A pinch-hit single by Denny Walling in the ninth inning lifted the Astros to a 2-1 triumph over the Reds as southpaw Randy Niemann earned his first major league victory. Craig Reynolds opened the Astro ninth with a single and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Cesar Cedeno. After Doug Bair relieved starter Paul Moskau on the hill for the Reds, Jose Cruz was issued an intentional walk. Walling, batting for Art Howe, then laced the winning hit. [The Sporting News]



Houston Astros 2, Cincinnati Reds 1
Game Played on Tuesday, May       29, 1979 (Night game) at Astrodome
Reds         0  1  0    0  0  0    0  0  0  -   1  8  1
Astros       1  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  1  -   2  7  0


Reds                 AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Griffey rf            4   0   0   0     0   0   .297      Puhl cf               4   0   0   0     0   0   .263
Kennedy 2b            4   0   1   0     0   0   .315      Reynolds ss           4   1   2   0     0   0   .284
Concepcion ss         4   0   1   0     0   1   .306      Cedeno 1b             3   1   2   0     1   1   .264
Bench c               4   1   3   0     0   0   .255      Cruz lf               3   0   1   1     1   0   .316
Driessen 1b           4   0   0   0     0   1   .275      Cabell 3b             1   0   0   0     0   0   .301
Henderson lf          4   0   1   1     0   1   .300        Howe ph,3b          2   0   0   0     0   0   .200
  Geronimo cf         0   0   0   0     0   0   .223        Walling ph          1   0   1   1     0   0   .263
Knight 3b             4   0   1   0     0   1   .331      Leonard rf            3   0   1   0     0   1   .316
Blair cf,lf           3   0   1   0     0   1   .133      Ashby c               3   0   0   0     0   0   .226
Moskau p              3   0   0   0     0   1   .050      Landestoy 2b          2   0   0   0     1   0   .182
  Bair p              0   0   0   0     0   0   .000      Niemann p             3   0   0   0     0   2   .000

Totals               34   1   8   1     0   6             Totals               29   2   7   2     3   4

Time of Game: 2:09   Attendance: 17,458
Left on Base: Reds 6, Astros 6
DP: Reds 1, Astros 1
Errors: Bench
Doubles: Bench (6)
Triples: Cruz (4)
Stolen Bases: Cedeno (11), Reynolds (6)
Caught Stealing: Landestoy (1)
GIDP: Concepcion (4), Ashby (4)


Reds                   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Moskau L(4-2)           8     6   2   2   2   4   0  30   2.60
Bair                    0     1   0   0   1   0   0   2   2.81
Totals                  8     7   2   2   3   4   0  32

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niemann W(1-0)          9     8   1   1   0   6   0  34   1.13
Totals                  9     8   1   1   0   6   0  34

Balks: Niemann (2)

Umpires: HP - Steve Fields, 1B - Terry Tata, 2B - Jerry Crawford, 3B - John Kibler


REDS 1ST: Griffey popped to third; Kennedy grounded out (third
to first); Concepcion was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Puhl grounded out (third to first); Reynolds lined
to shortstop; Cedeno singled to center; Cedeno stole second
[Cedeno to third (error by Bench)]; Cruz tripled to center
[Cedeno scored]; Cabell grounded out (third to first); 1 R, 2 H,
1 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 0, Astros 1.

REDS 2ND: Bench singled to right; Niemann balked [Bench to
second]; Driessen grounded out (second to first) [Bench to
third]; Henderson singled to center [Bench scored]; Knight
singled to right [Henderson to second]; Blair flied out to left;
Moskau forced Knight (shortstop to second); 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2
LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 2ND: Leonard flied out to center; Ashby grounded out
(pitcher to first); Landestoy grounded out (second to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 3RD: Griffey flied out to right; Kennedy lined to
shortstop; Concepcion singled to right; Bench doubled to left
[Concepcion to third]; Driessen grounded out (first unassisted);
0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 3RD: Niemann grounded out (shortstop to first); Puhl
flied out to left; Reynolds grounded out (first unassisted); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 4TH: Henderson grounded out (pitcher to first); Knight
grounded out (third to first); Blair struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 4TH: Cedeno was called out on strikes; Cruz flied out to
left; HOWE BATTED FOR CABELL; Howe grounded out (shortstop to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 5TH: HOWE STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 3B); Moskau struck out;
Griffey flied out to center; Kennedy grounded out (pitcher to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 5TH: Leonard was called out on strikes; Ashby lined to
pitcher; Landestoy grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 6TH: Concepcion popped to second; Bench grounded out
(shortstop to first); Driessen was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 6TH: Niemann was called out on strikes; Puhl grounded out
(shortstop to first); Reynolds singled to left; Reynolds stole
second; Cedeno walked; Cruz popped to shortstop; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E,
2 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 7TH: Henderson popped to first; Knight struck out; Blair
singled to center; Moskau forced Blair (second unassisted); 0 R,
1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 7TH: Howe grounded out (shortstop to first); Leonard
singled to left; Ashby grounded into a double play (pitcher to
shortstop to first) [Leonard out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 8TH: Griffey flied out to left; Kennedy singled to center;
Concepcion grounded into a double play (shortstop to first)
[Kennedy out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 8TH: Landestoy walked; On a bunt Niemann struck out;
Landestoy was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop);
Puhl grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Reds 1, Astros 1.

REDS 9TH: Bench singled to left; Driessen flied out to right;
Henderson was called out on strikes; Knight flied out to right;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 1.

ASTROS 9TH: GERONIMO REPLACED HENDERSON (PLAYING CF); BLAIR
CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING LF); Reynolds singled to right;
Cedeno singled to center [Reynolds to third, Cedeno to second
(on throw to 3b)]; BAIR REPLACED MOSKAU (PITCHING); Cruz was
walked intentionally; WALLING BATTED FOR HOWE; Walling singled
to right [Reynolds scored, Cedeno to third, Cruz to second]; 1
R, 3 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Reds 1, Astros 2.