4/10/84: The Express derails Philly's 4-game winning streak, 6-5

Nolan Ryan fired 8 strikeouts in a gutsy complete game effort, gutsy enough to derail the Philly 4-game winning streak as the Astros win the Phils' home opener at the Vet, 6-5.

Houston struck 1st on a lead-off single by Bill Doran, who was later caught stealing. Terry Puhl then singled with 1 out but was forced on Phil Garner's bouncer to short. Jose Cruz singled Garner to 2nd, followed by Jerry Mumphrey's RBI single. The Phils struck against Nolan Ryan in the home half of the first on a 1-out solo homer by Len Matuszek, followed by back-to-back Ryan K's of Mike Schmidt and Joe Lefebvre. Ryan also struck out Glenn Wilson and Von Hayes to open the Phil 2nd. 

Ivan DeJesus led off the Philly 3rd with a single and was sacrificed to 2nd by starting pitcher John Denny. Rookie speedster Juan Samuel showed off his powerful side, striking a 2-run homer to give Philly a 3-1 lead after 3. Then came the pivotal inning for Ryan and the Astros, starting with a lead-off walk by Jose Cruz. After stealing 2nd, the inning stalled on a pair of flyouts by Jerry Mumphrey and Ray Knight. After Alan Ashby drew a 2-out walk, Craig Reynolds, in for ailing SS Dickie Thon, doubled home Cruz to make the score 3-2, Ashby stopping at 3rd. Nolan Ryan then walked to load the bases, setting up Bill Doran's 2-run single, giving the 'stros a 4-3 lead after 3-1/2. John Denny's usually reliable control got away from him in the 4th, walking 3 Astros including Ryan.

The Astros and Phils exchanged runs in the 5th, with Ray Knight's double scoring Phil Garner, who had singled. Glenn Wilson quickly got the run back with a solo homer in the bottom half. Tim McGraw relieved Denny in the 6th, then was relieved by Larry Andersen in the 8th, who gave up back-to-back singles by Knight and Ashby, who were sacrificed to 2nd and 3rd by Craig Reynolds. Nolan Ryan's RBI single scored Knight to make it 6-4 going into the bottom of the 8th.

Juan Samuel opened the Phil 8th with a lead-off single, then stole 2nd. Len Matuszek singled home Samuel making the score 6-5. Nolan Ryan got Mike Schmidt to fly to center, then struck out Jim Lefebvre and Glenn Wilson to end the inning. Ryan got the first 2 in the bottom of the 9th, then allowed Ivan Dejesus's 3rd hit of the game, a single. Ryan struck out PH Sixto Lezcano to end the ballgame.

HOU 6-12-0 PHI 5-9-1 WP-Ryan (1-0) LP-Denny (1-1) HR-Matuszek (3) Samuel (1) Wilson (3) HOU 3-3 PHI 4-2 

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