'Stros sweep 'Jints @ "the Stick"

Aug 10, 1981 - Candlestick Park
Nolan Ryan vs Doyle Alexander
Astros 4, Giants 2

The Express walked 6 and fanned 6, while giving up just 2 runs over 8 innings.  Still it took a 2 run rally in the 8th for Ryan to move to the winning side of the ledger.  With the score tied at 2-2 the Astros attacked Giant reliever Greg Minton with 2 out.  A Craig Reynolds double broke the stalemate by scoring Art Howe and a Gary Woods pinch hit single knocked in Reynolds for some insurance that closer Joe Sambito would not need.


Aug 11, 1981
Joe Niekro vs Tom Griffin

Astros 8, Giants 4
The vising Astros doubled up the home town Giants thanks to some timely hitting.  A four run outburst in the top of the third set the pace.  Tony Scott would go 3 for 5 in the lead off spot.  Only two Astros would not score at least 1 run (Cedeno and Reynolds).  The Jints actually out hit the 'Stros 11 to 10, but they could not bunch their hits when they counted.  Giant batters, Enos Cabell and Joe Morgan each homered in a losign cause.  Each team's first basemen (Cedeno and Cabell) had 10 putouts.


Aug 12, 1981
Bob Knepper vs Ed Whitson
Astros 2, Giants 1

Jose Cruz sac fly and Art Howe's RBI single accounted for all of the runs the Astros would need on the day.  Bob Knepper's control was superb as the Giant batters spent 8 innings swinging at wind.  Knepper would fan 6 and not walk a better in 8 innings of work.  He would start the 9th in hopes of a complete game shutout, but the Giants finally broke through when Joe Morgan led off the final stanza with a homer to make it 2-1.  That signaled an immediate call to the pen for Dave Smith who would give up a single then lock down the game by posting the save.  The Astros road sweep leaves them undefeated since the strike ended.