Galveston Daily News - July 16, 1980

Astros ease by Phils 3-2

HOUSTON (UPI) – Craig Reynolds' bunt single down the third base line was thrown away by pitcher Dick Ruthven in the ninth inning Tuesday night, enabling Jeff Leonard to race home with the run that gave the Houston Astros a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Alan Ashby led off the ninth with a single off Ruthven, 8-6, and Leonard went in to pinch run. Leonard was awarded second base on a balk and when Reynolds laid down his bunt, Ruthven fielded it and threw wildly past first base, allowing Leonard to score.

Joe Sambito, who took over for starter Nolan Ryan in the ninth, earned his fourth victory against one loss.

The Astros tied it 2-2 in the eighth on an RBI single by Denny Walling, which followed singles by Rafael Landestoy and Terry Puhl.

Jose Cruz' fourth inning sacrifice fly, after Puhl singled and reached third on catcher Bob Boone's throwing error, produced Houston's first run. The Phillies picked up a run in the first on singles by Pete Rose, Manny Trillo and Del Unser and Rose scored again in the sixth on Bake McBride's fielder's choice grounder to second base.