A two-out single by Bob Watson in the 16th inning lifted the Astros to a 5-4 triumph over the Cardinals. Jeff Leonard singled with one out and stole second. Jose Cruz received an intentional walk and Enos Cabell forced Cruz at second before Watson blooped a pitch over second baseman Ken Oberkfell's head in short center to end the marathon struggle. [The Sporting News]



Houston Astros 5, St. Louis Cardinals 4
Game Played on Wednesday, May       9, 1979 (Night game) at Astrodome
Cardinals    1  0  0    3  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  -   4 12  1
Astros       2  0  0    1  0  1    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    1  -   5 14  0


Cardinals            AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Templeton ss          7   1   1   0     0   4   .254      Puhl rf               5   0   0   1     2   0   .269
Scott cf              7   1   5   2     0   0   .342      Reynolds ss           8   1   1   0     0   0   .260
Hernandez 1b          2   0   0   0     2   0   .259      Cedeno cf             2   0   1   0     0   0   .270
  Mumphrey lf         2   0   0   0     0   0   .100        Leonard cf          4   1   2   0     2   1   .400
Simmons c             2   0   0   0     2   1   .269      Cruz lf               6   1   2   1     2   1   .340
  Swisher c           3   0   0   0     0   2   .000      Cabell 3b             7   0   2   1     1   1   .311
Hendrick rf           7   0   2   1     0   1   .309      Watson 1b             7   2   2   1     1   0   .277
Iorg lf,1b            6   0   0   0     0   1   .277      Gonzalez 2b           7   0   1   0     0   0   .182
Reitz 3b              7   1   1   1     0   1   .291      Ashby c               7   0   1   0     0   1   .226
Tyson 2b              4   0   0   0     0   0   .212      Niekro p              2   0   1   0     0   0   .071
  Brock ph            1   0   1   0     0   0   .375        Walling ph          0   0   0   0     1   0   .125
  Oberkfell pr,2b     2   0   1   0     0   0   .333        Sambito p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .333
Denny p               3   1   1   0     0   0   .053        Sexton ph           1   0   1   0     0   0   .250
  Schultz p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000        Andujar p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  Freed ph            1   0   0   0     0   1   .125        Alou ph             1   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  McEnaney p          0   0   0   0     0   0   .000        Williams p          0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  Carbo ph            0   0   0   0     1   0   .167        Howe ph             1   0   0   0     0   0   .220
  Littell p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000        McLaughlin p        1   0   0   0     0   1   .000
  Phillips ph         1   0   0   0     0   0   .182
  Knowles p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  Bruno p             1   0   0   0     0   1   .000

Totals               56   4  12   4     5  12             Totals               59   5  14   4     9   5

Time of Game: 4:52   Attendance: 11,566
Left on Base: Cardinals 12, Astros 17
DP: Cardinals 2, Astros 2
Errors: Reitz
Doubles: Scott (5)
Triples: Scott (6)
Home Runs: Reitz (2)
Stolen Bases: Templeton (3), Scott 3 (10), Cedeno (7), Leonard (2)
Caught Stealing: Leonard (1)
Sacrifice Hits: Iorg (1), Mumphrey (1), Puhl (1)
GIDP: Hendrick 2 (4), Ashby (3), Cruz (3)
Hit by Pitch: Templeton (1,by Niekro)


Cardinals              IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Denny                   5.2   7   4   3   4   1   0  28   3.20
Schultz                 2.1   0   0   0   0   1   0   7   4.09
McEnaney                2     1   0   0   1   0   0   8   0.00
Littell                 2     1   0   0   1   1   0   8   2.76
Knowles                 1     3   0   0   1   0   0   7   2.79
Bruno L(1-2)            2.2   2   1   1   2   2   0  11   3.78
Totals                 15.2  14   5   4   9   5   0  69

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niekro                  6     6   4   4   4   2   1  27   3.92
Sambito                 3     1   0   0   0   3   0  10   2.42
Andujar                 2     2   0   0   1   1   0   9   3.14
Williams                2     2   0   0   0   2   0   8   0.00
McLaughlin W(1-0)       3     1   0   0   0   4   0  10   7.36
Totals                 16    12   4   4   5  12   1  64

Passed Balls: Ashby (4)
Hit by Pitch: Niekro (2)
Wild Pitches: Andujar (1)

Umpires: HP - Murray Strey, 1B - Ray Hamil, 2B - Dave Pallone, 3B - Jim Rains


CARDINALS 1ST: ump3b,rainj901 timeofgame,292 attendance,11566
Debut for umpire Ray Hamil; Templeton was hit by a pitch;
Templeton stole second; Scott reached on a fielder's choice
[Templeton out at third (second to third)]; Scott stole second;
Hernandez walked; Simmons was called out on strikes; Hendrick
singled to center [Scott scored, Hernandez to third]; Iorg flied
out to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Puhl grounded out (pitcher to first); Reynolds
singled to right; Cedeno grounded out (pitcher to first)
[Reynolds to second]; Cruz singled to left [Reynolds scored,
Cruz to second (on throw to home)]; Cabell singled to center
[Cruz scored]; Watson grounded out (second to first); 2 R, 3 H,
0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Astros 2.

CARDINALS 2ND: Reitz flied out to right; Tyson grounded out
(second to first); Denny lined to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 1, Astros 2.

ASTROS 2ND: Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first); Ashby
popped to second; Niekro singled to right; Puhl forced Niekro
(second unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Astros
2.

CARDINALS 3RD: Templeton struck out; Scott doubled to left;
Hernandez walked; Ashby allowed a passed ball [Scott to third,
Hernandez to second]; Simmons walked; Hendrick grounded into a
double play (shortstop to second to first) [Simmons out at
second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 1, Astros 2.

ASTROS 3RD: Reynolds flied out to left; Cedeno singled to
center; Cedeno stole second; Cruz popped to second; Cabell
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Cardinals 1, Astros 2.

CARDINALS 4TH: Iorg lined to left; Reitz homered; Tyson flied
out to right; Denny singled to center; Templeton singled to
right [Denny to third]; Scott tripled to right [Denny scored,
Templeton scored]; Hernandez grounded out (first to pitcher); 3
R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 2.

ASTROS 4TH: Watson walked; Gonzalez reached on an error by Reitz
[Watson to third, Gonzalez to first]; Ashby grounded into a
double play (first to shortstop to first) [Watson scored
(unearned) (no RBI), Gonzalez out at second]; Niekro grounded
out (shortstop to first); 1 R (0 ER), 0 H, 1 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 3.

CARDINALS 5TH: LEONARD REPLACED CEDENO (PLAYING CF); Simmons
walked; Hendrick grounded into a double play (shortstop to
second to first) [Simmons out at second]; Iorg flied out to
right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 3.

ASTROS 5TH: Puhl grounded out (second to first); Reynolds lined
to right; Leonard walked; Cruz lined to first; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 3.

CARDINALS 6TH: Reitz popped to shortstop; Tyson flied out to
center; Denny lined to third; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals
4, Astros 3.

ASTROS 6TH: Cabell struck out; Watson singled to right; Gonzalez
singled to center [Watson to second]; Ashby flied out to center;
WALLING BATTED FOR NIEKRO; Walling walked [Watson to third,
Gonzalez to second]; Puhl walked [Watson scored, Gonzalez to
third, Walling to second]; SCHULTZ REPLACED DENNY (PITCHING);
Reynolds popped to shortstop; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Cardinals
4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 7TH: SAMBITO REPLACED WALLING (PITCHING); Templeton
flied out to center; Scott singled to left; Scott stole second;
Hernandez popped to third; Simmons popped to shortstop; 0 R, 1
H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 7TH: Leonard lined to shortstop; Cruz struck out; Cabell
lined to shortstop; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 8TH: Hendrick flied out to center; Iorg struck out;
Reitz grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 8TH: Watson popped to first in foul territory; Gonzalez
flied out to center; Ashby grounded out (second to first); 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 9TH: Tyson lined to center; FREED BATTED FOR SCHULTZ;
Freed struck out; Templeton struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 9TH: MCENANEY REPLACED FREED (PITCHING); SEXTON BATTED
FOR SAMBITO; Sexton singled to shortstop; Puhl reached on a
fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt [Sexton to second];
Keith Hernandez, Ted Simmons and Cardinals Manager Ken Boyer
ejected by 2B umpire Dave Pallone; SWISHER REPLACED SIMMONS
(PLAYING C ); MUMPHREY REPLACED HERNANDEZ (PLAYING LF); IORG
CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING 1B); Reynolds forced Sexton (pitcher
to third) [Puhl to second]; Leonard walked [Puhl to third,
Reynolds to second]; Cruz grounded into a double play (pitcher
to catcher to first) [Puhl out at home]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 10TH: ANDUJAR REPLACED SEXTON (PITCHING); Scott flied
out to center; Mumphrey grounded out (pitcher to first); Swisher
popped to first in foul territory; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 10TH: Cabell grounded out (first unassisted); Watson
grounded out (pitcher to first); Gonzalez grounded out
(shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros
4.

CARDINALS 11TH: Hendrick singled to center; Iorg out on a
sacrifice bunt (pitcher to second) [Hendrick to second]; Andujar
threw a wild pitch [Hendrick to third]; Reitz reached on a
fielder's choice [Hendrick out at home (shortstop to catcher)];
BROCK BATTED FOR TYSON; Brock singled to center [Reitz to
third]; OBERKFELL RAN FOR BROCK; CARBO BATTED FOR MCENANEY;
Carbo walked [Oberkfell to second]; Templeton struck out; 0 R, 2
H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 11TH: OBERKFELL STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 2B); LITTELL
REPLACED CARBO (PITCHING); Ashby grounded out (first
unassisted); ALOU BATTED FOR ANDUJAR; Alou grounded out
(shortstop to first); Puhl lined to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
 Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 12TH: WILLIAMS REPLACED ALOU (PITCHING); Scott singled
to left; Mumphrey out on a sacrifice bunt (first to second)
[Scott to second]; Swisher struck out; Hendrick grounded out
(shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros
4.

ASTROS 12TH: Reynolds lined to shortstop; Leonard was called out
on strikes; Cruz walked; Cabell singled to right [Cruz to third,
Cabell to second (on throw to 3b)]; Watson flied out to left; 0
R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 13TH: Iorg lined to first; Reitz struck out; Oberkfell
singled to center; PHILLIPS BATTED FOR LITTELL; Phillips flied
out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 13TH: KNOWLES REPLACED PHILLIPS (PITCHING); Gonzalez
grounded out (third to first); Ashby singled to shortstop; HOWE
BATTED FOR WILLIAMS; Howe flied out to right; Puhl walked [Ashby
to second]; Reynolds grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H,
0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 14TH: MCLAUGHLIN REPLACED HOWE (PITCHING); Templeton
flied out to center; Scott singled to second; Mumphrey grounded
out (shortstop to second to first) [Scott to second]; Scott
stole third; Swisher was called out on strikes; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 14TH: Leonard singled to right; Cruz singled to center
[Leonard to third]; BRUNO REPLACED KNOWLES (PITCHING); Cabell
was walked intentionally [Cruz to second]; Watson flied out to
left; Leonard was caught stealing home (catcher to third to
catcher); Gonzalez flied out to right; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 15TH: Hendrick struck out; Iorg flied out to center;
Reitz flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4,
Astros 4.

ASTROS 15TH: Ashby was called out on strikes; McLaughlin was
called out on strikes; Puhl popped to catcher in foul territory;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

CARDINALS 16TH: Oberkfell grounded out (first unassisted); Bruno
struck out; Templeton struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 4, Astros 4.

ASTROS 16TH: Reynolds popped to catcher in foul territory;
Leonard singled to left; Leonard stole second; Cruz was walked
intentionally; Cabell forced Cruz (shortstop to second) [Leonard
to third]; Watson singled to center [Leonard scored, Cabell to
second]; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Cardinals 4, Astros 5.