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1972 – Jay Powell is born in Meridian, MS. As a reliever, he wins eleven games and loses ten over four seasons as an Astro, saving eight games and closing the pennant clincher on the last day of the 1999 regular season.

ByTom

1972 – Jay Powell is born in Meridian, MS. As a reliever, he wins eleven games and loses ten over four seasons as an Astro, saving eight games and closing the pennant clincher on the last day of the 1999 regular season.

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1971 – Lefthander Dave Roberts is acquired from San Diego for infielder Derrel Thomas and pitchers Bill Grief and Mark Schaeffer. Roberts compiles a 47-44 mark in four seasons. His best year is a 17-11 record with a 2.85 ERA and six shutouts in 1973. 

ByTom

1971 – Lefthander Dave Roberts is acquired from San Diego for infielder Derrel Thomas and pitchers Bill Grief and Mark Schaeffer. Roberts compiles a 47-44 mark in four seasons. His best year is a 17-11 record with a 2.85 ERA and six shutouts in 1973. 

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1971 – Astros deal utilityman Orlando “Marty” Martinez to St. Louis for catcher Bob Stinson. Martinez had hit .268 in three years of service in Houston. Stinson would bat .171 in 27 games before being sold to the Expos.

ByTom

1971 – Astros deal utilityman Orlando “Marty” Martinez to St. Louis for catcher Bob Stinson. Martinez had hit .268 in three years of service in Houston. Stinson would bat .171 in 27 games before being sold to the Expos.

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1971 – Gary Ross of the Padres balks home Jesus Alou in the 21st inning as Houston outlasts San Diego, 2-1. But wait. That’s just the opener of the scheduled twinbill. After the 5-1/2-hour first game, the California fog rolls in before the second game ends. The Padres win the “nightcap”, 5-4 in the ninth when Ollie Brown, batting after a 14-minute fog delay, sends a shot to right that Jim Wynn can’t find in the mist.

ByTom

1971 – Gary Ross of the Padres balks home Jesus Alou in the 21st inning as Houston outlasts San Diego, 2-1. But wait. That’s just the opener of the scheduled twinbill. After the 5-1/2-hour first game, the California fog rolls in before the second game ends. The Padres win the “nightcap”, 5-4 in the ninth when Ollie Brown, batting after a 14-minute fog delay, sends a shot to right that Jim Wynn can’t find in the mist.

Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4.
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Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4.

ByTom

1971 – Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4. It’s his last long ball before the Reds acquire him in a trade. Cesar Cedeno goes 4-for-4. Despite the win, Houston is eliminated from the division race. 

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1971 – Don Wilson fires a one-hitter and drives in two to sink the Reds, 4-1. The Astros make their second triple play of the season as Joe Morgan snares a blooper by Darrell Chaney, flips to Roger Metzger for the force at second, who then throws to John Mayberry at first. Wilson wins his 16th, contributing a suicide squeeze and an RBI single to his own cause. 

ByTom

1971 – Don Wilson fires a one-hitter and drives in two to sink the Reds, 4-1. The Astros make their second triple play of the season as Joe Morgan snares a blooper by Darrell Chaney, flips to Roger Metzger for the force at second, who then throws to John Mayberry at first. Wilson wins his 16th, contributing a suicide squeeze and an RBI single to his own cause. 

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1971 – Jack Hiatt singles home Jim Wynn with the game-winner in a 4-3, 13-inning thriller over Cincinnati at the Dome. The two had also teamed up in the ninth to preserve the tie when Wynn snared a sinking liner in center field then gunned down Buddy Bradford at the plate with Hiatt supplying the tag.

ByTom

1971 – Jack Hiatt singles home Jim Wynn with the game-winner in a 4-3, 13-inning thriller over Cincinnati at the Dome. The two had also teamed up in the ninth to preserve the tie when Wynn snared a sinking liner in center field then gunned down Buddy Bradford at the plate with Hiatt supplying the tag.

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1971 – Talk about getting back at your boss! Backup catcher Jack Hiatt singles home Doug Rader with the winning run as Houston takes a 5-4 victory over Gaylord Perry and the Giants. Hiatt, who was traded from San Francisco the year before, still held a winter job in the Giants’ sales office at the time. 

ByTom

1971 – Talk about getting back at your boss! Backup catcher Jack Hiatt singles home Doug Rader with the winning run as Houston takes a 5-4 victory over Gaylord Perry and the Giants. Hiatt, who was traded from San Francisco the year before, still held a winter job in the Giants’ sales office at the time.