Astros Make Cincinnati See Red by Taking Series

Houston continues to have a good month of June by taking the series from the tough Reds squad, winning two of the three games. The Astros have won seven of their last 10.

Game One: Hou 2, Cin 0

J.R. Richard moves to 10-3 by outpitching Cincinnati's Tom Seaver and striking out 13 Reds batsmen in the process, matching the season high for the MLB strikeout king. RBI singles from Cesar Cedeno and Jeffrey Leonard represent the only scoring.

Game Two: Hou 4, Cin 2

Mustachioed hombre Randy Niemann has a strong outing, going eight innings and only giving up two runs. Enos Cabell continues his hot month by going two for four, and backup catcher Bruce Bochy drives in two runs. New addition Bert Roberge gets his second save in the second game of the doubleheader.

Game Three:  Cin 6, Hou 3

Houston's Joe Niekro was mowing down the Reds batters and took a 3-1 lead into the seventh. But the knuckler suddenly took some strange bends, and Cincinnati scored five runs in the top of the seventh to win one for starter Paul Moskau, with fine relief help from Pedro Borbon and Doug Bair. Davey Concepcion hit his fourth homer and drove in two, and the Cincy cause was aided by doubles from Bench, Foster and Geronimo.

Houston Sweeps San Diego to Draw Closer to .500

The upstart Astros now are only three games under .500 after sweeping San Diego in three close, tense games.

Game One: HOU 4, SD 0
W: J. Niekro (6-4)
L: Shirley (4-4)

Joe Niekro has the knuckler working today, shutting out San Diego on five hits in his third complete game of the year. A three run sixth keyed by a two RBI single from Julio Gonzalez does in San Diego's Bob Shirley.

Game Two: HOU 3, SD 2 (10 innings)

W: Roberge (2-2)
L: Kinney (0-2)

Houston spot starter Rick Williams again pitches well, scattering seven hits and two runs in 8.1 innings (including a solo blast from Padres second bagger Fernando Gonzalez). However, Houston can only scratch out two runs off San Diego starter Randy Jones. But in the bottom of the 10th, Jose Cruz gets his third hit of the day and it's a big blow, a solo homer (his fourth) to win it for Houston.

Game Three: HOU 8, San Diego 7
W: Dixon (2-3)
L: Kinney (0-3)

The bats finally come out for both teams. Houston starter Joaquin Andujar surprises the Astrodome crowd by belting an early two run homer but gives it right back as San Diego takes a 6-3 lead in the seventh. Houston finds a way to come back with three runs in its half of the seventh but finds itself down 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth. However, San Diego's Dennis Kinney again blows the game,  walking Cesar Cedeno and Jose Cruz. Denny Walling then bangs a double off the right-center wall in Houston's spacious park. Cruz comes around from first on a close play at the plate to score the game winner.

Mets Offense Stays Meek Versus Astros

Houston comes home after a rough road trip and takes two of three from the Mets. The Mets can barely muster an offense, an ailment keeping them in the second division.

Game One: HOU 7, NYM 1

Newly acquired Met Dock Ellis (over from Texas) gets shelled for six runs and 13 hits in five innings, while Houston continues to find a starting pitching jewel in sinkerballer Rick Williams, who wins his fourth. Art Howe blasts his fourth homer and both Enos Cabell and Craig Reynolds drive in two in the easy victory.

Game Two: NYM 1, HOU 0

Well-traveled Andy Hassler (another new Met just over from Boston)

looks unbeatable, taking a no hitter into the seventh before Cabell grounds a single. He is matched by Houston's Joaquin Andujar, who pitches the entire game and only allows five Mets hits. But John Stearns strokes an RBI double in the top of the ninth off Andujar for the only run of the game, giving reliever Dale Murray his third win.

Game Three: HOU 3, NYM 1

J.R. Richard wins his ninth, striking out eight in a complete game. Houston musters just enough offense off the Mets' best starter, Craig Swan, to support Richard's pitching effort and take the series.

ChiSox Steer Past M's

GAME ONE – Ross Baumgarten (3-7) earned a complete-game 5-1 win over Mariners. A Larry Cox (1) solo shot in the 5^th was the lone blemish. Meanwhile Jorge Orta (6) launched a monster rocket to CF to highlight a 4-run 7^th for the ChiSox.

GAME TWO – Seattle evened up the series with a complete-game 2-1 effort from Rick Honeycutt (4-4). The lefty threw 8 shutout innings until Chet Lemon (7) took him deep in the 9^th. The Mariners pushed across a pair of runs in the 3^rd on a RBI single from Ruppert Jones and a wild pitch by Sox starter Rich Wortham (5-6).

GAME THREE – Lamar Johnson singled, slole second and scored on Alan Bannister’s base hit in the 10^th to lift Chicago to 2-1 win. Fred Howard (1-1) got the W in relief. John Montague (0-5) recorded his 5^th blown save for the M’s.

GAME FOUR – An early see-saw contest saw Johnson score on a Milt May infield out in the 5^th. It would be the last run scored as the White Sox won 7-6. Francisco Barrios (6-3) tossed 8 innings for the W. Steve Trout (2) retired the final hitters. Seattle’s Jones led all hitters with 3 knocks.

Brewers Win Streak Improves to 9

The Milwaukee Brewers continue their winning ways by sweeping the Minnesota Twins and improving their current win streak to 9 games.

Game 1: Milwaukee 2 Minnesota 1
WP: Moose Haas (5-5, 4.75 ERA 6 Ks)
LP: Dave Goltz (6-8, 3.63 ERA, 5 Ks)
SV: Bob Galasso (1)

Moose Haas pitches his best game of the season, striking out 6 in 7.2 innings pitched.  Key play of the game was a Dick Davis two shot homer, to left center, which gave the Brewers enough runs to slip past the Twinkies.

Game 2: Milwaukee 4 Minnesota 3
WP: Bill Castro (2-2, 4.91 ERA, BS 2)
LP: Mike Bacsik (0-2, 5.03 ERA)

This game was a battle all the way into the last of the ninth.  Tied 3-3, Charlie Moore would come up with a 2 out single to drive in Paul Molitor from third for the winning run.  Both teams blasted 2 homers apiece.  Minnesota's Dave Edwards (1) and Roy Smalley (10) and Milwaukee's Cecil Cooper (13) and Sixto Lezcano (12) all had long balls leave the park.  Bill Travers threw a gem of a game striking out 7 Twins batters in 8 innings of work before being replaced by Bill Castro to finish things off.  Castro blew the save but would eventually pick up the win.

Game 3: Milwaukee 15  Minnesota 2
WP: Mike Caldwell (12-3, 3.62 ERA)
LP : Gary Serum (0-3, 15.22 ERA)

Caldwell goes the distance, Brewers wrack up 17 hits, including 4 homers.  Not much else to say about this one.

Pale Hose Sweep Away Red Hose

GAME ONE – The White Sox jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Red hosiery. Claudell Washington’s (5) 2-run blast highlighted a 4-run 2^nd for the Pale Hose. Alan Bannister tripled in a pair in the 6^th. Rick Burleson collected 4 of Boston’s 5 total hits.

GAME TWO – Ralph Garr and Don Kessinger banged out 3 hits apiece to lead Chicago to a 7-5 win. The White Sox led 4-0 through 4 innings when Dwight Evans (8) smacked a 3-run home run to highlight a 5-run 5^th for the Carmines. Jorge Orta (5) hit a solo homer in the B5 for the eventual game winner. Randy Scarbery (5-0) started his first game of 1979 and kept his perfect record. Steve Trout (1) yielded just 1 hit in 3 full innings of relief.

GAME THREE – Ken Kravec (7-5) surrendered 1 run on 7 hits in a complete game 8-1 win as the ChiSox complete the sweep at Comiskey. Kessinger drove in 3 runs with 3 hits.  

KC TAKES ROYAL BEAT DOWN - GORMAN THOMAS BLAST 5!

Game 1: Milwaukee 10 Kansas City 8 - WP Caldwell (11-3)  LP Splittorff (5-8) SV Castro (4)
Game 2: Milwaukee 4 Kansas City 2 - WP Slaton (7-4) LP Busby (4-4)  SV Castro (5)
Game 3: Milwaukee 9  Kansas City 6: - WP Sorenson (8-4) LP Pattin (0-5)

Gorman Thomas went 6 for 13 with 8 runs batted in including 5 home runs, in a 3 game series, to help the
Brew Crew knock off a pesky Royals team at County Stadium.  Thomas hit 2 homers in game 1 and 3 in game 3 and took home the series MPV honors.  Ex-Brewer Darrell Porter added a nice performance for the Royals going 4-10 with 5 RBI's and a homer.  Milwaukee improves to 44-22 on the season and still trails the Baltimore Orioles by 3.5 games in the AL East division race.  Kansas City drops to 29-36.

O-Birds Dump on White Sox

GAME ONE – The White Sox rallied late, plating all of their runs in the final 3 innings to best Baltimore 9-2. Claudell Washington’s (4) home run just inside the RF foul pole gave the Sox a 2-1 lead in the 6^th and all the runs they would need for winner Rich Wortham (4-5). Lamar Johnson also had a big day with 3 hits, including a pair of doubles.

GAME TWO – A dandy southpaw pitching duel finds Mike Flanagan (10-2) nipping Ken Kravec (6-5) 1-0. Baltimore notched its only run in the 5^th when Al Bumbry singled home Doug DeCinces. Both pitchers surrendered just 4 hits apiece. 

GAME THREE – Ken Singleton’s (11) 6^th inning grand slam completely turned this game around, taking the score from 7-4 Chicago to 8-7 Baltimore. The O’s went on to take the game and the series with an 11-7 triumph. Eddie Murray (16) also went deep and Al Bumbry chipped in 4 hits and two SBs. Sammy Stewart (5-1) got the win in relief.

ChiSox Split Pair with Brew Crew

GAME ONE – Sal Bando, Sixto Lezcano and Ben Oglivie all went yard to lead Milwaukee to a 6-4 win. Mike Caldwell (9-3) went the distance on the hill.

GAME TWO – Ralph Garr and Chet Lemon had 3 hits apiece, including singles in the 7^th when the White Sox plated a pair to break a 3-3 deadlock. The ChiSox would go on to win 5-3. Rich Hinton (1-1) got the win in relief. Cecil Cooper and Robin Yount also had 3 hits in the game for the Brew Crew. 

Phils Take the Series with Dramatic Home Run

Two of the NL upstarts, the Phillies and the Astros, met in the Astrodome, with both teams looking to contend in their respective divisions. The Phils came out triumphant in an exciting rubber game.

Game One: Hou 6, Phi 3
W: Niemann (2-1)
L: Christensen (1-2)

It's Jose Cruz night, as the Houston outfielder clubs a homer and a double and drives in four as Houston wins easily behind spot starter Randy Niemann (subbing for an injured Ken Forsch). The Phils threaten late off reliever George Throop, who loads them up but then strikes out the side.

Game Two: Phi 5, Hou 2

W: Carlton (8-4)
L: Williams (3-2)
S: McGraw (8)

Steve Carlton isn't at his best, walking four in seven innings, but has enough life on his fastball to win his eighth. Houston righty Rick Williams struggles, giving up 11 hits, including a three-for-four day from Pete Rose, who is now batting .371 after this game. Not bad for a 38-year-old, with many people "betting" that he'll have a good season.

Game Three: Phi 4, Hou 3
W: Lerch (4-8)
L: Richard ( 6-3)
W: McGraw (9)

An interesting game. The Phil's Randy Lerch keeps Houston off the scoreboard for five innings and takes a 2-0. But he gives up three runs in the sixth,  including a key two-RBI double from Enos Cabell. Meanwhile, Houston's J.R. Richard strikes out 14 Phillies and has a 3-2 lead in the eighth, despite wild pitching in one Philadelphia run. But with two outs, Phillies' centerfielder Garry Maddox punches a homer to deep right to give his team a 4-3 lead. Tug McGraw does the rest for his ninth save. Two Houston runners are thrown out trying to score in the wild game.