Astros, Padres Each Take Two

Houston and San Diego, both striving to get above .500 after some difficult years, split the four game series at the Astrodome.

Game One: SD 3, Hou 2 (15 innings)

W: D'Aquisto (1-1)
L: McLaughlin (0-3)

San Diego, behind the crafty curveball of Bob Owchinko, holds a 2-0 lead into the eighth. But the Astros squad ties it up after punch hitting Craig Reynolds smashes a triple down the right field line, scoring Terry Puhl before coming in with the tying run. After that, both offenses shut down. Finally, in inning 15 after a long evening in Houston, San Diego pitcher John D'Acquisto lashes an RBI single to break the deadlock. He then pitches a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to finally end the marathon.

Game Two: SD 7, Hou 0
W: Jones (5-5)
L: Richard (4-2)

San Diego's slow-curve lefty Randy Jones is almost unhittable, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and only allowing two hits in a complete game shutout. Triples by Dan Briggs and Ozzie Smith and a two-RBI single from Bill Almon provide some of the San Diego fireworks off Houston ace J.R. Richard, who is off his usual game.

Game Three: Hou 3, SD 1
W: Williams (2-0)
L: Perry (4-3)
S: Andujar (1)

Spot starter Rick Williams is again effective for Houston, only allowing one SD run in 7.2 innings of work, while Joaquin Andujar does the rest while shutting down the Padres offense. Houston only manages seven hits off Gaylord Perry in eight innings but get clutch RBI singles from Cesar Cedeno and Denny Walling in the first two innings to provide most of the scoring.

Game Four: Hou 6, SD 0
W: Niemann (1-0)
L: Lolich (1-3)

Journeyman Randy Niemann outduels long-toothed vet Mickey Lolich in a battle of lefties. Niemann only gives up three hits in 7.2 innings before yielding to Joe Sambito to finish the game for the tired pitching staff. Lolich is bombed for five runs in four innings of work, as the Astros spray the ball to all fields, including getting a two-RBI single from Jeffrey Leonard as he attempts to get regular playing time.