Jim Wynn homered as a pinch-hitter for the third time this season and Dave May knocked in two runs with a triple in an eighth-inning rally that brought the Braves a 5-3 victory over the Astros. After Wynn delivered his blow as the substitute batter for Phil Niekro, Jerry Royster singled, Rod Gilbreath sacrificed and Willie Montanez was passed intentionally, setting the stage for May's three-bagger. May also scored himself on a balk by Joaquin Andujar. [The Sporting News]



Atlanta Braves 5, Houston Astros 3
Game Played on Thursday, September 16, 1976 (Night game) at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Astros       0  0  0    0  1  0    1  0  1  -   3  6  1
Braves       0  0  0    0  0  0    1  4  x  -   5  7  0


Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Braves               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Howard cf             4   0   0   0     0   1   .212      Royster 3b            4   1   2   0     0   0   .235
Cabell 3b             3   0   0   0     1   0   .279      Gilbreath 2b          3   0   0   0     0   0   .255
Cruz rf               4   0   0   0     0   0   .296      Montanez 1b           3   1   1   0     1   0   .314
Watson 1b             4   2   2   1     0   0   .312      May lf                4   2   1   2     0   0   .217
Johnson c             4   0   0   0     0   3   .223      Paciorek rf           4   0   1   0     0   0   .289
Roberts lf            4   1   2   1     0   1   .286      Asselstine cf         4   0   1   0     0   0   .182
Taveras 2b            4   0   0   0     0   0   .200        Devine p            0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
Metzger ss            2   0   1   1     1   0   .213      Murphy c              3   0   0   1     1   0   .250
Andujar p             3   0   1   0     0   1   .151      Chaney ss             3   0   0   0     0   1   .254
  Pentz p             0   0   0   0     0   0   .200      Niekro p              2   0   0   0     0   0   .205
                                                            Wynn ph,cf          1   1   1   1     0   0   .207

Totals               32   3   6   3     2   6             Totals               31   5   7   4     2   1

Time of Game: 1:54   Attendance:  3,990
Left on Base: Astros 4, Braves 5
DP: Astros 0, Braves 0
Errors: Taveras
Triples: May (3)
Home Runs: Roberts (7), Watson (16), Wynn (17)
Stolen Bases: Cabell (33), Royster (19)
Sacrifice Hits: Gilbreath (17)


Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Andujar L(8-10)         7.2   7   5   4   2   1   1  33   3.69
Pentz                   0.1   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   3.02
Totals                  8     7   5   4   2   1   1  34

Braves                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niekro W(15-11)         8     5   2   2   2   4   1  30   3.44
Devine SV(8)            1     1   1   1   0   2   1   4   3.43
Totals                  9     6   3   3   2   6   2  34

Passed Balls: Johnson (12)
Balks: Andujar (5)

Umpires: HP - Joe West, 1B - Tom Gorman, 2B - Paul Pryor, 3B - John McSherry


ASTROS 1ST: Howard grounded out (shortstop to first); Cabell
made an out to shortstop; Cruz grounded out (shortstop to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 1ST: Royster made an out to first; Gilbreath made an out
to second; Montanez singled; May grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

ASTROS 2ND: Watson grounded out (shortstop to first); Johnson
struck out; Roberts grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 2ND: Paciorek flied out to center; Asselstine grounded
out (shortstop to first); Murphy walked; Chaney forced Murphy
(second to shortstop); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

ASTROS 3RD: Taveras grounded out (second to first); Metzger
walked; Andujar grounded out (catcher unassisted) [Metzger
stayed at first]; Howard flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 3RD: Niekro grounded out (third to first); Royster
singled; Royster stole second; Gilbreath made an out to
shortstop; Montanez flied out to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Astros 0, Braves 0.

ASTROS 4TH: Cabell walked; Cabell stole second; Cruz flied out
to center; Watson made an out to shortstop; Johnson struck out;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 4TH: May flied out to center; Paciorek grounded out
(shortstop to first); Asselstine grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 0, Braves 0.

ASTROS 5TH: Roberts homered; Taveras grounded out (pitcher to
first); Metzger flied out to left; Andujar struck out; 1 R, 1 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 1, Braves 0.

BRAVES 5TH: Murphy flied out to right; Chaney struck out; Niekro
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros
1, Braves 0.

ASTROS 6TH: Howard flied out to center; Cabell flied out to
center; Cruz made an out to catcher; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Astros 1, Braves 0.

BRAVES 6TH: Royster grounded out (shortstop to first); Gilbreath
grounded out (shortstop to first); Montanez flied out to center;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 1, Braves 0.

ASTROS 7TH: Watson singled; Johnson made an out to second;
Roberts singled [Watson to second]; Taveras flied out to center;
Metzger singled to right [Watson scored, Roberts out at third
(right to pitcher to third)]; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 2,
Braves 0.

BRAVES 7TH: May reached on an error by Taveras [May to first];
Johnson allowed a passed ball [May to second]; Paciorek singled
[May to third]; Asselstine made an out to second; Murphy forced
Paciorek (third to second) [May scored (unearned)]; Chaney made
an out to third; 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 2, Braves
1.

ASTROS 8TH: Andujar singled; Howard struck out; Cabell flied out
to right; Cruz grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Astros 2, Braves 1.

BRAVES 8TH: WYNN BATTED FOR NIEKRO; Wynn homered; Royster
singled; Gilbreath out on a sacrifice bunt (first to second)
[Royster to second]; Montanez was walked intentionally; May
tripled [Royster scored, Montanez scored]; Andujar balked [May
scored]; Paciorek made an out to second; Asselstine singled;
PENTZ REPLACED ANDUJAR (PITCHING); Murphy grounded out (third to
first); 4 R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Astros 2, Braves 5.

ASTROS 9TH: WYNN STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING CF); DEVINE REPLACED
ASSELSTINE (PITCHING); Watson homered; Johnson was called out on
strikes; Roberts was called out on strikes; Taveras grounded out
(shortstop to first); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Astros 3, Braves 5.