thought his fastball was popping."

"Carlton struggled a little with his slider and that's what Cey hit," said catcher Bob Boone. "It was hanging over the plate."

"He made some excellent pitches," said Pete Rose of Sutton. "It's difficult to believe his record was 9-4 before tonight. But, when you look at his hit ratio and earned run average, it's obvious he has been pitching well."

"Best stuff I have had in several years," said Sutton, who is now 18-10 vs. the Phils. "I have a good fastball and breaking pitch, but the key was my location. I was hitting the corners."

By winning, the Dodgers moved 1½ games over Houston in the Western Division.

Cey blasted his homer leading off the second inning and after that, Carlton repeatedly worked out of jams.

In the third, Davey Lopes singled with one out, but was caught stealing with Carlton's effective pickoff move.

In the fourth, again with one down, Steve Garvey doubled and Cey walked on four pitches. Joe Ferguson ended the threat, bouncing into a double play.

Controversy featured the fifth. Mickey Hatcher beat out an infield single behind the mound and went to second when Carlton balked. Darrel Thomas' infield out allowed the runner to move to third.

With the count 1-1, the Dodgers attempted a suicide squeeze. The Phils, smelling the play, pitched out and Hatcher was halfway down the line. Bob Boone's throw to third, however, hit Hatcher on the arm. The umpires, however, ruled interference and, although Lasorda protested, the call stood. Sutton then fanned.

In the sixth, with two down, Dusty Baker doubled to left, but Garvey grounded out.

Rose singled with one out for the Phils in the first, but was forced out at second by Mike Schmidt and Bake McBride grounded out.

A double play, after Greg Luzinski walked in the second, put the Phils down.

The Phils mounted their best threat in the fourth. Schmidt led off with a single to left. McBride was called out on strikes and, when Luzinski went down swinging, Schmidt stole second. Trillo grounded out to end the threat.

PHIL UPS – Rose has batted safely in 12 of his last 13 games and 15 of 17... Schmidt has hit safely in 15 of 17 games... In July-August-September, Tug McGraw has pitched in 20 games, allowing just three earned runs, an 0.96 earned run average over that span... Tonight's game starts at 10 o'clock, with Larry Christenson going against Bob Welch... The Phils complete trip tomorrow with Dick Ruthven facing Dave Goltz... After that, they return to Philadelphia for a two-game set with the Pirates.

Gems by Sutton, Rogers Knot Phils, Expos

Los Angeles 1, Philadelphia 0

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Ron Cey slugged a home run to back the three-hit pitching of Don Sutton and Don Stanhouse as Los Angeles shut out the Philadelphia Phillies and Steve Carlton 1-0 Friday night.

Sutton, 10-4, hurled the first eight innings, giving three singles, striking out a season high 10 and walking only two. Stanhouse worked the ninth to record his fifth save.

Carlton, 21-8, took the loss, his sixth straight against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Phillies' left-hander has not won in Dodger Stadium since July, 1972 during the regular season.

Cey slugged his 23rd homer to lead off the second inning game's for the only run.

The Phillies got only one runner past first base, in the fourth, when Mike Schmidt led off with a single and stole second. But Sutton struck out the next two batters and got Manny Trillo to ground out to second for the final out. It was the Phillies' last hit of the game.

The loss snapped Philadelphia's four-game winning streak. The win was the Dodgers' eighth in their last nine games.