A four-run outburst in the second inning carried the Astros to a 5-2 victory over the Braves behind the six-hit pitching of Vern Ruhle. Alan Ashby began the Astros' second with a double and, after two outs, Joe Morgan and Enos Cabell walked to load the bases. Terry Puhl then blooped a double off the glove of second baseman Glenn Hubbard to drive in three runs. Jose Cruz capped the rally with a single. [The Sporting News]



Houston Astros 5, Atlanta Braves 2
Game Played on Wednesday, October   1, 1980 (Night game) at Astrodome
Braves       0  2  0    0  0  0    0  0  0  -   2  6  1
Astros       0  4  0    0  0  0    0  1  x  -   5 10  1


Braves               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Harper lf             4   0   0   0     0   0   .211      Morgan 2b             4   1   1   0     1   0   .249
Ramirez ss            4   0   2   0     0   0   .276        Landestoy 2b        0   0   0   0     0   0   .245
Matthews rf           4   0   0   0     0   0   .277      Cabell 3b             3   1   2   0     1   0   .276
Horner 3b             4   0   0   0     0   0   .273      Puhl rf               4   1   2   3     0   1   .282
Chambliss 1b          4   1   1   0     0   0   .281      Cruz lf               4   0   1   1     0   1   .306
Murphy cf             2   0   0   0     1   0   .280      Cedeno cf             3   1   1   0     1   0   .310
Hubbard 2b            3   1   1   1     0   1   .253      Howe 1b               3   0   0   0     0   1   .282
Benedict c            3   0   2   1     0   0   .259        Bergman 1b          0   0   0   0     0   0   .260
Niekro p              2   0   0   0     0   0   .138      Ashby c               4   1   1   0     0   0   .245
  Pocoroba ph         1   0   0   0     0   0   .275      Reynolds ss           4   0   1   1     0   0   .218
  Camp p              0   0   0   0     0   0   .111      Ruhle p               4   0   1   0     0   2   .250

Totals               31   2   6   2     1   1             Totals               33   5  10   5     3   5

Time of Game: 2:06   Attendance: 35,600
Left on Base: Braves 3, Astros 8
DP: Braves 0, Astros 1
Errors: Niekro, Ruhle
Doubles: Chambliss (37), Benedict (14), Ashby (17), Puhl (22)
Stolen Bases: Hubbard (7), Morgan (24)
Caught Stealing: Murphy (6)
Sacrifice Hits: Howe (3)
GIDP: Niekro (2)


Braves                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niekro L(15-17)         7     7   4   4   3   5   0  31   3.71
Camp                    1     3   1   1   0   0   0   6   1.95
Totals                  8    10   5   5   3   5   0  37

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Ruhle W(12-4)           9     6   2   2   1   1   0  32   2.40
Totals                  9     6   2   2   1   1   0  32

Umpires: HP - Steve Fields, 1B - Ed Vargo, 2B - Ed Montague, 3B - Satch Davidson


BRAVES 1ST: Harper made an out to shortstop; Ramirez singled to
center; Ramirez was picked off first but was safe on an error by
Ruhle [Ramirez to second]; Matthews flied out to center; Horner
flied out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Morgan singled to right; Cabell flied out to right;
Puhl singled to left [Morgan to second]; Cruz struck out; Cedeno
walked [Morgan to third, Puhl to second]; Howe struck out; 0 R,
2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Braves 0, Astros 0.

BRAVES 2ND: Chambliss doubled to right; Murphy flied out to
center [Chambliss to third]; Hubbard singled to center
[Chambliss scored]; Hubbard stole second; Benedict doubled to
left [Hubbard scored]; Niekro popped to third in foul territory;
Harper flied out to center; 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 2,
Astros 0.

ASTROS 2ND: Ashby doubled to right; Reynolds flied out to right
[Ashby to third]; Ruhle was called out on strikes; Morgan
walked; Morgan stole second; Cabell walked; Puhl doubled to
right [Ashby scored, Morgan scored, Cabell scored]; Cruz singled
to center [Puhl scored]; Cruz was picked off first but was safe
on an error by Niekro [Cruz to second]; Cedeno made an out to
shortstop; 4 R, 3 H, 1 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

BRAVES 3RD: Ramirez grounded out (shortstop to first); Matthews
flied out to center; Horner grounded out (shortstop to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

ASTROS 3RD: Howe grounded out (third to first); Ashby flied out
to center; Reynolds grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

BRAVES 4TH: Chambliss grounded out (shortstop to first); Murphy
flied out to center; Hubbard grounded out (third to first); 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

ASTROS 4TH: Ruhle flied out to left; Morgan flied out to left;
Cabell singled to right; Puhl struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Braves 2, Astros 4.

BRAVES 5TH: Benedict singled to center; On a bunt Niekro
grounded into a double play (first to shortstop to second)
[Benedict out at second]; Harper grounded out (first
unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

ASTROS 5TH: Cruz flied out to left; Cedeno made an out to
second; Howe flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves
2, Astros 4.

BRAVES 6TH: Ramirez singled to center; Matthews grounded out
(third to first) [Ramirez to second]; Horner popped to catcher
in foul territory; Chambliss flied out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

ASTROS 6TH: Ashby flied out to center; Reynolds grounded out
(first unassisted); Ruhle struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Braves 2, Astros 4.

BRAVES 7TH: Murphy walked; Murphy was caught stealing second
(catcher to second); Hubbard struck out; Benedict popped to
catcher in foul territory; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2,
Astros 4.

ASTROS 7TH: Morgan grounded out (first unassisted); Cabell
singled to right; Puhl lined to third; Cruz flied out to right;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

BRAVES 8TH: POCOROBA BATTED FOR NIEKRO; Pocoroba flied out to
center; Harper grounded out (third to first); Ramirez flied out
to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 4.

ASTROS 8TH: CAMP REPLACED POCOROBA (PITCHING); Cedeno singled to
second; Howe out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to first) [Cedeno
to second]; Ashby grounded out (first to pitcher) [Cedeno to
third]; Reynolds singled to pitcher [Cedeno scored]; Ruhle
singled to shortstop [Reynolds to second]; Morgan flied out to
right; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 5.

BRAVES 9TH: LANDESTOY REPLACED MORGAN (PLAYING 2B); BERGMAN
REPLACED HOWE (PLAYING 1B); Matthews flied out to left; Horner
flied out to center; Chambliss flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Braves 2, Astros 5.