Although collecting only two hits off Rick Reuschel, the Astros defeated the Cubs, 1-0, behind the pitching of Mike Cosgrove, who posted the first shutout of his major league career. The game's only run scored because of an error by Reuschel in the second inning.

Jose Cruz bounced a grounder to the right of the mound for an infield hit and raced to third when Reuschel threw wildly to first on the play. Cruz then crossed the plate on a groundout by Enos Cabell. The Astros' other hit was a single by Cesar Cedeno in the first inning. [The Sporting News]



Houston Astros 1, Chicago Cubs 0
Game Played on Friday, June      4, 1976 (Night game) at Astrodome
Cubs         0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0  -   0  6  1
Astros       0  1  0    0  0  0    0  0  x  -   1  2  0


Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Monday cf             3   0   1   0     1   0   .309      Gross rf              4   0   0   0     0   0   .278
Cardenal lf           4   0   0   0     0   0   .315      Andrews 2b            3   0   0   0     0   0   .319
Madlock 3b            3   0   0   0     1   0   .316      Cedeno cf             3   0   1   0     0   1   .314
Morales rf            4   0   1   0     0   0   .262      Watson 1b             3   0   0   0     0   0   .260
Trillo 2b             4   0   1   0     0   0   .276      Cruz lf               2   1   1   0     1   0   .263
Mitterwald c          4   0   2   0     0   0   .222      Johnson c             2   0   0   0     1   0   .226
Biittner 1b           3   0   0   0     0   0   .213      Cabell 3b             3   0   0   1     0   1   .288
Kelleher ss           3   0   1   0     0   0   .262      Metzger ss            3   0   0   0     0   0   .232
R. Reuschel p         2   0   0   0     0   1   .240      Cosgrove p            3   0   0   0     0   0   .077

Totals               30   0   6   0     2   1             Totals               26   1   2   1     2   2

Time of Game: 1:48   Attendance:  9,101
Left on Base: Cubs 6, Astros 3
DP: Cubs 0, Astros 2
Errors: R. Reuschel
Doubles: Monday (9)
Stolen Bases: Cedeno (21), Cruz (5)
Sacrifice Hits: R. Reuschel (3)
GIDP: Kelleher (3), Trillo (11)


Cubs                   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
R. Reuschel L(5-4)      8     2   1   0   2   2   0  28   4.34
Totals                  8     2   1   0   2   2   0  28

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Cosgrove W(2-3)         9     6   0   0   2   1   0  33   4.25
Totals                  9     6   0   0   2   1   0  33

Umpires: HP - Nick Colosi, 1B - Ed Montague, 2B - Lee Weyer, 3B - Paul Runge


CUBS 1ST: Monday doubled to center; Cardenal grounded out (third
to first) [Monday to third]; Madlock walked; Morales popped to
center; Trillo flied out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cubs 0,
Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Gross lined to shortstop; Andrews made an out to
first; Cedeno singled to left; Cedeno stole second; Watson
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cubs
0, Astros 0.

CUBS 2ND: Mitterwald singled to left; Biittner popped to second;
Kelleher grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to
first) [Mitterwald out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cubs
0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 2ND: Cruz singled to pitcher [Cruz to third (error by R.
Reuschel)]; Johnson flied out to center; Cabell grounded out
(shortstop to first) [Cruz scored (unearned)]; Metzger grounded
out (shortstop to first); 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 E, 0 LOB.  Cubs 0,
Astros 1.

CUBS 3RD: R. Reuschel struck out; Monday flied out to center;
Cardenal grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 3RD: Cosgrove grounded out (first to pitcher); Gross
lined to left; Andrews grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

CUBS 4TH: Madlock flied out to right; Morales popped to first in
foul territory; Trillo grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 4TH: Cedeno lined to center; Watson grounded out
(shortstop to first); Cruz grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

CUBS 5TH: Mitterwald singled to left; Biittner forced Mitterwald
(second to shortstop); Kelleher singled to left [Biittner to
second]; R. Reuschel out on a sacrifice bunt (catcher to second)
[Kelleher to second, Biittner to third]; Monday walked; Cardenal
grounded out (second unassisted); 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Cubs 0,
Astros 1.

ASTROS 5TH: Johnson grounded out (third to first); Cabell struck
out; Metzger grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

CUBS 6TH: Madlock made an out to shortstop; Morales lined to
right; Trillo singled to left; Mitterwald grounded out
(shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 6TH: Cosgrove flied out to left; Gross lined to left;
Andrews grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cubs 0, Astros 1.

CUBS 7TH: Biittner grounded out (second to first); Kelleher
lined to left; R. Reuschel lined to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cubs 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 7TH: Cedeno struck out; Watson popped to second; Cruz
walked; Cruz stole second; Johnson walked; Cabell forced Johnson
(shortstop to second); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

CUBS 8TH: Monday grounded out (second to first); Cardenal lined
to left; Madlock flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cubs 0, Astros 1.

ASTROS 8TH: Metzger grounded out (second to first); Cosgrove
grounded out (pitcher to first); Gross flied out to left; 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cubs 0, Astros 1.

CUBS 9TH: Morales singled to center; Trillo grounded into a
double play (pitcher to shortstop to first) [Morales out at
second]; Mitterwald popped to second; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cubs 0, Astros 1.