by Bob Hulsey
History can take place when and where you least expect it. That's certainly true for events like a no-hitter or a triple play. On July 30, 1969, the Houston Astros set batting marks on a soggy field at a pitcher-friendly park in a game between two lackluster offenses whose modest success was built around pitching.
The Astros had recovered from a 4-20 start to inch above the .500 mark (51-49) as they faced the New York Mets (55-41) at Shea Stadium. The two expansion twins, in the first year of divisional play, at last found themselves in pennant contention. The Mets were in second in the East Division behind the surprising Chicago Cubs while Houston entered the day in fifth place in the West Division but still only six games behind a tight bunch of contenders.
This was supposed to be a Wednesday getaway day to wrap up a three-game series but rain in the New York area had wiped out the contests for Monday and Tuesday so a doubleheader was set up for Wednesday with the Thursday off-day now needed to wrap up the series. Although the official paid attendance for the twinbill was 28,922, free promotions had pushed the total gate over 43,000. Most of the Met fans left disgusted. The few Astro fans in the crowd, as well as a rare midweek television audience back in Houston, were delighted.
Don Wilson and Jerry Koosman were the starting pitchers in the opener. Backup catcher Don Bryant gave Wilson an early edge with a two-run single off Koosman in the second. The lead expanded to 4-0 in the third after an error by shortstop Bud Harrelson cost Koosman two unearned runs. Doug Rader singled home Jim Wynn then Jesus Alou doubled in Denis Menke.
The Mets scratched out single runs in the fourth and fifth on a single by Ed Kranepool and a sacrifice fly by Art Shamsky before Alou belted a solo shot in the sixth to give the Astros a 5-2 advantage. Wilson left in the seventh after two singles. Jim Ray allowed a walk and got a pop out but an error by Joe Morgan allowed the Mets a third run. Fred Gladding relieved Ray and snuffed out the threat.
An Historic Ninth
It was 5-3 going into what would be an historic ninth. It started quietly when Cal Koonce, in relief of Koosman, struck out pitcher Gladding. That wasn't unusual as the pudgy righthander was hitless in 44 attempts in his big league career, going back to 1961, fanning 23 of those times.
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That brought up shortstop Denis Menke, an odd choice for a cleanup hitter but, with Wynn the only real home run threat on the roster, Menke hit for a steady average with decent power to provide Wynn some protection in the lineup. Menke guessed fastball and belted the first pitch to deep left field for a grand slam home run, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 9-3. Menke's blast plunked the auxiliary scoreboard just inside the left field line, causing it to blank out momentarily before reflecting the new score.
Doug Rader followed with a single to center, forcing Mets Manager Gil Hodges out of the dugout to change pitchers. The new hurler was righthander Ron Taylor, a former Astro who had become the Mets' closer after two lackluster years in Houston. Curt Blefary greeted him with a single to right that moved Rader to third.
Gary Geiger punched one to Kranepool at first who threw home, getting Rader for the second out. Johnny Edwards, who pinch-hit for Bryant in the eighth and stayed in to catch, drew a walk to load the bases again.
Gladding was the tenth man to bat and a sure inning-ending out. Except, that is, for this one time in his career when he blooped a single over the head of rookie third baseman Wayne Garrett, plating Blefary and keeping the sacks full. It was 10-3.
A Second Slam
Miller dumped a single to center scoring two more runs as Gladding stopped at second. A passed ball and a walk to Morgan filled the bases for the fourth time in the inning. Wynn now returned to the plate with no open base to send him.
With a nine run lead, the bases full and nothing to lose, the "Toy Cannon" admitted later he was swinging for the fences. He connected on a 1-1 pitch and drove it over the center field wall for the second grand slam of the inning, upping the lead to 16-3. It was Wynn's 23rd homer of the year.
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Sensing the moment, Ralph Kiner broke into the Mets broadcast to inform listeners that two grand slams had to be a record because he had never heard of three in one inning. His partner, play-by-play man Lindsey Nelson replied, "I can tell you this much - two is enough."
Menke grounded out to Harrelson for the third out and Gladding set down the Mets in order in the ninth for his 20th save to complete the 16-3 rout. It was Wilson's twelfth win of the year.
But Wait, There's More
The second game got underway with the Mets probably just thrilled the score was 0-0 again. Houston's young ace, Larry Dierker, took the hill against rookie Gary Gentry. New York's righthander had no trouble getting the first seven outs before the Mets saw their nightmare revisited.
Just as in the historic ninth, the first batter was retired easily when Rader grounded out to open the third inning. Edwards singled to left and advanced on a wild pitch before Dierker fanned for the second out. It was the fourth strikeout Gentry had notched in his first trip through the batting order.
Sandy Valdespino bounced sharply to the right of second baseman Ken Boswell. Edwards broke for the plate after seeing Boswell drop the ball. He scored while Valdespino scampered into second on the throw to the plate. Morgan walked and Wynn followed with a single to center, scoring Valdespino for a 2-0 lead. Wynn swiped his 17th base of the year and Miller walked to load the bases.
Menke had the chance to set his own grand slam mark but, instead, drew another walk that forced in a run. The boos from the Mets fans were growing and got louder still when Blefary belted a drive high off the wall in right-center for a three-run triple and a six-run advantage.
Hodges came out of the Mets dugout but decided to leave Gentry in as the crowd booed his every step. Having batted around, Rader singled home Blefary to make it 7-0.
Enter Nolan Ryan
It's hard for some Texans to believe this, but Nolan Ryan was once not good enough to be a starter for the New York Mets. The lanky 22-year-old Alvin, TX, product had the legendary fastball that would someday make him the all-time strikeout king and first-ballot Hall-of-Famer but he struggled with control. Ryan was Hodges' long relief pitcher and spot starter. It was his role to come in and pitch in blowouts so it was not unusual for Nolan to be summoned in the third inning, down by seven runs.
Edwards spanked a double off Ryan down the left field line, scoring Rader all the way from first. In all the commotion of the afternoon that turned into a dreary, humid Gotham night, Edwards was the only player to get two hits in an inning.
Now it was Dierker at the plate. Dierker was no Gladding. He was a .143 hitter with ten hits and four RBI on the season when he stepped in. On a 1-1 pitch, Dierker unloaded a drive into the Met bullpen beyond the left field fence for a two-run homer and a 10-0 margin, the second double-digit inning of the day. Valdespino lined out to right field to finish the uprising.
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The Mets, to their credit, did not give up, especially Ed Kranepool. The Mets first baseman singled home the first New York run in the fourth then blasted a three-run homer off a tiring Dierker in the eighth to narrow the margin to 11-5.
Gladding Redux
Perhaps still on the adrenaline rush of no longer being oh-for-the-decade, Gladding appeared again to finish the game. Just like in the first game, he struck out Donn Clendenon for the final out. Under the rules of the time, Gladding earned his 21st save while Dierker notched his 13th win.
Later, Gladding chided Dierker about showing him up. On the day Fred got his only major league hit and run batted in, Gladding couldn't even say he was the best hitting pitcher on the team that day.
The only happiness for Met fans was the news that trickled in during the disasterous third that the Cubs had lost their afternoon game to the San Francisco Giants. They had only lost a half-game to the division leaders.
For the Astros, they had scored more runs in one day (27) than any other day in their history. The sweep squeezed them within five games of the top of the division while remaining in fifth place.
After Tom Griffin shut them out the next day, it was hard for anyone to imagine that it was the Mets who would eventually win the Worlds Championship that year. The Astros took 10 of 12 from them in the season series. Houston needed every one of those wins to record thier first non-losing season at 81-81.
Houston Astros 16, New York Mets 3 (1)
Game Played on Wednesday, July 30, 1969 (D) at Shea Stadium
HOU N 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 11 - 16 14 1 NY N 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 - 3 8 1
Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Miller rf 5 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 Morgan 2b 5 2 1 0 1 0 3 3 Wynn cf 3 3 2 4 3 0 4 0 Menke ss 5 3 1 4 1 0 2 2 Rader 3b 5 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 Blefary 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 8 0 Alou lf 3 1 3 2 1 0 2 0 Geiger lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Bryant c 2 0 1 2 1 0 5 0 Edwards ph,c 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Wilson p 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Ray p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gladding p 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 Totals 39 16 14 16 9 3 27 7
FIELDING - E: Morgan (12).
BATTING - 2B: Alou (10,off Koosman); Morgan (8,off Koonce). HR: Alou (2,6th inning off Koosman 0 on, 0 out); Menke (7,9th inning off Koonce 3 on, 1 out); Wynn (23,9th inning off Taylor 3 on, 2 out). SH: Blefary (4,off Koosman). IBB: Alou (5,by Koosman); Bryant (1,by Koosman); Wynn (7,by Koonce). Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING - CS: Wynn (4,2nd base by Koosman/Martin).
New York Mets AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Agee cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 Boswell 2b 3 0 0 1 0 2 3 3 Jones lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 4 0 Shamsky rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Garrett 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Kranepool 1b 4 0 1 1 0 0 10 2 Martin c 4 1 1 0 0 1 5 1 Harrelson ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 3 Koosman p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Swoboda ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Koonce p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Clendenon ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals 34 3 8 2 1 6 27 16
FIELDING - DP: 1. E: Harrelson (8). PB: Martin (2).
BATTING - 2B: Jones (16,off Wilson). SF: Boswell (1,off Wilson). Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING - SB: Swoboda (1,2nd base off Ray/Bryant).
PITCHING
Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR Wilson W(12-7) 6 8 3 2 0 4 0 Ray 0.1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Gladding SV(20) 2.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals 9 8 3 2 1 6 0
New York Mets IP H R ER BB SO HR Koosman L(8-6) 7 6 5 3 5 2 1 Koonce 1.1 4 5 5 2 1 1 Taylor 0.2 4 6 6 2 0 1 Totals 9 14 16 14 9 3 3
IBB: Koosman 2 (6,Alou,Bryant); Koonce (6,Wynn).
Umpires: Frank Secory, Satch Davidson, Paul Pryor, Tony Venzon
Time of Game: 3:00
Starting Lineups: Houston Astros New York Mets 1. Miller rf Agee cf 2. Morgan 2b Boswell 2b 3. Wynn cf Jones lf 4. Menke ss Shamsky rf 5. Rader 3b Garrett 3b 6. Blefary 1b Kranepool 1b 7. Alou lf Martin c 8. Bryant c Harrelson ss 9. Wilson p Koosman p ASTROS 1ST: Miller struck out; Morgan lined to second; Wynn singled to center; Wynn was caught stealing second (pitcher to first to shortstop to first to second to shortstop); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Mets 0. METS 1ST: Agee grounded out (pitcher to first); Boswell struck out; Jones doubled to right; Shamsky grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Mets 0. ASTROS 2ND: Menke walked; Rader singled to left [Menke to second]; Blefary out on a sacrifice bunt (third to first) [Menke to third, Rader to second]; Alou was walked intentionally; Bryant singled to right [Menke scored, Rader scored, Alou to third]; Wilson reached on a fielder's choice [Alou out at home (pitcher to catcher), Bryant to second]; Miller popped to shortstop; 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 2, Mets 0. METS 2ND: Garrett flied to center; Kranepool popped to second; Martin flied to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Mets 0. ASTROS 3RD: Morgan flied to center; Wynn walked; Menke reached on an error by Harrelson [Wynn to second]; Rader singled to left [Wynn scored (unearned), Menke to second]; Blefary flied to left; Alou doubled to center [Menke scored (unearned), Rader to third]; Bryant was walked intentionally; Wilson popped to second; 2 R, 2 H, 1 E, 3 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 0. METS 3RD: Harrelson grounded out (shortstop to first); Koosman grounded out (third to first); Agee grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 0. ASTROS 4TH: Miller grounded out (pitcher to first); Morgan popped to first in foul territory; Wynn flied to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 0. METS 4TH: Boswell grounded out (first unassisted); Jones singled to right; Shamsky singled to center [Jones to third]; Garrett popped to second; Kranepool singled to center [Jones scored, Shamsky to third]; Martin was called out on strikes; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. ASTROS 5TH: Menke popped to first; Rader flied to left; Blefary flied to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. METS 5TH: Harrelson singled to center; On a bunt Koosman struck out; Agee singled to right [Harrelson to third]; Boswell hit a sacrifice fly to left [Harrelson scored]; Jones struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 2. ASTROS 6TH: Alou homered; Bryant flied to left; Wilson struck out; Miller grounded out (shortstop to first); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Mets 2. METS 6TH: Shamsky popped to shortstop; Garrett grounded out (second to first); Kranepool flied to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Mets 2. ASTROS 7TH: Morgan grounded out (first unassisted); Wynn walked; Menke grounded into a double play (third to second to first) [Wynn out at second]; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Mets 2. METS 7TH: Martin singled to right; Harrelson singled to right [Martin to second]; RAY REPLACED WILSON (PITCHING); SWOBODA BATTED FOR KOOSMAN; Swoboda walked [Martin to third, Harrelson to second]; Agee popped to second [Martin scored (unearned) (error by Morgan), Harrelson to third]; Swoboda stole second; GLADDING REPLACED RAY (PITCHING); Boswell struck out; Jones grounded out (second to first); 1 R, 2 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Astros 5, Mets 3. ASTROS 8TH: KOONCE REPLACED SWOBODA (PITCHING); Rader grounded out (third to first); Blefary grounded out (second to first); Alou singled to center; EDWARDS BATTED FOR BRYANT; Edwards lined to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 5, Mets 3. METS 8TH: EDWARDS STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING C ); GEIGER REPLACED ALOU (PLAYING LF); Shamsky flied to left; Garrett flied to center; Kranepool flied to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Mets 3. ASTROS 9TH: Gladding was called out on strikes; Miller walked; Morgan doubled to right [Miller to third]; Wynn was walked intentionally; Menke homered [Miller scored, Morgan scored, Wynn scored]; Rader singled to center; TAYLOR REPLACED KOONCE (PITCHING); Blefary singled to right [Rader to third]; Geiger reached on a fielder's choice [Rader out at home (first to catcher to third to catcher), Blefary to second]; Edwards walked [Blefary to third, Geiger to second]; Gladding singled to left [Blefary scored, Geiger to third, Edwards to second]; Miller singled to center [Geiger scored, Edwards scored, Gladding to second]; Martin allowed a passed ball [Gladding to third, Miller to second]; Morgan walked; Wynn homered [Gladding scored, Miller scored, Morgan scored]; Menke grounded out (shortstop to first); 11 R, 7 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 16, Mets 3. METS 9TH: Martin lined to shortstop; Harrelson flied to left; CLENDENON BATTED FOR TAYLOR; Clendenon was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 16, Mets 3. Final Totals R H E LOB Astros 16 14 1 6 Mets 3 8 1 6
Houston Astros 11, New York Mets 5 (2)
Game Played on Wednesday, July 30, 1969 (D) at Shea Stadium
HOU N 0 0 10 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 11 10 1 NY N 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 - 5 13 1
Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Valdespino lf 5 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 Morgan 2b 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 5 Wynn cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 Geiger cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Miller rf 4 1 0 0 1 2 2 0 Menke ss 2 1 0 1 3 1 1 5 Blefary 1b 4 1 1 3 0 2 12 1 Rader 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 3 Edwards c 4 2 2 1 0 0 9 0 Dierker p 4 2 2 2 0 2 1 1 Gladding p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 34 11 10 10 5 12 27 15
FIELDING - DP: 2. E: Edwards (6).
BATTING - 2B: Edwards (15,off Ryan); Dierker (2,off Ryan). 3B: Blefary (6,off Gentry). HR: Dierker (1,3rd inning off Ryan 1 on, 2 out). SH: Geiger (5,off DiLauro). SF: Morgan (3,off Ryan). Team LOB: 3.
BASERUNNING - SB: Wynn (17,2nd base off Gentry/Grote).
New York Mets AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Agee cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 Boswell 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 DiLauro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Charles ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jones lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Swoboda lf,rf 3 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 Shamsky rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Clendenon 1b 4 1 1 0 0 3 6 0 Garrett 3b,2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 2 Kranepool 1b,lf 4 1 3 4 0 1 2 0 Grote c 4 0 2 0 0 2 12 0 Harrelson ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 Gentry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ryan p 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Pfeil ph,3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Totals 39 5 13 4 1 10 27 6
FIELDING - DP: 1. E: Boswell (13).
BATTING - 2B: Jones (17,off Dierker); Kranepool (9,off Dierker). HR: Kranepool (9,8th inning off Dierker 2 on, 1 out). Team LOB: 8.
PITCHING
Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR Dierker W(13-8) 8 12 5 4 1 9 1 Gladding SV(21) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 9 13 5 4 1 10 1
New York Mets IP H R ER BB SO HR Gentry L(9-9) 2.2 5 8 8 3 4 0 Ryan 4.1 4 3 3 2 7 1 DiLauro 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 9 10 11 11 5 12 1
WP: Gentry (6).
Umpires: Satch Davidson, Paul Pryor, Tony Venzon, Frank Secory
Time of Game: 2:37 Attendance: 28922
Starting Lineups: Houston Astros New York Mets 1. Valdespino lf Agee cf 2. Morgan 2b Boswell 2b 3. Wynn cf Jones lf 4. Miller rf Shamsky rf 5. Menke ss Garrett 3b 6. Blefary 1b Kranepool 1b 7. Rader 3b Grote c 8. Edwards c Harrelson ss 9. Dierker p Gentry p ASTROS 1ST: Valdespino struck out; Morgan struck out; Wynn popped to first; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Mets 0. METS 1ST: Agee grounded out (third to first); Boswell struck out; Jones doubled to left; Shamsky flied to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Mets 0. ASTROS 2ND: Miller lined to third; Menke was called out on strikes; Blefary popped to second; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Mets 0. METS 2ND: Garrett grounded out (second to first); Kranepool struck out; Grote struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Mets 0. ASTROS 3RD: SWOBODA REPLACED JONES (PLAYING LF); Rader grounded out (third to first); Edwards singled to center; Gentry threw a wild pitch [Edwards to second]; Dierker struck out; Valdespino singled to second [Edwards scored (error by Boswell), Valdespino to second]; Morgan walked; Wynn singled to center [Valdespino scored, Morgan to third]; Wynn stole second; Miller walked; Menke walked [Morgan scored, Wynn to third, Miller to second]; Blefary tripled to center [Wynn scored, Miller scored, Menke scored]; Rader singled to center [Blefary scored]; RYAN REPLACED GENTRY (PITCHING); Edwards doubled to left [Rader scored]; Dierker homered [Edwards scored]; Valdespino flied to left; 10 R, 7 H, 1 E, 0 LOB. Astros 10, Mets 0. METS 3RD: Harrelson grounded out (second to first); Ryan singled to right; Agee singled to center [Ryan to third]; Boswell grounded into a double play (pitcher to shortstop to first) [Agee out at second]; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 10, Mets 0. ASTROS 4TH: CLENDENON REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING 1B); KRANEPOOL CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING LF); SWOBODA CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING RF); Morgan struck out; Wynn popped to third in foul territory; Miller struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 10, Mets 0. METS 4TH: Swoboda singled to shortstop; Clendenon struck out; Garrett grounded out (second to first) [Swoboda to second]; Kranepool singled to right [Swoboda scored]; Grote singled to left [Kranepool to second]; Harrelson grounded out (first to pitcher); 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 10, Mets 1. ASTROS 5TH: Menke walked; Blefary struck out; Rader struck out; Edwards lined to first; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 10, Mets 1. METS 5TH: Ryan was called out on strikes; Agee struck out; Boswell grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 10, Mets 1. ASTROS 6TH: Dierker doubled to center; Valdespino singled to center [Dierker to third, Valdespino to second (on throw to home)]; Morgan hit a sacrifice fly to right [Dierker scored, Valdespino to third]; Wynn struck out; Miller struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 1. METS 6TH: GEIGER REPLACED WYNN (PLAYING CF); Swoboda grounded out (shortstop to first); Clendenon singled to left; Garrett was called out on strikes; Kranepool doubled to right [Clendenon to third]; Grote struck out [Clendenon scored (unearned) (error by Edwards), Grote to first (error by Edwards)]; Harrelson grounded out (second to first); 1 R, 2 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 2. ASTROS 7TH: Menke walked; Blefary struck out; Rader grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to first) [Menke out at second]; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 2. METS 7TH: PFEIL BATTED FOR RYAN; Pfeil flied to right; Agee grounded out (shortstop to first); Boswell flied to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 2. ASTROS 8TH: PFEIL STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 3B); GARRETT CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING 2B); DILAURO REPLACED BOSWELL (PITCHING); Edwards grounded out (second to first); Dierker struck out; Valdespino grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 2. METS 8TH: Swoboda walked; Clendenon struck out; Garrett singled to center [Swoboda to third]; Kranepool homered [Swoboda scored, Garrett scored]; Grote singled to right; Harrelson singled to right [Grote to second]; Pfeil grounded into a double play (third to second to first) [Harrelson out at second]; 3 R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 5. ASTROS 9TH: Morgan singled to right; Geiger out on a sacrifice bunt (third to first) [Morgan to second]; Miller grounded out (shortstop to first) [Morgan to third]; Menke flied to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 5. METS 9TH: GLADDING REPLACED DIERKER (PITCHING); Agee grounded out (third to first); CHARLES BATTED FOR DILAURO; Charles grounded out (shortstop to first); Swoboda singled to right; Clendenon struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 11, Mets 5. Final Totals R H E LOB Astros 11 10 1 3 Mets 5 13 1 8