Allentown Morning Call - August 21, 1980
Padres end eight-game slump and Phils’ streak with 7-5 win
By Marc Markowitz, Call Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA – Somehow, you knew it had to end. Even that wise, ole' philosopher Dallas Green admitted the Phils weren't as bad as they looked in Pittsburgh and not as good as they seemed in the six games since.
But blowing a five-run lead tries the patience of the most understanding manager and fan alike, which may explain why the 30,403 fans at Veterans Stadium last night were more interested in the extracurricular activities in the stands than what was happening on the field from the sixth inning on.
And actually the fans who watched the brawls in the stands missed just four hits over the final four innings as the Padres ended an eight-game losing streak and the Phils' six-game winning streak with a 7-5 win.
Philadelphia came out blazing in the first, cooled off in the next seven innings, and seriously threatened in the ninth inning against Rollie Fingers.
Singles by pinch-hitters Greg Gross and Del Unser gave the Phils life before Fingers pitched out of trouble by getting a strikeout doubleplay on Pete Rose and groundout by Mike Schmidt for his 16th save.
The Philadelphia inferno erupted swiftly in the first inning, spewing hits in every direction. Lonnie Smith, Manny Trilio and Larry Bowa all extended hitting streaks but it was Nino Espinosa who had the most damaging blow, a two-run bloop single.
Smith started things with a single, stretching his streak to 10, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Rose's base hit. Rose went to second on the throw to the plate and scored on Bake McBride's single. Trillo followed by extending his streak to seven with a single. After Garry Maddox bounced into a fielder's choice, Bowa stretched his streak to six with a run-scoring single. Bob Boone was walked intentionally and Espinosa singled in two runs.
Somehow, Padre starting pitcher Juan Eichelberger was still around after the first inning, but then the San Diego rookie was knocking on the door of immortality with the chance to set a major league record.
Not that it was anything to brag about, but a major league record nevertheless. Eichelberger had struck out in all 14 of his official plate appearances this season and another whiff would break the all-time record of Bill Hands. But it wasn't to be as Eichelberger flew deep to right.
And just to show Manager Jerry Coleman that he hadn't made the wrong decision by leaving him in, Eichelberger held the Phils hitless in the next three innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter during a six-run San Diego fifth.
The key blows were Dave Winfield's two-run homer and Gene Richards' two-run single.
For Winfield, it had to be some solace after making one of the worst base-running blunders ever seen around the Vet. It came during the third inning after he'd followed a single by Luis Salazar with a base hit.
Winfield took off for second and Willie Montanez executed the hit-and-run to perfection with a hit in the hole on the right side of the infield. Winfield reached second and for no apparent reason headed back to first. By the time he realized his mistake, Bowa applied the tag. Jerry Mumphrey followed with what would have been the Padres' fourth straight hit, but San Diego scored just one run.
Fortunately for Winfield, Espinosa was as effective through his 4⅔ inning stint as Eichelberger had been in the first, and the blunder became forgotten history when the Padres scored six runs in the fifth.
PHIL-INS – The Phils' 14-hit barrage Tuesday night lifted the team average to a National League-leading .274. During the six-game win streak, Philadelphia is hitting .371 (86 for 232) with 47 runs scored and 10 homers... Phils led season series with Padres 5-1, winning all four at Vet. Phillies were hitting San Diego pitching at a .320 clip... Second and final Businessperson's Special begins at 12:35 p.m. today with Bob Walk against Rick Wise. Steve Carlton shoots for victory No. 20 tomorrow vs. Giants... Despite up-and-down season, Phils' 63-53 record was three games better than their record at this time a year ago...
Luzinski ready to play; Green has tough decision
By Marc Markowitz, Call Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA – D-Day is drawing near. That's D as in decision, and Dallas Green's got a toughie facing him this week.
Greg Luzinski is ready to come off the disabled list, and will likely do so by this weekend. "The 'Bull' had a good long workout the other day and he's ready to play," said Green. "It could possibly be as early as this weekend."
One player will have to be dropped. The safest guess is Vukovich, although which one presents the biggest problem. George, a rookie outfielder, seems the most likely, but it was his big hit which lilted the Phils past San Diego Tuesday, and the younger Vukovich has the type of attitude Green loves.
"I'd hate to have to think it would be him, because he's done everything we've asked," said Green. "I said in spring training I wanted to change the complexion of our bench and bullpen, and George is one of the guys who's contributed. He works his tail off all the time."
John Vukovich is a journeyman, 33-year-old utility third baseman who could be expendable, since Keith Moreland has proven he's adequate around third base and has been more than adequate with the bat. But this Vukovich is another valuable man with a winning attitude.
The final choice is the pitching staff, which has 11 members, but it's highly unlikely Green will cut in this direction. That means unless there's a sudden injury, there probably will be only one Vukovich around this weekend.