[Joy in Mudville]

Houston--Dock Ellis didn't feel or look like a 31-game winner.

Home-standing Houston battered the Pittsburgh right-hander as the Astros cruised to an easy 9-0 victory in Friday's opening game of the National League Championship Series.

Ellis, who had won his last seven straight decisions of the regular season, allowed 11 hits and seven runs (five earned) in five innings. In addition, Ellis surrendered two home runs, something he had done only three times in 45 regular season starts.

The Pirate defense didn't help Ellis or any of the relievers that followed. Pittsburgh committed four errors in the contest.

Meanwhile, Astro starter Ken Forsch, a 30-game winner, held Pittsburgh to no runs on seven hits in seven innings. The right-hander walked none and struck out two.

Every player except Forsch got at least one hit. Astro catcher Johnny Edwards went 4-for-5 and left fielder Carlos May hit a pair of home runs.

Game two is Saturday when the Pirates send Bob Moose to the mound. The Astros will start Don Wilson.

Game ID: 6729 - Friday, October 6th, 1972 - Game Log


Friday, October 6th, 1972
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Pittsburgh Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4
Houston Astros 1 2 0 1 3 0 1 1 X 9 16 0


Pittsburgh AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
D. Cash 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .250 0 0
B. Buckner RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250 0 0
W. Stargell LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 0 0
R. Hebner 3B 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .500 0 0
A. Oliver CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .250 0 0
M. Alou 1B 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0
M. May C 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .500 0 0
F. Patek SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .000 0 0
D. Ellis P 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .000 0 0
B. Veale P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
a-N. Miller PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
O. Pena P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Totals 35 0 9 0 0 2 20

a - N. Miller pinch hit for B. Veale in the 7th

BATTING
Total Bases: M. May 2, B. Buckner, D. Cash, R. Hebner 2, A. Oliver, M. Alou 2
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: D. Cash, R. Hebner
GIDP: F. Patek
Team LOB: 9

FIELDING
Errors: M. May , B. Buckner , R. Hebner , F. Patek
Double Plays: 1 (Cash-Patek-Alou)


Houston AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
J. Morgan 2B 5 1 2 3 0 1 2 .400 1 3
J. Wynn RF 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 .400 0 0
C. Cedeno CF 5 1 2 0 0 0 1 .400 0 0
J. Mayberry 1B 4 1 2 1 1 0 3 .500 0 1
C. May LF 5 2 2 3 0 0 4 .400 2 3
D. Rader 3B 5 0 1 1 0 1 0 .200 0 1
J. Edwards C 4 2 4 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
R. Metzger SS 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 .333 0 0
K. Forsch P 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 .000 0 1
a-C. Geronimo PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 0 0
J. Bouton P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
D. Lemaster P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Totals 39 9 16 9 2 4 16

a - C. Geronimo pinch hit for K. Forsch in the 7th

BATTING
Doubles: J. Edwards (1, 5th Inning off D. Ellis, 0 on, 1 out) C. Cedeno (1, 2nd Inning off D. Ellis, 1 on, 2 outs) J. Mayberry (1, 5th Inning off D. Ellis, 1 on, 0 outs)
Home Runs: C. May 2 (2, 5th Inning off D. Ellis, 1 on, 0 outs; 8th Inning off O. Pena, 0 on, 2 outs) J. Morgan (1, 2nd Inning off D. Ellis, 1 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: J. Edwards 5, C. May 8, J. Morgan 5, J. Wynn 2, C. Cedeno 3, R. Metzger, D. Rader, J. Mayberry 3
2-out RBI: C. May, J. Morgan 2, D. Rader
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: J. Morgan, J. Wynn, J. Mayberry
GIDP: J. Mayberry
Sac Bunt: K. Forsch
Team LOB: 9

BASERUNNING
SB: J. Wynn (1), C. Cedeno (1), R. Metzger (1)
CS: J. Edwards (1)

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Morgan-Metzger-Mayberry)

Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
D. Ellis L (0-1) 5.0 11 7 5 2 3 2 100 62 9.00
B. Veale 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 10 0.00
O. Pena 2.0 4 2 1 0 1 1 31 22 4.50

PITCHING
Game Score: D. Ellis 22
Batters Faced: D. Ellis 28, B. Veale 4, O. Pena 10
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: D. Ellis 7-3, B. Veale 2-1, O. Pena 2-2
Pitches - Strikes: D. Ellis 100-62, B. Veale 15-10, O. Pena 31-22

Houston IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
K. Forsch W (1-0) 7.0 7 0 0 0 2 0 86 61 0.00
J. Bouton 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 10 0.00
D. Lemaster 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 8 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: K. Forsch 65
Batters Faced: K. Forsch 28, J. Bouton 4, D. Lemaster 3
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: K. Forsch 7-12, J. Bouton 2-1, D. Lemaster 2-0
Pitches - Strikes: K. Forsch 86-61, J. Bouton 15-10, D. Lemaster 11-8
WP: K. Forsch


GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: C. May
Ballpark: Astrodome
Weather: Partly Cloudy (68 degrees), wind blowing left to right at 19 mph
Start Time: 7:05 pm
Time: 2:42
Attendance: 33684