HOUSTON BREAKS 13-GAME LOSING STREAK
Colts Trip Phils Behind Owens Shutout

HOUSTON, May 17 (AP) - The Houston Colt '45's snapped a 13-game losing streak--the longest losing streak of the major league season to date--behind a complete game four-hit shutout tossed by Jim Owens, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0.  Chris Short was the hard luck loser for the Phillies, as he allowed just one run in eight innings of work. 

The Colt .45's hadn't won a game since defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 5-4, on May 3.  In addition to losing thirteen in a row, Houston had lost 19 of its last 20 contests, dating back to April 26.  Despite the win, the Colt .45's extended their streak of games without scoring more than four runs to seven.  Houston hasn't scored more than five runs in a game since April 24, a stretch of 23 consecutive contests.

The game was scoreless until the seventh inning, though both teams had multiple opportunities to dent home plate.  Finally, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jerry Grote doubled with one out.  Owens was retired on a tapper in front of the plate, but Bob Lillis singled to left-center, scoring Grote and giving the Colt .45's the lead.

Owens went on to retire the Phillies in order in each of the final two innings to secure the victory for Houston. 

Owens held Philadelphia hitless after surrendering a single off the bat of Tony Taylor led off the fifth inning.  Overall, the Houston right-hander retired 14 of the last 15 Phillies he faced.

5/17/1964, Phi64-Hou64, Colt Stadium
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1964 Phillies          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0     0  4  0     6  0
1964 Colt .45's        0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  x     1  8  0     7  1
 
Phillies             AB  R  H BI   AVG    Colt .45's           AB  R  H BI   AVG
Taylor,T          2b  3  0  2  0  .286    Lillis            2b  4  0  2  1  .317
Allen,R           3b  4  0  0  0  .275    Kasko             ss  4  0  2  0  .294
Callison          rf  4  0  0  0  .270    White,M           rf  4  0  0  0  .222
Covington         lf  4  0  1  0  .304    Wynn              cf  3  0  1  0  .184
Herrnstein        1b  4  0  0  0  .148    Aspromonte        3b  4  0  1  0  .264
Gonzalez,T        cf  4  0  0  0  .333    Staub             1b  3  0  1  0  .180
Dalrymple         c   1  0  1  0  .271    Williams,W        lf  3  0  0  0  .000
Wine              ss  2  0  0  0  .152     Bond             lf  0  0  0  0  .204
Short             p   3  0  0  0  .143    Grote             c   3  1  1  0  .086
                     29  0  4  0          Owens             p   3  0  0  0  .071
                                                               31  1  8  1
 
Phillies                         INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Short            L 1-1           8.0  8  1  1  1  5 105  72  2.11
                                 8.0  8  1  1  1  5 105  72
 
Colt .45's                       INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Owens            W 2-2           9.0  4  0  0  4  4 120  70  1.93
                                 9.0  4  0  0  4  4 120  70
 
Hou: Bond inserted at lf in the 8th
 
2B-Wynn(5), Grote(2). RBI-Lillis(3). CS-Taylor,T, Lillis. K-Allen,R,
Callison, Herrnstein, Gonzalez,T, Kasko, White,M 2, Wynn, Williams,W.
BB-Taylor,T, Dalrymple 2, Wine, Wynn. PB-Dalrymple.
GWRBI: Lillis
Temperature: 89, Sky: clear, Wind: in from left at 2 MPH.
Attendance: 10,592
Game Time: 1:53