The Mets Hold Down Houston

The Astros had a bad combination going in this two game series -- poor hitting and many errors. The Mets shut them down in both games. Slight injuries to starters Terry Puhl and Art Howe, both of whom did not start, contributed to the offensive woes.

Game One: Mets 4, Astros 1

W: Falcone (3-0)
L: Richard (3-1)
S: Allen (3)

Pitchers Pete Falcone and J.R. Richard both came into the game undefeated and with sterling ERAs. But Falcone was the better pitcher in this game, holding the Astros to three hits in six inning. Relievers Jeff Reardon and Neil Allen did the rest in the easy Mets win, with Allen going two innings of one hit relief. While New York only had four hits off Astros pitching (and none of them for extra bases), Richard's five walks and a key throwing error from SS Craig Reynolds opened the gates to four runs. Falcone lowered his ERA to 0.90.

Game Two: Mets 4, Astros 2
W: Swan (2-2)
L: J. Niekro (1-2)
S: Allen (4)

Craig Swan went 8.1 innings for New York, only allowing two runs and walking one. New York struck for a 4-0 lead, striking for two runs off Joe Niekro, who was sharp, and then getting two more late off relievers Joaquin Andujar and Dave Smith. Houston waited until the ninth to mount any kind of offense, gaining three of their eight hits in that inning and leaving the two tying runs on base, as Art Howe flied out to end it. Doubles by John Stearns, Frank Taveras and Joel Youngblood plated three of the runs for New York. Three Houston errors helped lead to their undoing.