Week # 9: Tony, Tony, Tony

Montréal Needed a sweep to keep their slim hopes alive in the National League east pennant race after getting swept themselves in their previous series vs Cincy.

Expos 4, Astros 3
Niekro vs Morton

Carl Morton nursed his 2-0 lead until the top of the 7th when the 'Stros scored two of their own to tie it.  A Tommy Helms solo shot with 1 out in the 9th put the 'Stros up 3-2.  Houston brought Fred Gladding on to close out the game.  Larry Parrish lined out to center for the first out.  Ken Singleton was called on to pinch hit for reliever Bill Atkinson.  Singleton lined one into the gap that righfielder Terry Puhl hustled to cut off.  Singleton was "busting it" all the way out of the box and tried to stretch his hit into a double.  Puhl threw a strike to Roger Metzger covering at second to get Singleton by a stride.  With 2 out and nobody on Gladding looked to be in good shape.  Dave Cash singled with 2 out.  Tim Foli was called back to the dugout and Tony Perez was called upon to pinch hit.  Gladding snuck a fastball by Perez for the first strike.  He decided to double up, but Perez was waiting.  Tony jumped on Gladding's heat and deposited it neatly into the left center pavilion for a walk off two run shot.

Expos 10, Astros 5
Richard vs Renko
In a high scoring affair the Expos managed to score 5 runs over the final 3 innings to double up the 'Stros 10-5.  Steve Renko (3-2, 4.43) went the distance and fanned 10.  Andre Dawson (3-5, 3RBI) and Gary Carter each hit homers.  Tim Foli was the only Expo, which includes Renko who tripled, to not get a hit.

Expos 4, Astros 0
Torrez vs Wilson

Astrodome fans were treated to a scoreless pitcher's duel until the top of the 9th. Both Mike Torrez and Don Wilson went 8 scoreless innings.  George Culver relieved Wilson to start the 9th and immediately found himself in big time self inflicted trouble.  With nobody out the Expos loaded the bases thanks to tow errors by Culver on comebackers.  Larry Parrish ripped one to shallow left that Bob Watson caught off of his shoestrings.  Torrez was due to bat, but everyone in the house knew he wouldn't.  Montreal decided to go to the well one more time by summoning Tony Perez to pinch hit.  "Doggie" is the personification of clutch.  When Culver got the count to 0-2 it looked like he would be the one to be clutch.  The 0-2 curveball hung over the plate like mural hanging on the wall.  Perez, turned on the "hanger" and hit a bomb off the centerfield wall.  By the time the dust had cleared Doggie was standing on second and the score was 3-0.  Montreal would score an additional run before Mike Marshall closed the game out to ensure the series sweep as the Expos moved back to .500.