Although defeating the Astros, 2-1, the Dodgers fell one game short of overtaking the Giants, who won the West division title by beating the Padres. Groans went up from the crowd of 52,684 when the score of the Giants' 5-1 victory was flashed on the stadium message board.

The Dodgers started their futile last-night chase with an unearned run in the fourth inning. Dick Allen singled and Manny Mota, bunting, was safe on an error by Johnny Edwards. Allen took third on Willie Crawford's forceout of Mota and scored on a grounder by Jim Lefebvre. The Astros pulled even in the sixth when Cesar Cedeno doubled and Bob Watson singled. Don Sutton then helped win his own game with a single in the seventh. Sutton took third on a single by Maury Wills and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bill Buckner. [The Sporting News]



Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Houston Astros 1
Game Played on Thursday, September 30, 1971 (Night game) at Dodger Stadium
Astros       0  0  0    0  0  1    0  0  0  -   1  6  1
Dodgers      0  0  0    1  0  0    1  0  x  -   2  6  0


Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Dodgers              AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Metzger ss            4   0   1   0     0   1   .235      Wills ss              4   0   2   0     0   0   .281
Morgan 2b             3   0   0   0     1   0   .256      Buckner 1b            3   0   0   1     0   0   .277
Cedeno cf             4   1   1   0     0   1   .264        Parker 1b           0   0   0   0     0   0   .274
Watson 1b             4   0   1   1     0   0   .288      Davis cf              4   0   0   0     0   1   .309
Wynn rf               4   0   0   0     0   2   .203      Allen 3b              4   1   1   0     0   1   .295
Alou lf               4   0   1   0     0   0   .279        Garvey 3b           0   0   0   0     0   0   .227
  Thomas pr           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000      Mota lf               2   0   0   0     1   0   .312
Menke 3b              4   0   0   0     0   1   .246        Russell rf          0   0   0   0     0   0   .227
Edwards c             2   0   2   0     1   0   .233      Crawford rf,lf        4   0   1   0     0   2   .281
Billingham p          2   0   0   0     0   1   .123      Lefebvre 2b           3   0   1   1     0   0   .245
                                                          Sims c                1   0   0   0     2   0   .274
                                                          Sutton p              3   1   1   0     0   1   .216

Totals               31   1   6   1     2   6             Totals               28   2   6   2     3   5

Time of Game: 2:13   Attendance: 52,684
Left on Base: Astros 6, Dodgers 7
DP: Astros 0, Dodgers 0
Errors: Edwards
Doubles: Cedeno (40), Edwards (13)
Stolen Bases: Morgan (40), Metzger (15), Mota (4)
Caught Stealing: Thomas (1), Crawford (2)
Sacrifice Hits: Billingham (6), Mota (9)
Sacrifice Flies: Buckner (2)


Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Billingham L(10-16)     8     6   2   1   3   5   0  33   3.39
Totals                  8     6   2   1   3   5   0  33

Dodgers                IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Sutton W(17-12)         9     6   1   1   2   6   0  34   2.54
Totals                  9     6   1   1   2   6   0  34

Umpires: HP - Stan Landes, 1B - Andy Olsen, 2B - Doug Harvey, 3B - Tom Gorman


ASTROS 1ST: Metzger struck out; Morgan walked; Morgan stole
second; Cedeno grounded out (shortstop to first) [Morgan to
third]; Watson grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

DODGERS 1ST: Wills grounded out (second to first); Buckner lined
to shortstop; Davis struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 0,
Dodgers 0.

ASTROS 2ND: Wynn struck out; Alou popped to catcher in foul
territory; Menke flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

DODGERS 2ND: Allen was called out on strikes; Mota grounded out
(third to first); Crawford struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

ASTROS 3RD: Edwards singled to center; Billingham out on a
sacrifice bunt (catcher unassisted) [Edwards to second]; Metzger
grounded out (second to first) [Edwards to third]; Morgan popped
to third in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 0,
Dodgers 0.

DODGERS 3RD: Lefebvre singled to center; Sims walked [Lefebvre
to second]; Sutton struck out; Wills singled to center [Lefebvre
to third, Sims to second]; Buckner forced Lefebvre (pitcher to
catcher) [Sims to third, Wills to second]; Davis grounded out
(first to pitcher); 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

ASTROS 4TH: Cedeno grounded out (catcher unassisted); Watson
popped to first in foul territory; Wynn flied out to right; 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

DODGERS 4TH: Allen singled to left; Mota reached on an error by
Edwards on a sacrifice bunt [Allen to second, Mota to first];
Crawford forced Mota (second to shortstop) [Allen to third];
Lefebvre grounded out (first unassisted) [Allen scored
(unearned), Crawford to second]; Sims was walked intentionally;
Sutton forced Sims (shortstop to second); 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 E,
2 LOB.  Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

ASTROS 5TH: Alou made an out to second; Menke flied out to
center; Edwards walked; Billingham lined to first; 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

DODGERS 5TH: Wills grounded out (second to first); Buckner
grounded out (second to first); Davis made an out to third; 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

ASTROS 6TH: Metzger grounded out (third to first); Morgan
grounded out (pitcher to first); Cedeno doubled to center;
Watson singled to center [Cedeno scored]; Wynn was called out on
strikes; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 1, Dodgers 1.

DODGERS 6TH: Allen grounded out (second to first); Mota walked;
Mota stole second; Crawford was called out on strikes; Lefebvre
grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 1,
Dodgers 1.

ASTROS 7TH: Alou grounded out (third to first); Menke flied out
to center; Edwards doubled to right; Billingham struck out; 0 R,
1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 1, Dodgers 1.

DODGERS 7TH: Sims grounded out (second to first); Sutton singled
to center; Wills singled to right [Sutton to third]; Buckner hit
a sacrifice fly to center [Sutton scored]; Davis flied out to
center; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 1, Dodgers 2.

ASTROS 8TH: PARKER REPLACED BUCKNER (PLAYING 1B); Metzger
singled to center; Metzger stole second; Morgan made an out to
second; Cedeno struck out; Watson made an out to shortstop; 0 R,
1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 1, Dodgers 2.

DODGERS 8TH: Allen lined to third; Mota grounded out (shortstop
to first); Crawford singled to center; Crawford was caught
stealing second (catcher to shortstop); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Astros 1, Dodgers 2.

ASTROS 9TH: GARVEY REPLACED ALLEN (PLAYING 3B); RUSSELL REPLACED
MOTA (PLAYING RF); CRAWFORD CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING LF); Wynn
grounded out (third to first); Alou singled to left; THOMAS RAN
FOR ALOU; Thomas was caught stealing second (catcher to second);
Menke struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 1, Dodgers 2.