Driving in three runs with a two-run single and a homer, Bob Watson led the Astros past the Mets, 8-3, in the opening game of a twin bill. But the Mets won the second contest, 2-1. Watson lined a single to left to drive in two runs in the first inning and followed a sacrifice fly by Jose Cruz in the third inning with his 10th homer of the campaign, giving the Astros a 4-0 lead.

The Mets got both their runs of the second game in the first inning. Lenny Randle walked, moved to second on a single by Tim Foli and both runners scored when Willie Montanez lined a double into the left field corner. The Astros loaded the bases with two out in the seventh but Craig Swan, picking up his first win since April 10, struck out pinch-hitter Denny Walling to end the threat. [The Sporting News]

Houston Astros 8, New York Mets 3 (Game 1)

Game Played on Wednesday, July 19, 1978 (Night game) at Shea Stadium

Astros 2 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 - 8 9 0 Mets 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 3 8 2 Astros AB R H RBI BB SO AVG Mets AB R H RBI BB SO AVG Landestoy ss,2b 5 1 2 1 0 0 .250 Maddox rf 3 0 0 1 1 0 .273 Puhl cf 4 2 2 0 1 0 .301 Foli ss 5 1 2 0 0 0 .233 Cabell 3b 4 1 0 0 1 1 .290 Mazzilli cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 .266 Fischlin ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Montanez 1b 3 0 0 1 0 0 .264 Cruz rf 3 0 0 1 1 0 .281 Stearns c 4 1 1 0 0 1 .272 Watson 1b 3 1 2 3 1 0 .287 S. Henderson lf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .256 Howard pr,lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 .253 Randle 3b 3 1 2 1 1 0 .234 Howe 2b,3b 5 1 2 1 0 0 .293 Flynn 2b 3 0 2 0 0 0 .254 Bergman lf,1b 2 0 1 0 2 0 .206 Murray p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Pujols c 3 1 0 2 0 0 .145 Grieve ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .232 Dixon p 3 0 0 0 0 1 .120 Kobel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Sambito p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Zachry p 0 0 0 0 1 0 .073 Siebert p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Youngblood 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Totals 34 8 9 8 6 2 Totals 32 3 8 3 4 4 Time of Game: 2:46 Left on Base: Astros 7, Mets 9 DP: Astros 0, Mets 0 Errors: S. Henderson, Youngblood Doubles: Landestoy (1), Puhl (13), Howe (27), Foli (12), S. Henderson (16) Home Runs: Watson (10) Stolen Bases: Puhl (15), Cabell (22) Caught Stealing: Puhl (8) Sacrifice Hits: Zachry (5) Sacrifice Flies: Cruz (1), Pujols (1), Maddox (3), Montanez (8) Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP ERA Dixon W(5-6) 5.2 6 3 3 2 3 0 25 3.24 Sambito SV(7) 3.1 2 0 0 2 1 0 14 3.16 Totals 9 8 3 3 4 4 0 39 Mets IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP ERA Zachry L(10-6) 5.2 8 6 5 2 2 1 28 3.28 Siebert 0.2 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 5.32 Murray 1.2 1 1 1 3 0 0 8 4.58 Kobel 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2.04 Totals 9 9 8 7 6 2 1 42 Umpires: HP - Bruce Froemming, 1B - Eric Gregg, 2B - Bill Williams, 3B - Dick Stello ASTROS 1ST: Landestoy doubled to right; Puhl singled to right [Landestoy to third]; Puhl stole second; Cabell struck out; Cruz made an out to second; Watson singled to left [Landestoy scored, Puhl scored]; Howe flied out to center; 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Mets 0. METS 1ST: Maddox grounded out (shortstop to first); Foli grounded out (shortstop to first); Mazzilli grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Mets 0. ASTROS 2ND: Bergman singled to right; Pujols flied out to center; Dixon struck out; Landestoy flied out to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Mets 0. METS 2ND: Montanez grounded out (shortstop to first); Stearns was called out on strikes; S. Henderson struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Mets 0. ASTROS 3RD: Puhl doubled to right; Cabell grounded out (pitcher to first) [Puhl to third]; Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to center [Puhl scored]; Watson homered; Howe flied out to center; 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 0. METS 3RD: On a bunt Randle singled to first; Flynn singled to left [Randle to second]; Zachry out on a sacrifice bunt (catcher to second) [Randle to third, Flynn to second]; Maddox hit a sacrifice fly to center [Randle scored]; Foli flied out to right; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. ASTROS 4TH: Bergman walked; Pujols grounded out (catcher to first) [Bergman to second]; Dixon popped to first; Landestoy flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. METS 4TH: Mazzilli struck out; Montanez grounded out (first unassisted); Stearns flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. ASTROS 5TH: Puhl popped to second; Cabell flied out to center; Cruz walked; Watson flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. METS 5TH: S. Henderson grounded out (shortstop to first); Randle flied out to center; Flynn singled to center; Zachry walked [Flynn to second]; Maddox popped to first in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 4, Mets 1. ASTROS 6TH: Howe doubled to right; Bergman grounded out (first unassisted) [Howe to third]; Pujols reached on an error by S. Henderson on a sacrifice fly [Howe scored, Pujols to second]; Dixon popped to second in foul territory; Landestoy singled to right [Pujols scored (unearned)]; SIEBERT REPLACED ZACHRY (PITCHING); Puhl flied out to right; 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Astros 6, Mets 1. METS 6TH: Foli doubled to left; Mazzilli grounded out (first to pitcher) [Foli to third]; Montanez hit a sacrifice fly to left [Foli scored]; Stearns singled to shortstop; S. Henderson walked [Stearns to second]; Randle singled to right [Stearns scored, S. Henderson to third]; SAMBITO REPLACED DIXON (PITCHING); Flynn flied out to right; 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 6, Mets 3. ASTROS 7TH: Cabell walked; Cruz made an out to second; MURRAY REPLACED FLYNN (PITCHING); YOUNGBLOOD REPLACED SIEBERT (PLAYING 2B); Cabell stole second [Cabell to third (error by Youngblood)]; Watson was walked intentionally; HOWARD RAN FOR WATSON; Howe singled to center [Cabell scored, Howard to third, Howe to second (on throw)]; Bergman was walked intentionally; Pujols forced Bergman (first to shortstop) [Howard scored, Howe to third]; Sambito grounded out (pitcher to first); 2 R, 1 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Astros 8, Mets 3. METS 7TH: HOWARD STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF); BERGMAN CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING 1B); Youngblood popped to second; Maddox walked; Foli popped to second; Mazzilli flied out to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 8, Mets 3. ASTROS 8TH: Landestoy grounded out (third to first); Puhl walked; Puhl was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop); Cabell popped to second; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 8, Mets 3. METS 8TH: FISCHLIN REPLACED CABELL (PLAYING SS); LANDESTOY CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING 2B); HOWE CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING 3B); Montanez grounded out (second to first); Stearns grounded out (shortstop to first); S. Henderson doubled to right; Randle walked; GRIEVE BATTED FOR MURRAY; Grieve struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 8, Mets 3. ASTROS 9TH: KOBEL REPLACED GRIEVE (PITCHING); Cruz grounded out (pitcher to first); Howard flied out to left; Howe grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 8, Mets 3. METS 9TH: Youngblood grounded out (third to first); Maddox grounded out (shortstop to first); On a bunt Foli singled to first; Mazzilli grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 8, Mets 3.

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