J.R. Richard becomes the first righthander in National league history to reach 300 strikeouts during a 4-3 victory over Atlanta
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J.R. Richard becomes the first righthander in National league history to reach 300 strikeouts during a 4-3 victory over Atlanta

ByThis Day in Baseball

1978 – J.R. Richard becomes the first righthander in league history to reach 300 strikeouts during a 4-3 victory over Atlanta. He whiffs six to tally 303 for the season . J.R. also belts a homer off Larry McWilliams in the third. A double by Reggie Baldwinand a single by Rafael Landestoy in the seventh key the winning rally. 

Joe Niekro outduels his brother Phil in a 2-0 whitewash of the Braves and denies Phil a 20-win season. Joe allows seven hits then gives way to Ken Forsch in the ninth. Jose Cruz and Julio Gonzalez drive in the game’s only runs.
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Joe Niekro outduels his brother Phil in a 2-0 whitewash of the Braves and denies Phil a 20-win season. Joe allows seven hits then gives way to Ken Forsch in the ninth. Jose Cruz and Julio Gonzalez drive in the game’s only runs.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1978 – Joe Niekro outduels his brother Phil in a 2-0 whitewash of the Braves and denies Phil a 20-win season. Joe allows seven hits then gives way to Ken Forsch in the ninth. Jose Cruz and Julio Gonzalez drive in the game’s only runs.

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1978 – Local Houstonians replace striking umpires during a 7-5 victory over Pittsburgh. Murray Strey, a superintendent for Entex, rings up Dave Parker on strikes with the bases loaded in the ninth to kill the last Pirate chance. Parker later admits the last pitch could have been a strike. The union umps are back the next day. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1978 – Local Houstonians replace striking umpires during a 7-5 victory over Pittsburgh. Murray Strey, a superintendent for Entex, rings up Dave Parker on strikes with the bases loaded in the ninth to kill the last Pirate chance. Parker later admits the last pitch could have been a strike. The union umps are back the next day. 

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Ken Forsch wins a pair of extra-inning contests against the Expos

ByTom

1978 – Ken Forsch wins a pair of extra-inning contests against the Expos. Jose Cruz singles home the winning run in the 13th for a 4-3 victory in the opener after Reggie Baldwin tied it with a two-out single in the ninth. In the nightcap, Jesus Alou draws a bases-loaded walk for the game-winner in a 5-4, ten-inning triumph. 

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1978 – Despite committing a team-record seven errors, Houston explodes for six runs in the eighth inning to upend the Pirates, 6-5. Jesus Alou begins the frame with a double, his fourth hit of the night. Cesar Cedeno completes the rally with a bases-loaded single. Rick Williams gets the win in his major league debut. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1978 – Despite committing a team-record seven errors, Houston explodes for six runs in the eighth inning to upend the Pirates, 6-5. Jesus Alou begins the frame with a double, his fourth hit of the night. Cesar Cedeno completes the rally with a bases-loaded single. Rick Williams gets the win in his major league debut. 

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J.R. Richard tosses three wild pitches in the seventh inning, wasting his own three-hitter in the process

ByTom

1978 – J.R. Richard tosses three wild pitches in the seventh inning, wasting his own three-hitter in the process. His last errant one allows Larry Herndon to trot home with the only run in a 1-0 defeat by Bob Knepper and San Francisco. The wild pitches tie a record Richard had already tied once that season. 

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J.R. Richard fires his second-straight shutout in a 13-0 drubbing of the Braves. Jose Cruz is the batting star with four hits and six RBIs. Enos Cabell contributes three hits while Denny Walling launches his first major league home run. 

ByTom

1978 – J.R. Richard fires his second-straight shutout in a 13-0 drubbing of the Braves. Jose Cruz is the batting star with four hits and six RBIs. Enos Cabell contributes three hits while Denny Walling launches his first major league home run. 

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1978 – J.R. Richard two-hits Philadelphia in a 5-0 shutout. He fans nine and allows two harmless singles. Bob Watson ‘s two-run homer paces the offense. Phillie catcher Bob Boone has a rough night, committing two errors and suffering five bruises before being tossed in an argument with umpire Bruce Froemming. 

ByTom

1978 – J.R. Richard two-hits Philadelphia in a 5-0 shutout. He fans nine and allows two harmless singles. Bob Watson ‘s two-run homer paces the offense. Phillie catcher Bob Boone has a rough night, committing two errors and suffering five bruises before being tossed in an argument with umpire Bruce Froemming. 

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1978 – Reliever Tom Dixon singles home Julio Gonzalez in the 14th inning for a wild 5-4 victory in New York. It’s his first big league hit. Houston scores twice in the ninth to reach extra innings then takes the lead in the 12th on a two-run homer by Enos Cabell. Ken Forsch can’t hold the lead, setting up Dixon’s heroics. 

ByTom

1978 – Reliever Tom Dixon singles home Julio Gonzalez in the 14th inning for a wild 5-4 victory in New York. It’s his first big league hit. Houston scores twice in the ninth to reach extra innings then takes the lead in the 12th on a two-run homer by Enos Cabell. Ken Forsch can’t hold the lead, setting up Dixon’s heroics. 

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1978 – A Hollywood ending helps Houston subdue the Dodgers, 8-6. With two on against Ken Forsch in the bottom of the ninth, Ron Cey lines to Bob Watson who steps on first to double off Reggie Smith. Watson spins and throws to Roger Metzger at second who beats Bill Russell to the bag to complete the game-ending triple play. Joe Ferguson’s three-run homer in the eighth had given the Astros their lead.

ByTom

1978 – A Hollywood ending helps Houston subdue the Dodgers, 8-6. With two on against Ken Forsch in the bottom of the ninth, Ron Cey lines to Bob Watson who steps on first to double off Reggie Smith. Watson spins and throws to Roger Metzger at second who beats Bill Russell to the bag to complete the game-ending triple play. Joe Ferguson’s three-run homer in the eighth had given the Astros their lead.