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Joe Niekro becomes the first 21-game winner in club history with a 3-2 triumph over the Dodgers. An eighth-inning sacrifice fly by Danny Heep plates the game-winner. The Astros finish with a best-to-date 89 wins but fall 1-1/2 games short of Cincinnati for the N.L. West title. 

ByTom

1979 – Joe Niekro becomes the first 21-game winner in club history with a 3-2 triumph over the Dodgers. An eighth-inning sacrifice fly by Danny Heep plates the game-winner. The Astros finish with a best-to-date 89 wins but fall 1-1/2 games short of Cincinnati for the N.L. West title. 

Atlanta’s Phil Niekro notches his 20th win of the season by beating his brother Joe

Atlanta’s Phil Niekro notches his 20th win of the season by beating his brother Joe

ByThis Day in Baseball

Atlanta’s Phil Niekro notches his 20th win of the season by beating his brother Joe, the National League’s only other 20-game winner this season, 9 – 4. The Niekro brothers are the second pair (the other was Jim Perry and Gaylord Perry) to win 20 games in the same year, and Phil Niekro, who finishes at 21-20, is the first pitcher since Wilbur Wood in 1973 to win and lose 20 games the same year, and the first NL pitcher to do so since 1905.

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.

44-Pete-Rose

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds extends his hitting streak to 44 games

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On July 31, 1978, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds extends his hitting streak to 44 games, tying Willie Keeler’s National League record set 81 years ago. Rose singles against Hall of Famer Phil Niekro in Cincinnati’s 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links     Subscribe to our…

Joe Niekro takes his brother Phil deep for only homerun of his career

Joe Niekro takes his brother Phil deep for only homerun of his career

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 29, 1976, Houston Astros pitcher Joe Niekro hits the only home run of his 22-year major league career (973 At Bats). Strangely enough, Niekro reaches the seats against his brother, Phil, the ace of the Atlanta Braves. The seventh-inning blast comes on a knuckleball that Joe sends over the left field fence. Ken…

In Atlanta, Joe Morgan lofts a three-run homer off Phil Niekro to account for all the scoring as the Reds beat the Braves, 3 – 0.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In Atlanta, Joe Morgan lofts a three-run homer off Phil Niekro to account for all the scoring as the Reds beat the Braves, 3 – 0.

Don Wilson hurls a two-hit shutout against the Braves in what would become the final start of his career

Don Wilson hurls a two-hit shutout against the Braves in what would become the final start of his career

ByTom

1974 – Don Wilson hurls a two-hit shutout against the Braves in what would become the final start of his career. He wins, 5-0, even without recording a strikeout. Tommy Helms’ three-run homer is the key blow. In the nightcap, Phil Niekro returns the favor with a two-hit complete game in a 6-2 decision over the Astros.

Braves knuckleballer Phil Niekro no-hits the Padres, 9 – 0, It’s the first no-hitter thrown by a Braves hurler since the team shifted to Atlanta in 1966.

Braves knuckleballer Phil Niekro no-hits the Padres, 9 – 0, It’s the first no-hitter thrown by a Braves hurler since the team shifted to Atlanta in 1966.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Braves knuckleballer Phil Niekro no-hits the Padres, 9 – 0, and improves his record to 11-4. He walks three and strikes out four in recording the first no-hitter by the franchise in Atlanta. Ralph Garr has three hits, three runs, and a steal, and Paul Casanova records an inside-the-park homer on a long fly ball missed by LF Gene Locklear.

Willie Davis collects his 2,000th career hit off Phil Niekro

Willie Davis collects his 2,000th career hit off Phil Niekro

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 19, 1973 At Dodger Stadium Los Angeles outffielder Willie Davis collects his 2,000th career hit. Known as 3-Dog, reaches the plateau in front of the home crowd with a two-run home run off future hall of Famer, Phil Niekro in the team’s 3-0 victory over Atlanta. His shot chases Niekro from the game….

Steve Carlton’s consecutive-victory streak ends at 15 dtoping a 2-1 extra innings decision

ByTom

In a complete-game effort at Veterans Stadium, Steve Carlton’s consecutive-victory streak ends at 15 when the Phillies drop a 2-1 decision to Atlanta and Phil Niekro, who also goes the distance. Dusty Baker, who started the 11th inning rally with a two-out double, scores the eventual winning run on Mike Lum’s broken bat flare over the shortstop’s head.