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 1970- Astros blast five home runs to trounce Phil Niekro and the Braves, 8-3 . Jim Wynn has the most memorable shot, a rocket that doesn’t come to rest until it finds the gold (upper reserved) seats in the third inning (section 738C, row 6, seat 3) . That bested his blast into the purple seats in the first. Tommy Davis, Joe Pepitone and Doug Rader go yard as well, making an easy night for starter Larry Dierker. 

ByTom

 1970- Astros blast five home runs to trounce Phil Niekro and the Braves, 8-3 . Jim Wynn has the most memorable shot, a rocket that doesn’t come to rest until it finds the gold (upper reserved) seats in the third inning (section 738C, row 6, seat 3) . That bested his blast into the purple seats in the first. Tommy Davis, Joe Pepitone and Doug Rader go yard as well, making an easy night for starter Larry Dierker. 

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1970 – Pitcher Larry Dierker orders pinch-hitter Norm Miller to belt a homer as he’s leaving the game. Miller delivers with a three-run shot off Gaylord Perry to key an 8-5 Opening Day win at San Francisco. Dierker picks up the victory while Fred Gladding earns the save.

ByTom

1970 – Pitcher Larry Dierker orders pinch-hitter Norm Miller to belt a homer as he’s leaving the game. Miller delivers with a three-run shot off Gaylord Perry to key an 8-5 Opening Day win at San Francisco. Dierker picks up the victory while Fred Gladding earns the save.

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Pitcher Pat House is traded to Cincinnati for outfielder Jim Beauchamp

ByTom

1969 – Pitcher Pat House is traded to Cincinnati for outfielder Jim Beauchamp. It is Beauchamp’s second tour of duty with Houston. House earns a 2-1 record with one save in 24 games with the Astros. The lefthander never pitches in the majors after that deal.

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1969 – First Baseman Curt Blefary is traded to the Yankees for first baseman Joe Pepitone. A year to the day since being acquired, Blefary is dealt and his career is never able to recapture the magic of his first three years in Baltimore. Pepitone turns out not to be the answer at first base either and spends less than a year in Houston. 

ByTom

1969 – First Baseman Curt Blefary is traded to the Yankees for first baseman Joe Pepitone. A year to the day since being acquired, Blefary is dealt and his career is never able to recapture the magic of his first three years in Baltimore. Pepitone turns out not to be the answer at first base either and spends less than a year in Houston. 

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The Astros reach 81 wins and, for the first time in their history, experience a non-losing season. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1969 – Tommy Davis and Norm Miller homer in a 6-3 triumph at Dodger Stadium. Denny Lemaster goes the distance and strikes out eleven while scattering four hits . The Astros reach 81 wins and, for the first time in their history, experience a non-losing season. 

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1969 – Third base coach Salty Parker sends Norm Miller home from third when he sees a white object fly away from Atlanta catcher Bob Didier after a pitch. The object turns out not to be the ball, but a finger cast the catcher was wearing on his glove hand. Miller is easily tagged out. The 5-3 loss creates an unhappy 23rd birthday for sore-armed Larry Dierker who broke in with the Colt .45s on his brithday five years earlier. 

ByTom

1969 – Third base coach Salty Parker sends Norm Miller home from third when he sees a white object fly away from Atlanta catcher Bob Didier after a pitch. The object turns out not to be the ball, but a finger cast the catcher was wearing on his glove hand. Miller is easily tagged out. The 5-3 loss creates an unhappy 23rd birthday for sore-armed Larry Dierker who broke in with the Colt .45s on his brithday five years earlier. 

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1969 – Keith Lampard, a native of England, gets his first and last major league homer. It’s a two-run pinch-hit shot in the bottom of the ninth off Wayne Granger to shock the Reds, 3-2. So excited, the Brit almost runs past Jim Wynn on his way around the bases. Wynn had walked for the fourth time of the night. Houston sets an N.L. record for strikeouts with 1,125. Ironically, it’s a knuckleball from Jim Bouton that sets the mark on a squad full of flamethrowers. 

ByTom

1969 – Keith Lampard, a native of England, gets his first and last major league homer. It’s a two-run pinch-hit shot in the bottom of the ninth off Wayne Granger to shock the Reds, 3-2. So excited, the Brit almost runs past Jim Wynn on his way around the bases. Wynn had walked for the fourth time of the night. Houston sets an N.L. record for strikeouts with 1,125. Ironically, it’s a knuckleball from Jim Bouton that sets the mark on a squad full of flamethrowers.