The ability to bunt played a big role as the Astros edged the Reds, 3-2. In the second inning, after Doug Rader tripled, Jim Wynn laid down a bunt and beat it out for a hit as Rader scored. Wynn swung away and homered in the fifth.

After the Reds tied the score, Roger Metzger bunted safely for the Astros in the eighth. Joe Morgan also bunted for a sacrifice. Alter an intentional pass to Cesar Cedeno, Bob Watson singled to drive in the deciding run. [The Sporting News]



Houston Astros 3, Cincinnati Reds 2
Game Played on Friday, July      2, 1971 (Night game) at Astrodome
Reds         0  0  0    0  0  0    2  0  0  -   2  6  0
Astros       0  1  0    0  1  0    0  1  x  -   3  7  0


Reds                 AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Rose rf               4   0   2   0     0   0   .291      Metzger ss            4   1   1   0     0   1   .217
McRae cf              4   0   2   0     0   0   .238      Morgan 2b             3   0   0   0     0   1   .243
May 1b                4   0   0   0     0   1   .313      Cedeno cf             3   0   0   0     1   0   .238
Bench c               3   1   0   0     1   2   .260      Watson lf             4   0   2   1     0   1   .293
Perez 3b              4   0   1   0     0   1   .253        Geronimo lf         0   0   0   0     0   0   .238
Carbo lf              3   1   0   0     1   0   .219      Menke 1b              3   0   0   0     1   0   .250
  Bradford pr         0   0   0   0     0   0   .203      Rader 3b              4   1   1   0     0   1   .229
Helms 2b              4   0   1   1     0   0   .257      Wynn rf               3   1   2   2     0   0   .211
Concepcion ss         2   0   0   0     0   1   .215      Hiatt c               3   0   1   0     0   1   .366
  Foster ph           1   0   0   1     0   0   .272      Dierker p             2   0   0   0     0   1   .087
  Woodward ss         0   0   0   0     0   0   .270        Gladding p          0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
Nolan p               3   0   0   0     0   0   .049

Totals               32   2   6   2     2   5             Totals               29   3   7   3     2   6

Time of Game: 2:11   Attendance: 17,996
Left on Base: Reds 5, Astros 6
DP: Reds 0, Astros 0
Doubles: Rose (14), Helms (16), Watson (13)
Triples: Rader (3)
Home Runs: Wynn (3)
Caught Stealing: Bradford (2)
Sacrifice Hits: Dierker (3), Morgan (4)


Reds                   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Nolan L(6-8)            8     7   3   3   2   6   1  33   2.86
Totals                  8     7   3   3   2   6   1  33

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Dierker W(11-4)         8.1   6   2   2   2   5   0  33   2.23
Gladding SV(9)          0.2   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   1.32
Totals                  9     6   2   2   2   5   0  34

Umpires: HP - Stan Landes, 1B - Ed Sudol, 2B - Mel Steiner, 3B - Bob Engel


REDS 1ST: Rose grounded out (second to first); McRae singled;
May was called out on strikes; Bench struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E,
1 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Metzger flied out to center; Morgan flied out to
left; Cedeno grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 0.

REDS 2ND: Perez struck out; Carbo grounded out (first
unassisted); Helms grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 2ND: Watson struck out; Menke flied out to center; Rader
tripled; On a bunt Wynn singled [Rader scored]; Hiatt was called
out on strikes; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 1.

REDS 3RD: Concepcion grounded out (shortstop to first); Nolan
grounded out (third to first); Rose doubled; McRae grounded out
(third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 3RD: Dierker was called out on strikes; Metzger grounded
out (third to first); Morgan struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Reds 0, Astros 1.

REDS 4TH: May grounded out (third to first); Bench struck out;
Perez flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros
1.

ASTROS 4TH: Cedeno made an out to second; Watson grounded out
(pitcher to second to first); Menke flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 1.

REDS 5TH: Carbo lined to center; Helms grounded out (shortstop
to first); Concepcion was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 5TH: Rader flied out to center; Wynn homered; Hiatt
singled; Dierker out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to first)
[Hiatt to second]; Metzger was called out on strikes; 1 R, 2 H,
0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 2.

REDS 6TH: Nolan grounded out (pitcher to first); Rose singled;
McRae grounded out (pitcher to first) [Rose to second]; May
grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 0,
Astros 2.

ASTROS 6TH: Morgan flied out to center; Cedeno made an out to
shortstop; Watson doubled; Menke walked; Rader popped to first
in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 2.

REDS 7TH: Bench walked; Perez singled [Bench to second]; Carbo
forced Perez (second to shortstop) [Bench to third]; Helms
doubled [Bench scored, Carbo to third]; FOSTER BATTED FOR
CONCEPCION; Foster grounded out (second to first) [Carbo scored,
Helms to third]; Nolan grounded out (pitcher unassisted); 2 R, 2
H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 2, Astros 2.

ASTROS 7TH: WOODWARD REPLACED FOSTER (PLAYING SS); Wynn flied
out to center; Hiatt grounded out (shortstop to first); Dierker
grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 2,
Astros 2.

REDS 8TH: Rose flied out to left; McRae singled; May forced
McRae (third to second); Bench lined to third; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Reds 2, Astros 2.

ASTROS 8TH: Metzger singled; Morgan out on a sacrifice bunt
(catcher to second) [Metzger to second]; Cedeno was walked
intentionally; Watson singled [Metzger scored, Cedeno to
second]; Menke flied out to left; Rader struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0
E, 2 LOB.  Reds 2, Astros 3.

REDS 9TH: GERONIMO REPLACED WATSON (PLAYING LF); Perez flied out
to right; Carbo walked; BRADFORD RAN FOR CARBO; GLADDING
REPLACED DIERKER (PITCHING); Bradford was caught stealing second
(catcher to second); Helms grounded out (shortstop to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 2, Astros 3.