Houston Moves Over .500 with Series Win

The Astros go to 10-9 on the young season with 2-1 series win over the Padres, now at 7-9. The gutty Pads score seven runs in the ninth inning of Game 3, off seven AstroTurf hits, to avoid a Houston series sweep.

Game 1: Hou 6, SD 4
W:  Andujar (3-0)

Houston's Joaquin Andujar survives a wild outing.

 

L: Freisleben (0-3)
S: Dixon (3)

A wild Joaquin Andujar gave up four walks, a wild pitch, a balk, and a passed ball but still managed a victory. All-Star-caliber Cesar Cedeno was again the hero, not only pounding a three-run homer (5) but making a game-saving, diving catch in center with the bases loaded in the eighth. Cedeno is among the league leaders at .347 with 18 RBI.

Game 2: Hou 2, SD 0
W: Lemongello (2-2)
L: Jones (1-2)

For those who love good pitching, this was a gem. Randy Jones and Mark Lemongello was throwing bullets, and the only runs were scored on a two-run throwing error in the fifth by Ozzie Smith, the not-so-great-and-powerful Wizard in this game. The Padres had three errors in the game and five in the series. Lemongello pitched the game of his life, throwing a no-hitter until a single by Ozzie dashed his bid with one out in the eighth. It was the Padres only hit on the day. Jones and reliever Dan Spillner only gave up four Houston hits.

Game 3: SD 7, Hou 5
W: Perry (2-1)
L: Sambito (3-3), BS (2)

Houston's J.R. Richard was firmly in command. The ML strikeout leader had 10 Ks on the day and a 5-0 lead going into the top of the ninth, courtesy of a 3-for-4 day and three runs scored from leadoff man Terry Puhl. But the Friar bats awoke in the ninth with seven runs off Richard and Joe Sambito. Ozzie Smith drove in two in the inning  (he now sports a .302 average) and pitch-hitter Don Reynolds has a key two-out, two-run single to score the winning runs for starter Gaylord Perry, who went all the way for the win.