The Astros, winner of the first half of the season, downed the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1, to move on the the NL championship round.

This matchup was interesting. The Reds were loaded with good hitters, some from the Red Machine glory days and were led by Ken Griffey, Dave Concepcion, Dave Collins and George Foster, while catcher Joe Nolan put together a great season. In real life, this Reds team had the best overall record in baseball during the split season but did not make the playoffs.

Houston didn't have the lumber of the Reds and relied heavily on its starting pitching and speed on the basepaths. The foursome of Don Sutton, Bob Knepper, Joe Niekro and Nolan Ryan all had ERAs hovering near 2.00 for the year, as Houston easily had the best team ERA of any club. The lineup did not feature any .300 hitters or much home run pop, but playing in the cavernous Astrodome half the time was a major advantage for the pitchers.

This series started off as a slugfest benefiting the Reds but the Astros pitching came alive in games three and four to close it out.

Oct 6, 1981                   1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1981 Houston 0-1              0 1 0   0 4 0   1 0 0      6 13  0
1981 Cincinnati 1-0           0 0 0   0 3 0   2 0 3      8 13  1

GWRBI-Bench
Game MVP:George Foster
Riverfront Stadium     Time 3:52, 68ø, Wind: 13 MPH Right to Left     Night Game

Game One: Sutton vs. the Reds' Mario Soto. Houston seemingly had an easy win, leading 5-0 in the fifth as Sutton was cruising and Cesar Cedeno and Craig Reynolds both knocked home a pair of runs. But the Reds' hitters cranked into gear, scoring five times in the next three to leave it tied at 5 going into the ninth. Long doubles from Concepcion and Foster led to early showers for Sutton, who allowed nine hits in only six innings; Foster was especially tough with a three RBI day.

Houston's normally reliable bullpen let the team down in the bottom of the ninth. Joe Sambito walked a pair before Manager Pryweller went to the righty, Frank LaCorte, to face pinch batter Johnny Bench, winding down a Hall of Fame career. Bench ended up parking one in left field for a three run shot that sent the Riverfront Stadium crowd home happy.Cincy 8, Houston 5. 

Oct 7, 1981                   1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1981 Houston 1-1              0 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 1      4  8  0
1981 Cincinnati 1-1           0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 2      3  9  2

GWRBI-Cruz, J
Game MVP:Alan Ashby
Riverfront Stadium     Time 3:08, 66ø, Wind: 10 MPH Right to Left     Night Game

Game Two: Tom Seaver vs. Bob Knepper. Houston again jumped out to the lead early, the big blow an Alan Ashby three run homer off Seaver in the sixth to make it a 4-1 game.  Knepper induced a high percentage of ground ball outs, while striking out seven in 7.2 innings of yeomen's work. But the Houston bullpen almost gave it away again in the bottom of then ninth, as LaCorte handed the Reds two runs on a double from Bench. Dave Smith, who was stellar this series, finally induced the final two outs for the Houston win. Houston 4, Cincy 3. 

Oct 9, 1981                   1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1981 Cincinnati 1-2           1 0 0   1 0 0   0 0 0      2  2  0
1981 Houston 2-1              0 2 0   0 2 1   0 1 -      6 11  2

GWRBI-Spilman
Game MVP:Joe Niekro
Astrodome     Time 2:37, 70ø, Dome     Night Game

Game Three: Frank Pastore vs. Joe Niekro. Houston was in the command center in this one, as Niekro's knuckler gave the Reds little to hit. Mr. Niekro only allowed two hits in a complete game win. Houston got plenty of offense off Pastore, as Terry Puhl had a big game going 3-for-4 with two RBI singles and a solo homer. Houston 6, Cincy 2.

Oct 10, 1981                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1981 Cincinnati 1-3           0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0      0  7  2
1981 Houston 3-1              0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 -      1  5  1

GWRBI-Cruz, J
Game MVP:Nolan Ryan
Ejection: Berenyi
Astrodome     Time 2:53, 70ø, Dome     Night Game

Game Four: Bruce Berenyi vs. Nolan Ryan. Houston saved the Ryan Express for Game Four, but he faced a stout adversary in Berenyi. The game turned into a classic pitchers' duel, a scoreless tie going into the bottom of the six. Houston broke through then with a run, as Ryan singled (he had two hits on the day) to start it and the Reds loaded the bases on an error and a walk. Berenyi momentarily lost his command, walking Jose Cruz to plate the pitcher.

Ryan and three Reds' relievers continued to bear down after the run scoring walk, with little in the way of offense. Ryan ended up going eight; it was not a dominant performance, as he walked five and only struck out four Reds. But Smith came on the bottom of the ninth to get the 1-2-3 inning and his second save of the series and earn MVP honors. Houston 1, Cincy 0.