Joe Niekro, who has been unbeatable since coming out of the Astros' bullpen July 24, posted his third victory as a starter and second straight shutout by defeating the Pirates, 3-0. The Astros tagged Bruce Kison for two runs in the fourth inning. Cesar Cedeno singled, Bob Watson was hit by a pitch and both scored on a double by Jose Cruz. Cedeno doubled and Watson singled for their other run in the seventh. [The Sporting News]



Houston Astros 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 0
Game Played on Wednesday, August    3, 1977 (Night game) at Astrodome
Pirates      0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0  -   0  9  1
Astros       0  0  0    2  0  1    0  0  x  -   3  6  0


Pirates              AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Taveras ss            4   0   1   0     0   1   .235      Puhl lf               4   0   0   0     0   0   .250
Moreno cf             3   0   1   0     1   0   .240      Cabell 3b             4   0   1   0     0   2   .268
Parker rf             3   0   1   0     1   1   .336      Cedeno cf             4   2   2   0     0   1   .224
Robinson 1b           4   0   1   0     0   0   .321      Watson 1b             2   1   2   1     0   0   .287
Oliver lf             4   0   1   0     0   0   .292      Cruz rf               3   0   1   2     0   0   .293
Stennett 2b           4   0   1   0     0   0   .332      Ferguson c            3   0   0   0     0   1   .256
Gonzalez 3b           4   0   1   0     0   0   .295      Howe 2b               3   0   0   0     0   1   .262
Dyer c                4   0   1   0     0   1   .266      Metzger ss            2   0   0   0     1   0   .183
Kison p               2   0   1   0     0   0   .234      Niekro p              3   0   0   0     0   1   .150
  Tolan ph            1   0   0   0     0   0   .208
  Tekulve p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .250

Totals               33   0   9   0     2   3             Totals               28   3   6   3     1   6

Time of Game: 2:07   Attendance: 14,745
Left on Base: Pirates 8, Astros 3
DP: Pirates 1, Astros 1
Errors: Parker
Doubles: Kison (2), Cruz (22), Cedeno (18)
Stolen Bases: Robinson (5), Moreno (32), Gonzalez (1)
Caught Stealing: Taveras (14), Moreno (7)
GIDP: Gonzalez (3), Cruz (3)
Hit by Pitch: Watson (6,by Kison)


Pirates                IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Kison L(6-6)            6     5   3   3   1   6   0  23   4.82
Tekulve                 2     1   0   0   0   0   0   7   3.38
Totals                  8     6   3   3   1   6   0  30

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niekro W(7-3)           9     9   0   0   2   3   0  35   2.57
Totals                  9     9   0   0   2   3   0  35

Hit by Pitch: Kison (5)
Wild Pitches: Niekro (4)

Umpires: HP - Bob Engel, 1B - Jerry Dale, 2B - Dutch Rennert, 3B - Ed Sudol


PIRATES 1ST: On a bunt Taveras singled to pitcher; Taveras was
caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop); Moreno walked;
Moreno was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop); Parker
walked; Robinson singled to left [Parker to third]; Robinson
stole second; Oliver grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 2 H,
0 E, 2 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Puhl grounded out (first unassisted); Cabell made an
out to first; Cedeno struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates
0, Astros 0.

PIRATES 2ND: Stennett singled to left; Gonzalez grounded into a
double play (second to shortstop to first) [Stennett out at
second]; Dyer grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 2ND: Watson singled to left; Cruz grounded into a double
play (second to shortstop to first) [Watson out at second];
Ferguson lined to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros
0.

PIRATES 3RD: Kison doubled to left; Taveras struck out; Niekro
threw a wild pitch [Kison to third]; Moreno grounded out (first
unassisted); Parker grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 3RD: Howe struck out; Metzger grounded out (first to
pitcher); Niekro struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 0,
Astros 0.

PIRATES 4TH: Robinson grounded out (shortstop to first); Oliver
grounded out (second to first); Stennett grounded out (pitcher
to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 4TH: Puhl made an out to shortstop; Cabell struck out;
Cedeno singled to center; Watson was hit by a pitch [Cedeno to
second]; Cruz doubled to right [Cedeno scored, Watson scored,
Cruz out at third (right to third to shortstop)]; 2 R, 2 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 2.

PIRATES 5TH: Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first); Dyer
singled to left; Kison made an out to second; Taveras forced
Dyer (shortstop to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0,
Astros 2.

ASTROS 5TH: Ferguson struck out; Howe grounded out (second to
first); Metzger walked; Niekro grounded out (shortstop to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 2.

PIRATES 6TH: Moreno singled to left; Moreno stole second; Parker
struck out; Robinson flied out to center; Oliver made an out to
third; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 2.

ASTROS 6TH: Puhl flied out to center; Cabell struck out; Cedeno
doubled to left; Watson singled to center [Cedeno scored]; Cruz
grounded out (shortstop to first); 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Pirates 0, Astros 3.

PIRATES 7TH: Stennett flied out to center; Gonzalez singled to
left; Gonzalez stole second; Dyer struck out; TOLAN BATTED FOR
KISON; Tolan grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 3.

ASTROS 7TH: TEKULVE REPLACED TOLAN (PITCHING); Ferguson grounded
out (pitcher to first); Howe flied out to left; Metzger grounded
out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 0,
Astros 3.

PIRATES 8TH: Taveras grounded out (shortstop to first); Moreno
flied out to right; Parker singled to left; Robinson grounded
out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 3.

ASTROS 8TH: Niekro grounded out (pitcher to first); Puhl
grounded out (second to first); Cabell singled to right [Cabell
to third (error by Parker)]; Cedeno grounded out (shortstop to
first); 0 R, 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 3.

PIRATES 9TH: Oliver singled to center; Stennett forced Oliver
(shortstop to second); Gonzalez flied out to right; Dyer
grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates
0, Astros 3.