Cincy and Houston Play to Split

NL West division contenders Houston and Cincinnati each won a game in the two game series. Houston's game one win was a thrilling one run victory with plenty of run scoring.

Game One: Hou 7, Cincy 6 

W: Sambito (2-1)
L: Soto (0-1)
S: Lacorte (1)

Youngsters Mike Lacoss of the Reds and Vern Ruhle of the Astros were both taken to task by their elders. Lacoss was handed an early 5-2  lead in the third, thanks in part to George Foster's third homer of April.  Ruhle was pelted for 13 hits and six runs in 6.1 innings in his season debut. But Houston wasn't to be denied, scoring three times in the bottom of the third as Enos Cabell drove in two with a line single to left. With the game tied at six, former Red Joe Morgan scorched an RBI single off reliever Mario Soto that proved the eventual game winner. Houston's Frank Lacorte finally shut down the Reds' offense with two innings of hitless relief.

Game Two: Cincy 7, Hou 0
W: Pastore (2-1)
L: Ryan (1-2)

Another youngster, Frank Pastore, dominated Astros hitters, shutting them out on four hits in a complete game win to drop his ERA to 1.08. Houston's Nolan Ryan was not sharp at all, giving up seven runs, nine hits, a wild pitch and a passed ball in a wild 5.1 innings of work. Foster and Dave Concepcion both drove in two, and Concepcion added two doubles to the mix.