Phillies drop slumping Bucs, cut Expo lead

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Okay. This is it. No more fooling around with those teams in that other division. The time has come for the National League East to unshuffle itself and discover a winner.

From now until early October, the East will be staging its version of "Three's Company," starring the Phillies, Pirates and Expos. The division's three top teams will be playing each other 14 times in the coming weeks, which all but guarantees a mad scramble to the finish.

Round one of the East's September round-robin went to the Phils, who last night bounced the Bucs, 6-2, before 40,576 heartened fans in Veterans Stadium. The Expos, who presently lead the division, had the night off.

WHAT THE Phillies used to break a six-game losing streak to the Pirates and move within one-half game of Montreal was some excellent pitching by rookie Bob Walk and reliever Tug McGraw and some timely hitting by the heart of the batting order: Bake McBride, Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski.

Walk permitted the Pirates but one hit until the fifth, when John Milner sent a 3-2 . pitch careening off the 1977 championship disc beyond the right-field wall. The homer, Milner's eighth, was the first off Walk in six weeks, 45⅓ innings, and it staked the Bucs to their only lead of the game.

And McGraw picked up his first victory since last Sept. 18 by working out of jams in the seventh and ninth. The win was particularly sweet for the lefthander, who lost two games in the late innings to the Pirates earlier this season and twice was victimized by Pirate grand slams a year ago.

"Every win now is absolute – no matter who you play," said McGraw. "But I wanted this one."

HE GOT IT by entering the game in the seventh, after the Bucs had tied it, 2-2, off Walk on back-to-back doubles by Dave Parker and Mike Easler. The first batter McGraw faced was Milner, whose pinch-hit, ninth-inning grand slam off McGraw sent the Phillies tumbling from the 1979 pennant race. McGraw pitched carefully to Milner, walked him, then got Ed Ott (another member of the Grand Slam off Tug McGraw Club) to fly out and Phil Garner to bounce into a fielder's choice.

In the ninth, after the Phils had broken the game open with a four-run eighth off relievers Enrique Romo and Kent Tekulve, McGraw got one out before Parker singled to left. Easler forced Parker, but Milner walked and Ott singled off McGraw's glove to load the bases. This time, however, there would be no bases-loaded heroics for the Pirates, McGraw snapping a third strike past Garner to end the game.

McBride lit the fuse in the decisive eighth when he greeted Romo with his fourth hit of the game, a single to right, then motored into third base behind Schmidt's broken-bat single to right.

Luzinski, in a 1-for-11, five-strikeout recession, fouled off Romo's first two pitches, took a tough 0-2 pitch, then lined a hanging curveball to left to send McBride home with the lead run. For Luzinski, who had walked and struck out twice against starter Don Robinson, it was – at the least – a satisfying hit.

"THERE'S NO question about that," Luzinski said. "You know, you're 0-for-2 with two strikeouts... You're in the eighth inning... Tug's throwing the ball good. We haven't scored too many runs the last couple games. You hit the ball hard, put it in play, you have a chance of scoring."

Luzinski's single seemed to snap whatever dam had been holding back Phillie runs recently. After Manny Trillo sacrificed, Tekulve replaced Romo and intentionally walked Garry Maddox to get to Larry Bowa, who promptly doubled in two runs. And, McGraw himself put the finishing touches on the inning with a nicely executed squeeze bunt that scored Maddox.

The Phillies, who had lost to Robinson three times in four previous meetings, got their only runs off the righthander in the sixth.

McBRlDE OPENED the inning with a single, but was gunned down at second when Schmidt could not get a cut at a high, inside pitch with the hit-and-run on. Nevertheless, Schmidt later got a swing at a Robinson pitch and sent it soaring over the wall in right center for his 37th homer of the season. It was only Schmidt's second hit (the other also was a home run) in 14 at bats against the Pirate righthander this season.

The Phils were fortunate to score another run in the inning. Trillo (0-f or-15 at that point) followed a Luzinski strikeout by popping a breaking ball into the no-man's land of shallow left center. Three Pirates converged on the ball, and Easler made what appeared to be a sensational shoe-top catch.

But Easler stumbled, rolled and the ball was jostled free, second base umpire Andy Olsen ruling the leftfielder had not maintained control. The Pirates argued the call to no avail, setting the stage for Maddox to single home Trillo.

PHIL UPS – Pirates have lost 12 of 14, 16 of 21... Win snapped three-game Phillie losing streak... Schmidt has 22 home runs this season at the Vet, tying the club record he had already shared with Deron Johnson (1971) and Luzinski (1977)... Five of Schmidt's seven hits off Pirates this season have been homers... McGraw is 1-0 with nine saves and a 0.87 ERA over his last 21 appearances...Steve Carlton opposes John Candelaria tonight... Marty Bystrom gets his first major league start tomorrow in New York.

Tug looks grand, slams door on Bucs

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – When Tug McGraw successfully accomplishes a mission on the mound, it's always hats and horns – a combination New Year's Eve and St. Paddy's Day complete with whoops, hollers, glove slapping and the distant sound of champagne bottles popping.

The trouble is, when you uncork the bubbly stuff too soon, it's a little tough to stay dry, let alone get it back into the bottle.

Such was Tug's dilemma last night when he prematurely broke the seal on a magnum of vintage frustration that he has been carrying around ever since the Pittsburgh Pirates gave him back-to-back hangovers by cracking grand slam home runs to beat him twice in 1979.

John Milner of the Bucs came off the 1 bench in the ninth inning to do it once. And a week later, catcher Ed Ott did it again, thus setting the stage for Tug to go into the record books as one of the few hurlers to give up four grand slams in a season.

It gave the Pirates a feeling they "owned" McGraw. At least that's what Tug suspected when the "Family" pegged two more defeats on him with late inning heroics during the current season.

Small wonder McGraw's pent up emotions were spritzing all over Veterans Stadium this time around as a check-swing by Pittsburgh's John Milner, signaled what Tug thought was the final out in the Phillies' 6-2 victory.

Unfortunately, umpire Nick Colosi didn't quite see it that way because as McGraw said in jest, "Nick doesn't like Irish guys... so he said Milner didn't swing."

Although the zany southpaw retained his humor, he lost concentration and intensity during his premature celebration and ended up walking Milner and yielding an infield hit to Ott to load the bases.

Deja vu. With the sacks full and just one out needed to nail down his first victory of the season, Tug felt like he'd been here before.

There was a difference, however. The leprechaun of the Phillies' bullpen had come to the ballpark convinced that he was, "going to put an end to all this crap," and show the Pirates they didn't own him.

"It was no threat," said Tug with a smile. "Ott and Milner were already on base. And Phil Garner isn't going to hit a grand slam off me."

Such a possibility existed, however.

"How could I not know that! What with 40,000 fans reminding me," said Tug. "But, all I had to do was get my act together. When I think the game is over, I let it all hang out and I'm a goner emotionally."

McGraw wasn't that far gone. He's at the top of his game right now, having registered an impressive 17 saves thus far this season while brandishing his best screwball in years and some variations on his fastball.

He has his regular straight fastball, plus a hummer that he holds differently and releases with a limp wrist, thus causing it to tail away from lefthanded batters.

Yet, if one were to look for the main reason folks are beginning to suspect McGraw may lead the Phillies to a championship as he did during his glory days with the New York Mets, it probably would be found in the way Manager Dallas Green has bandied him.

"I was sincere when I used to complain about the way Danny Ozark used me," said Tug. "Now, I'm being used effectively and consistently."

So, McGraw struck out Garner to end the game and register his first victory since Sept. 18, 1979.

"It's usually a matter of either getting a save or a loss when you're a' relief pitcher," he explained. "Still, it's nice to get a victory. It's a little tough when you go to a Little League banquet and some kid asks you how many games you won... next question!"

In 1973, when his 25 saves sparked a division title for the Mets, McGraw didn't post his first victory until August. He figures his waiting this long for number one in 1980 is a good omen.

When he said that, he was wearing an army camouflage shirt that he bought in Los Angeles because the Dodgers were out to get him.

They'd better get in line behind the Pirates. A lot of people are out to get Tug McGraw these days. But, most of the time, it has been the other way around.

Crawford tangles with Ott

By Rusty Pray of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Jerry Crawford is hardly what you would call the favorite umpire of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It was Crawford, if you recall, who earlier this season got his face entangled in the glove of Pirate third baseman Bill Madlock. Crawford's close encounter eventually cost Madlock a record 15-day suspension and $5,000 fine.

Last night, after the Phillies had wrapped up a 6-2 win over the Pirates in Veterans Stadium, Crawford again met face-on with one of the Bucs, this time catcher Ed Ott.

Crawford, the home plate umpire, ejected Ott during a post-game confrontation just outside the runway that leads to the umpires' dressing quarters. Ott, who had complained on two called strikes before singling in the ninth, was standing on first base as Phil Garner took a called third strike from Tug McGraw for the game's final out.

As he walked toward the Pirate dugout, Ott apparently yelled something at Crawford, who was already in the runway. Incensed, Crawford returned to the field and went jaw-to-jaw with Ott before the two were separated.

"He called me a (blanking) crybaby because I complained about the low pitch (Crawford called two strikes after McGraw had fallen behind Ott, 3-0)," said Ott.

"He was upset at the called strike and started screaming at me," said Crawford. "He called me a (unprintable name) and I'm not going to take that from, anybody. And, I came back down the runway and told him.

"He said I said something about him in Pittsburgh. If I have something to say to him, I'll tell him to his face. And you can tell him I said that... I'm going to file a report (with the National League office)."

When told of the report, Ott observed, "That's Jerry's style. He'll probably have me pinning him to the ground."

Phillies’ Victory Leaves Pirates in Third Place

Philadelphia 6, Pittsburgh 2

By Harry Hoffman, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA – Greg Luzinski was very glad he got a chance to be a Space Man Monday night at Veterans Stadium. The big guy, who has been struggling to find a consistent hitting stroke all season, came through with a key single in a four-run eighth inning to propel the Phillies towards a 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh.

"These two games give us a chance to put some space between us and the Pirates. So they have to be extra important. But I'm just happy to get a chance to help the team out. I haven't been paying off too big for some time," said Luzinski.

The Phillies, who came home after losing their last three games in Los Angeles during a fairly successful 6-5 road trip, had a lot of heroes as they broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning to gain only their fifth victory in 15 meetings with the Bucs.

Bake McBride contributed four straight singles, including a bouncer to right field off loser Enrique Romo, 5-5, to start the decisive eighth inning.

Tug McGraw pitched the final two and third innings in relief of starter Bob Walk and gained his first 1980 victory in five decisions.

"In 1973 I picked up my first win in August. Then we (the Mets) won the National League crown and went seven games before losing the World Series. This year, since I won for the first time in September, we ought to win the World Series," McGraw said.

Mike Schmidt contributed the Phils' first run with his league 37th homer off starter Robinson in the sixth inning. Larry Bowa pitched in with double in the eighth to um give McGraw some extra working room.

"I thought I had the third strike by John Milner. So I jumped up and down with joy. But when the third base umpire (Nick Colossi) said he didn't swing, it took something out of me in that ninth inning," McGraw said. "It took me a while to get myself back together. Fortunately, I made it."

The Pirates, who now have lost 12 of their last 14 starts but are no further back in National League East and 2½ games behind the idle Montreal Expos, jumped in front on Milner's eighth homer off Walk in the fifth inning.

The Phils picked up two runs in the sixth. McBride started the inning with a single. With a hit and run on, Schmidt was unable to swing at a high, inside pitch and McBride was thrown out stealing. Schmidt then lined the next pitch to the right centerfield stands for his 99th run batted in. After Luzinski fanned, Manny Trillo received credit for a double when leftfielder Mike Easler almost made a spectacular grab of a short fly. However, Easler lost control of the ball as he hit the astroturf. Garry Maddox then singled the go-ahead run home.

Back-to-back doubled by Dave Parker and Easler tied the score in the seventh inning and brought McGraw in to relieve Walk.

"Bobby did a fine job for us. But he was getting tired, and it was time to give the ball to Tug," manager Dallas Green said.

McGraw pitched his way out of that jam, had an easy eighth inning, but had to battle his way out of a bases-loaded situation in the ninth to help pull the Phils within a half game of the Expos.

McBride singled down the first baseline to start the eighth against Romo, a righthander who usually tantalizes the Phils. Schmidt blooped a single to right and McBride made third with a belly flop slide.

Luzinski was down 0-2, then 1-2, before he lined a single to left, scoring McBride and putting the home team on top to stay.

"We don't usually get much help from Romo. But he got a breaking pitch up higher then he wanted and I was able to muscle it to left. It felt good," said Luzinski.

Rookie Jay Loviglio ran for the Bull. Trillo advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt and Kent Tekulve relieved Romo. He walked Maddox intentionally to load the bases. Then Bowa bounced a ground ball high over first baseman Milner's head to score two more runs. After Bob Boone was given an intentional pass, . McGraw completed the four-run frame with a squeeze bunt that plated Maddox.

The Pirates had the bases loaded in the ninth before McGraw got pesky Phil Garner looking at 'a third strike to send 40,576 home happy.

One guy who definitely did not go home happy was Pirate catcher Ed Ott. He got into a jawing session with home plate umpire Jerry Crawford on a strike call before he singled in the ninth. Then after the game, he had to be restrained as he went after Crawford as the umpire, was leaving the field. The ump thrown Ott out of the game once it was over.

Tonight, the Bucs and Phils will complete their 1980 action in this city with Steve Carlton seeking his 22nd victory against John Candelaria. The nationally televised game won't start until 8:15.