Allentown Morning Call - July 28, 1980
It was fun only for Phils… 21 hits, Carlton’s 16th
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Lonnie Smith led off with a home run, but it was a slew of singles that gave the Philadelphia Phillies a 17-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves yesterday.
"It was unusual, one home run... and not that many extra base hits either," said Pete Rose, who was 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Garry Maddox paced the Phillies' 21-hit attack with five RBI on a bases loaded triple, a single and a sacrifice fly. Bake McBride's second inning double for two runs and Ramon Aviles' RBI double in the eighth were the only other extra base hits.
The Phillies' run total is the higest in the National League this year. It was the most runs and most hits ever in Veterans Stadium, and the most for the Phillies at home since a 19-17 loss to Cincinnati in Connie Mack stadium in 1969.
"Offensively, we have struggled," said Phillies manager Dallas Green. "Then you see something like this and you wonder why we can't do it all the time.
"They are fun games to play offensively, but not much for the other side, " Green added.
"This is the best stretch hitting since the beginning of the season." said Maddox. who raised his average to .269 after a slow start.
"I'm getting more consistent, but I'm still not satisfied. I'm trying a new stance, new things every time I go up to the plate, trying to get something I feel comfortable with." Maddox added.
Steve Carlton got his 16th win, tied with Baltimore's Steve Stone for highs in the major leagues against five losses, allowing only four hits in seven innings.
"It wasn't one of Lefty's better games, but he won," said Green, adding that he took Carlton out to rest him.
Carlton struck out eight to raise his leading total to 181 as the Phillies took three of four games in their season-ending series with the Braves. Philadelphia won seven of 12 overall, and six of the seven at home.
"He (Carlton) threw some good pitches to some good spots on me." said Braves' slugger Bob Horner, whose 12-game hitting streak ended.
"He wasn't great, but he hit the spots real well," added Horner.
The Phillies scored three runs in the first inning on Smith's leadoff homer, singles by Rose, Bake McBride, Maddox and Manny Trillo's RBI grounder.
In the second, Carlton walked Bob Horner and Jeff Burroughs, Bill Nahorodny doubled them home and Nahorodny, taking third in the throw to the plate, scored on Larvell Blanks' sacrifice fly.
The Phillies chased Matula in the second. Consecutive singles by Carlton. Smith and Rose, McBride's two-run double and an intentional walk to Mike Schmidt that filled the bases finished the Braves' starting pitcher. Maddox cleared them with a triple down the right field line off reliever Preston Hanna to make it 8-3.
Philadelphia added two more runs in the fourth, another three in the seventh and four in the eighth.
Preston Hanna hit both Trillo and Larry Bowa in the head with pitches. Neither player was reported injured, although each left the game. Glenn Hubbard's solo homer in the fifth accounted for the Braves' fourth run.