MORET'S GEM EARNS BRAVES DH SPLIT
Atlanta Wins Despite 12 Stranded Runners
HOUSTON, May 17 (AP) - The Atlanta Braves needed emergency starter Roger Moret
to work deep into the second game of their doubleheader with Houston at the
Astrodome. The Astros had won the opener, 7-3, forcing the Braves to dip
deep into their bullpen in the process. Atlanta manager Dave Bristol hoped
that the club could get six innings out of Moret, who had appeared in seven
games this season as a reliever, but hadn't started a single contest.
What the Braves received far exceeded anyone's expectations. Moret worked
a complete game and tossed a two-hitter, holding Houston to a single run as the
Braves achieved a split of the twin bill with a 3-1 victory in the
nightcap. It was as well-pitched a game as Atlanta has received this
season.
Moret's opponent, Astros starter Gil Rondon, was making his first appearance
since May 2 and just his second start of the season and he managed to hold the
Braves to three runs in seven innings, but still came out on the short end of
the decision. The remarkable thing was that the Braves managed to score
only three runs, despite drawing 11 walks from Rondon and reliever Joe Niekro.
Atlanta stranded 12 runners on the afternoon, making Moret's job more difficult
than it needed to be. Still, Moret more than lived up to his end of the
bargain.
The Braves scored all of their runs in a messy top of the second inning.
Darrell Evans drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a passed ball
charged to catcher Skip Jutze. Rondon then walked Ken Henderson, putting
runners on first and second. Lee Lacy followed with a single to
right-center, scoring Evans and chasing Henderson to third. Vic Correll's
single to center scored Henderson with the second run, with Lacy stopping at
second. When Darrell Chaney walked to fill the bases the Astros got their
bullpen working, but Moret singled on the very first pitch he saw, driving home
Lacy to make it 3-0. The bases were still loaded and there was still no
one out. Six batters had come to the plate and all of them had reached
base safely. The bullpen, however, hadn't had time to get ready so Rondon
remained in the game and, somewhat remarkably, avoided further trouble.
Rowland Office flied to shallow right, Jerry Royster popped to center and Jim
Wynn bounced out to short, ending the inning.
Atlanta didn't advance another runner past second against Rondon, who tossed
five more innings.
The Astros made the most of their only scoring opportunity against Moret, when
Leon Roberts secured the team's first hit with a one-out double in the
fifth. Art Howe followed immediately with a single, scoring Roberts and
cutting the deficit to 3-1. But that was all Houston could muster against
the Braves left-hander. Following Howe's single, he retired the remaining
14 batters he faced to close the game.
Rondon was removed following the eighth inning and replaced by Niekro who held
Atlanta scoreless despite walking five batters--one intentionally--in his two
innings of work. The Braves stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning,
but Moret already had all the runs he would need.
5/17/1976, Atl76-Hou76, game 2, Astrodome 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1976 Braves 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 0 12 1 1976 Astros 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 Braves AB R H BI AVG Astros AB R H BI AVG Office cf 4 0 0 0 .333 Howard,W rf 4 0 0 0 .281 May,D lf 0 0 0 0 .138 Andrews,R 2b 3 0 0 0 .235 Royster 3b 4 0 0 0 .277 Cedeno cf 3 0 0 0 .244 Wynn lf 3 0 0 0 .161 Watson 1b 3 0 0 0 .333 Evans,Da 1b 4 1 1 0 .188 Roberts,L lf 3 1 1 0 .280 Henderson,K rf 1 1 0 0 .232 Niekro,J p 0 0 0 0 .167 Lacy 2b 4 1 1 1 .284 Howe 3b 3 0 1 1 .091 Correll c 3 0 1 1 .273 Jutze c 3 0 0 0 .080 Chaney ss 2 0 0 0 .267 Metzger,R ss 3 0 0 0 .243 Moret p 4 0 1 1 .250 Rondon p 2 0 0 0 .000 29 3 4 3 Cruz,J rf 1 0 0 0 .194 28 1 2 1 Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Moret W 1-1 9.0 2 1 1 1 3 91 61 3.26 9.0 2 1 1 1 3 91 61 Astros INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Rondon L 0-2 7.0 4 3 3 6 5 131 69 4.50 Niekro,J 2.0 0 0 0 5 1 39 16 3.33 9.0 4 3 3 11 6 170 85 Atl: May,D inserted at lf in the 9th Wynn moved to cf in the 9th Hou: Howard,W moved to lf in the 8th Cruz,J inserted at rf in the 8th 2B-Roberts,L(4). RBI-Lacy(12), Correll(5), Moret(1), Howe(1). SB-Evans,Da(1). K-Office, Wynn, Henderson,K, Correll, Chaney, Moret, Cedeno, Metzger,R, Cruz,J. BB-Office, Wynn 2, Evans,Da, Henderson,K 4, Correll, Chaney 2, Andrews,R. SH-Royster, Lacy. PB-Jutze. GWRBI: Lacy Temperature: 70, Wind: none. Attendance: 7,398 Game Time: 2:16