Allentown Morning Call - September 17, 1980
Phils fall, 3-2, to Bucs’ Bibby
By Gary Mihoces, Associated Press Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH ( AP) – Jim Bibby and Kent Tekulve, a pair of aces who'd gone awry the past month, pitched a combined three-hitter to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies last night.
"Bibby pitched great. This was the best game in a long time for him. And it was great to see Teke get in there and do the job like that." bubbled Pirate Manager Chuck Tanner, whose third-place team is battling Philadelphia and Montreal in the tight National League East.
The Phillies trail the Expos by two games and the Pirates are 4½ games back after the Expos beat the New York Mets, 5-3, in an 11-game twinight doubleheader opener last night.
Bibby, who climbed to 17-5 on the season, had lost three of four prior decisions, and he had failed to pitch more than six innings in his last five starts.
But he had a two-hitter through eight innings against the Phillies before needing relief help, and he's within reach of his first 20-victory season ever.
Meanwhile. Tekulve notched his 20th save, but it was his first save since Aug. 22. The Pirates had lost nine straight games in which Tekulve had pitched, and he had been 0-4 in that span.
“Hopefully now, I've got it back together," Tekulve said, knocking on the wood of his locker stall. "The ball is at least moving the way I want it to, and that's a step in the right direction."
The loss was the 11th for the Phillies in 17 meetings this season with Pittsburgh. The two teams close out their season series here tonight.
"We didn't play much offense tonight. It was that simple," said Philadelphia Manager Dallas Green. "Give Bibby credit there. He's been their Steve Carlton all year and he did it again tonight."
The game ended with two consecutive popups by Larry Bowa and Bob Boone that stranded Philadelphia runners at second and third.
"It was a big game," said Philadelphia's Gregg Luzinski. "They got the outs when they needed them. They played well, they always play well at home."
Bibby, 17-5, yielded a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Garry Maddox. Bowa then drew a walk and Bibby retired the next 13 batters and had a two-hitter going into the ninth before running into trouble.
Mike Schmidt opened the inning with his 39th homer and Bibby walked the next two batters before yielding to Tekulve.
The lanky reliever earned his 20th save after Maddox sacrificed the runners to second and third and the next two batters, Bowa and Boone, hit shallow pops to the outfield.
The Pirates, opening a nine-game homestand, took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off loser Dick Ruthven, 15-10, on doubles by Mike Easier and Bill Madlock.
The Pirates scored two more runs in the third inning on singles by Tim Foli, Dave Parker, Easier and John Milner.
Omar Moreno stole his 87th base of the season in the seventh inning. He is four behind major league leader Ron LeFlore.