National League Roundup : Schmidt, Going to First, Gets Going in Phillies’ 10-9 Win Over Padres

Shortly after learning that he is going to be shifted to first base, Mike Schmidt came out of a season-long slump, hit a three-run home run and helped the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres, 10-9, Monday at Philadelphia.

Schmidt, who entered the game hitting only .200, was 3 for 4, but it took a sacrifice fly in the eighth by Tim Corcoran to provide the winning run in the 29-hit slugfest.

The 34-year-old slugger has been the Phillies’ third baseman for 13 years and won nine Gold Gloves and nine times has been named to the All-Star defensive team. But the Phillies have a promising youngster, Rick Schu, they are bringing up from Portland to play third.

The Phillies have had a problem at first base since they traded Len Matuszek to Toronto for two minor leaguers before the season started. In the past week five different players have played first, and none of them have hit.

“I’m nervous,” Schmidt said. “But if they feel like it will help the club, that’s what I want to do.

“If Schu turns out to be the third baseman of the future, maybe I’ll be the first baseman for three or four years. But I’ve got three good years left at third base.

“I don’t look forward to playing first base for the rest of my career. For some time, I will be merely adequate.

“Everybody is wondering how it will help the club to bring up another inexperienced young right-hand hitter and sort of weaken two positions making the move. But they have a young kid in Triple-A they think has a great future. Every team wants him.”

The usually sure-handed Schmidt has made nine errors in 42 games to add a fielding slump to one of the worst hitting slumps of his career.

“People have a tendency to think one is as good as his last game,” Schmidt said. “The first 40 games are not indicative of my ability as a third baseman. I’ve had injuries, and my sprained ankle has made it hard to move.”

Schmidt’s home run was his sixth, but his first with anyone on base. Schmidt, who raised his average from .189 to .219 in the four games against the Padres, doubled to start a four-run second, then, with the score tied, 5-5, hit a three-run shot in the fifth.

It was a 9-9 battle going into the bottom of the eighth. Garry Maddox singled and stopped at third on Ozzie Virgil’s double. One out later, Corcoran hit the long fly to center. Kent Tekulve pitched two scoreless innings to improve his record to 3-1.

San Francisco 6, Montreal 1--Although the Giants have the most effective pitching in the league with a 2.75 earned-run average, they are the worst at scoring runs.

In a rare performance at Montreal, the Giants backed the sharp pitching of Atlee Hammaker with some runs to give him his first win in five decisions.

Hammaker held the Expos to four hits in seven innings. He was only in front, 2-0, so the Giants, in the middle of a rally, batted for him in the eighth, scored four runs and won handily.

The big hit was a bases-loaded double by Jeff Leonard. Earlier, Chris Brown drove in two runs.

Houston 4, Pittsburgh 2--It didn’t take Jose DeLeon long to lose his seventh game without a victory this season. In this game at Houston, the Astros, with Phil Garner hitting a run-scoring triple and Terry Puhl a two-run double, chased DeLeon in a four-run second inning.

It mattered not that Rod Scurry and Al Holland allowed only one hit in the last 6 innings, the damage was done.

Bob Knepper, needing help from Dave Smith in the ninth, improved his record to 5-0.

Chicago 4, Cincinnati 3--Dennis Eckersley, in addition to picking up his sixth victory in this game at Cincinnati, stopped Dave Parker’s hitting streak at 17 games, longest in the majors this season.

Eckersley had a three-hit shutout until two were out in the seventh, when doubles by Dave Concepcion and Wayne Krenchicki produced a run. When Alan Knicely hit a home run to open the ninth, Lee Smith replaced Eckersley and gave up an unearned run before getting his 12th save.