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1971 – Houston erupts for ten runs in the fourth inning as they pound the Giants, 18-4. Cesar Cedeno and Bob Watson both rap two hits in the inning. Cedeno drives in four for the day on a pair of two-run doubles. Larry Dierker picks up his 12th win and is named to the N.L. All-Star team but declines to appear due to a sore elbow. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1971 – Houston erupts for ten runs in the fourth inning as they pound the Giants, 18-4. Cesar Cedeno and Bob Watson both rap two hits in the inning. Cedeno drives in four for the day on a pair of two-run doubles. Larry Dierker picks up his 12th win and is named to the N.L. All-Star team but declines to appear due to a sore elbow. 

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1971 – Chicago great Ferguson Jenkins is sailing along with a four-hit shutout and a 1-0 lead through eight innings when the Astros win without hitting a ball past the infield. Cesar Cedeno’s scratch hit starts it off. Two walks later, Cedeno bluffs a break for the plate which causes Jenkins to balk home the tying run. Jenkins then misplays Roger Metzger’s botched squeeze bunt for an error as Cesar Geronimo scores the game-winner. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1971 – Chicago great Ferguson Jenkins is sailing along with a four-hit shutout and a 1-0 lead through eight innings when the Astros win without hitting a ball past the infield. Cesar Cedeno’s scratch hit starts it off. Two walks later, Cedeno bluffs a break for the plate which causes Jenkins to balk home the tying run. Jenkins then misplays Roger Metzger’s botched squeeze bunt for an error as Cesar Geronimo scores the game-winner. 

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1971 – Dome fans are treated to a 15-inning exhibition “tripleheader” between the Astros, Yankees and Twins. Houston nips New York, 2-1, in the first five-inning game and later tops Minnesota, 5-3, in the finale. In between, the Twins down the Yankees, 4-1. 

ByTom

1971 – Dome fans are treated to a 15-inning exhibition “tripleheader” between the Astros, Yankees and Twins. Houston nips New York, 2-1, in the first five-inning game and later tops Minnesota, 5-3, in the finale. In between, the Twins down the Yankees, 4-1. 

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Two former Houston first round draft choices are born on this day

ByTom

1971 – Two former Houston first round draft choices are born on this day. Infielder Phil Nevin is born in Fullerton, CA. The first pick overall in the 1992 June draft, Nevin tries management’s patience before being traded to Detroit. Pitcher Jeff Juden is born in Salem, MA. The 6-8 righthander is the 12th overall pick in the 1989 draft but would record just a 0-3 record before being dealt. 

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1970 – Jim Wynn launches two homers off Nolan Ryan to pace a 9-5 thrashing of the Mets. Wynn totals four hits and drives in five. Denis Menke also goes deep twice. Don Wilson survives an early 3-0 deficit to gain the victory. Wynn tells the press that Ryan’s fastball is no match for his bat and backs it up. 

ByTom

1970 – Jim Wynn launches two homers off Nolan Ryan to pace a 9-5 thrashing of the Mets. Wynn totals four hits and drives in five. Denis Menke also goes deep twice. Don Wilson survives an early 3-0 deficit to gain the victory. Wynn tells the press that Ryan’s fastball is no match for his bat and backs it up. 

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1970 – Don Wilson hurls a 16-hitter during a 7-3 victory in Montreal. That’s no typo. Wilson caps a five-run first inning with an RBI single and this lead lets him stay in the game as he dodges Montreal’s bullets all day. Fred Gladding is summoned to get the final out after Wilson allows three straight hits with two out in the ninth.

ByTom

1970 – Don Wilson hurls a 16-hitter during a 7-3 victory in Montreal. That’s no typo. Wilson caps a five-run first inning with an RBI single and this lead lets him stay in the game as he dodges Montreal’s bullets all day. Fred Gladding is summoned to get the final out after Wilson allows three straight hits with two out in the ninth.

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1970 – Disgruntled first baseman Joe Pepitone, who suddenly “retired” rather than play in Houston, is sold to the Cubs. He had belted 14 home runs during his four months in Texas. Bob Watson takes over at first as Larry Dierker is roughed up during a 9-2 loss at Wrigley Field. 

ByTom

1970 – Disgruntled first baseman Joe Pepitone, who suddenly “retired” rather than play in Houston, is sold to the Cubs. He had belted 14 home runs during his four months in Texas. Bob Watson takes over at first as Larry Dierker is roughed up during a 9-2 loss at Wrigley Field. 

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Gaylord Perry is met by two umpires and forced to towel down

ByTom

1970 – San Francisco’s Gaylord Perry is met by two umpires and forced to towel down before the second inning of a game at the Dome. Minus the medicine, Perry gives up five runs as the Astros build an early lead. The Giants roar back to claim a 7-5 advantage before Houston tallies three in the ninth for an 8-7 triumph. Doug Rader singles home Jim Wynn with the game-winner. 

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Doug Rader pins down Dodger first baseman Wes Parker as exotic entertainer Morganna dashes out to kiss Parker during a game at Dodger Stadium . Pitcher Denny Lemaster is the one who deserves a smooch. He scatters six hits in a 6-2 Houston win, contributing two hits and two RBIs of his own. 

ByTom

1970 – Doug Rader pins down Dodger first baseman Wes Parker as exotic entertainer Morganna dashes out to kiss Parker during a game at Dodger Stadium . Pitcher Denny Lemaster is the one who deserves a smooch. He scatters six hits in a 6-2 Houston win, contributing two hits and two RBIs of his own.