|

1980 – Jose Cruz slams a 12th-inning homer off Rick Sutcliffe at the Dome to cap a furious 6-5 victory over Los Angeles to tie the Dodgers for the N.L. West lead. Two Astros were thrown out at the plate earlier trying to score the winning run. Cruz had ignited two rallies that forced a 3-3 tie in regulation. Cesar Cedeno contributes four hits. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1980 – Jose Cruz slams a 12th-inning homer off Rick Sutcliffe at the Dome to cap a furious 6-5 victory over Los Angeles to tie the Dodgers for the N.L. West lead. Two Astros were thrown out at the plate earlier trying to score the winning run. Cruz had ignited two rallies that forced a 3-3 tie in regulation. Cesar Cedeno contributes four hits. 

|

Art Howe ties a club record with his eighth consecutive hit

ByTom

1980 – Art Howe ties a club record with his eighth consecutive hit, a two-run single that paces a 9-5 win over St. Louis. A grand slam by Jose Cruz highlights the 6-4 nightcap for a twinbill sweep , drawing the Astros to within one game of the Dodgers for the N.L. West lead. Vern Ruhle goes the distance in the second game. Ruhle’s performance while replacing J.R. Richard after his stroke keeps the Astros in the pennant race.

|

A head-first slide by Enos Cabell into first beats the throw of Ivan DeJesus allowing Rafael Landestoy to score the game-winner in a 6-5 triumph over the Cubs. Frank LaCorte comes in to fan Dave Kingman and nail down the save. Cesar Cedeno has two hits and two RBIs to pace the Houston attack. 

ByTom

1980 – A head-first slide by Enos Cabell into first beats the throw of Ivan DeJesus allowing Rafael Landestoy to score the game-winner in a 6-5 triumph over the Cubs. Frank LaCorte comes in to fan Dave Kingman and nail down the save. Cesar Cedeno has two hits and two RBIs to pace the Houston attack. 

|

1980 – Joe Niekro comes on in relief to start the 16th inning of a scoreless tie with the Cubs at the Dome. He wins it himself an inning later when he drives home Enos Cabell for a 1-0 triumph in 17 frames.  Houston pitchers allow just seven hits to increase their lead in the NL West to three games over Los Angeles. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1980 – Joe Niekro comes on in relief to start the 16th inning of a scoreless tie with the Cubs at the Dome. He wins it himself an inning later when he drives home Enos Cabell for a 1-0 triumph in 17 frames.  Houston pitchers allow just seven hits to increase their lead in the NL West to three games over Los Angeles. 

|

The Astros win in 20innings on rare error by the Wizard

ByTom

1980 – In the 20th inning, the Padres play good hosts, giftwrapping a rally so Houston can celebrate a 3-1 victory. An error by Ozzie Smith puts Luis Pujols aboard, a late throw to second moves him up then Jerry Mumphrey muffs a fly ball from Terry Puhl to bring in the winning runs. Rookie Dave Smith, a San Diego product, pitches the final four innings for the win, ending the 6-1/2 hour marathon. 

J R Richard Stoke
|

 J.R. Richard collapses from a stroke while working out at the Astrodome

ByTom

1980 – J.R. Richard collapses from a stroke while working out at the Astrodome. He is rushed to Methodist Hospital where surgery saves his life. His distracted teammates lose in Philadelphia, 6-4. Richard would never regain the coordination needed to resume his career. 

|

1980 – Astros shock Montreal with seven runs in the ninth inning for a 9-8 triumph. Terry Puhl starts the rally with a blast off Steve Rogers then Jose Cruz, Enos Cabell and Alan Ashby each deliver two-run hits to complete the comeback.  Ashby’s double is his third hit. Frank LaCorte is the surprise winner. 

ByTom

1980 – Astros shock Montreal with seven runs in the ninth inning for a 9-8 triumph. Terry Puhl starts the rally with a blast off Steve Rogers then Jose Cruz, Enos Cabell and Alan Ashby each deliver two-run hits to complete the comeback.  Ashby’s double is his third hit. Frank LaCorte is the surprise winner. 

|

1980 – Joe Beckwith makes a wild throw to third in the 12th inning, allowing Cesar Cedeno to score the winning run in a 5-4 triumph over Los Angeles. It caps a 5-for-5 night for Cesar who hits two doubles, steals two bases, drives in two and makes a sensational catch in center. Joe Morgan sends the game to extra innings with a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1980 – Joe Beckwith makes a wild throw to third in the 12th inning, allowing Cesar Cedeno to score the winning run in a 5-4 triumph over Los Angeles. It caps a 5-for-5 night for Cesar who hits two doubles, steals two bases, drives in two and makes a sensational catch in center. Joe Morgan sends the game to extra innings with a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth. 

|

1980 – Nolan Ryan and Joe Sambito team up to one-hit St. Louis, 2-0. Struggling with the flu, Ryan lasts seven innings before bowing out. Garry Templeton’s third-inning double is the only Cardinal hit. Jose Cruz drives in both Astro runs with a single and sacrifice fly. 

ByTom

1980 – Nolan Ryan and Joe Sambito team up to one-hit St. Louis, 2-0. Struggling with the flu, Ryan lasts seven innings before bowing out. Garry Templeton’s third-inning double is the only Cardinal hit. Jose Cruz drives in both Astro runs with a single and sacrifice fly. 

|

1980 – J.R. Richard blanks the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, extending his shutout innings steak to 31-2/3rd innings.  He fans eight and walks three, allowing six hits yet says his arm doesn’t feel right. Jose Cruz and Denny Walling give Richard all the support he needs with RBI singles in the first inning. The win marks the first homestand sweep in Houston history, taking six from the Giants and Cubs. 

ByTom

1980 – J.R. Richard blanks the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, extending his shutout innings steak to 31-2/3rd innings.  He fans eight and walks three, allowing six hits yet says his arm doesn’t feel right. Jose Cruz and Denny Walling give Richard all the support he needs with RBI singles in the first inning. The win marks the first homestand sweep in Houston history, taking six from the Giants and Cubs.