Houston Wins NL Championship in Five Game Thriller

The Astros grind their way to the ARAIG 84 World Series by holding off Philly in five games.

Philly split the first two games, winning Game One on a come from behind win with two late runs off Houston relievers after a nice start from Nolan Ryan. In Game Two, Bob Knepper (you'll hear that name again) pitches a complete game, 2-1 win for Houston.

After moving to Houston, third starter Joe Niekro pitches a terrific Game Three, holding Philly to two runs while Houston got four on a first inning, two run homer from Enos Cabell and a clutch, two run single by Phil Garner. But Game Four ends in Philly's favor. With the game tied at three after nine, Philly explodes for seven runs in the 11th, again bombing the Houston bullpen.

In Game Five, Houston's manager opts for Bob Knepper again over Ryan, as Knepper was more effective during the season, and Philly goes with John Denny. Houston scratches out single runs in four separate innings, led by Billy Doran, who hit a homer, had another RBI single and stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, eventually scoring. Philly narrowed the 4-0 lead to 4-3 in the seventh, chasing Knepper with four hits and a clutch, two-run single from Von Hayes. But Houston was able to extend the lead to 5-3 in the eighth as Denny Walling found the gap in the Astrodome for a triple and subsequently scored.

BIll Dawley pitched two clutch innings, holding off a Philly rally in the ninth, to preserve Knepper's second win in the series. Doran was the hitting star, batting .435, while Cabell chipped in with four RBIs.

Joe P.