4/3/84: Montreal Expos-ed by Astros 8th inning rally, 6-2

Montreal carried a 2-1 lead into bottom of the 8th behind the pitching of Charlie Lea, who retired 16 Astros in a row from the 1st to the 6th inning, limiting the 'stros to 3 hits. 

Then the Astros took charge. 

Sending 10 multi-colored uniforms to the plate in the bottom of the 8th, the Astros took charge, Expos-ing one shell-shocked Montreal team with a 5-run rally, 6-2. The big highlight after Terry Puhl tied the game with a run-scoring double dropping in front of Tim Raines came with the bases loaded and one out when Jose Cruz slammed a double scoring 2 Astro runs, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Those runners would be taken care of by Jerry Mumphrey's 2-run single, making the eventual final score 6-2. 

Rose silenced

Pete Rose, who made his Expos debut, was 0-for-4, reaching on an error in his final at-bat. He was lifted for PH Doug Flynn with 1 out in the 9th, who grounded into a game-ending DP. Lea was charged with the hard-luck loss, followed by Gary Lucas, who recorded zero outs and Bob James. Joe Niekro pitched 8 innings and was redeemed by the stunning rally in the bottom of the 8th, getting the win, with the save going to Frank DiPino.

HOU 6-8-2 MON 2-6-0 WP-Niekro LP-Lea SV-DiPino HR-None GWRBI-Cruz (1) 

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