| Breaking News |  | Wednesday, September 22nd, 1976: Dierker Cruises to Shutout
He didn't put a spell on them. It wasn't black magic, it was just old-fashioned good pitching. That's how Larry Dierker of the Houston Astros blanked the Atlanta Braves 6-0.
After tossing a complete-game 5-hit shutout, he was all smiles, saying, "I threw a lot of my pitches for strikes in this game. I mixed it up and tried keeping these guys off balance."
His own skipper said, "He's at his best when he gets ahead of the hitters." Dierker walked 1 and struck out 7 in the victory.
The Braves manager commented on their lack of success against him, saying, "He was throwing his breaking ball for strikes and we never capitalized on any of his mistakes."
To date in 1976, Dierker sports a 13-14 mark with a 3.39 ERA in 31 starting assignments. He has held the opposition to a .243 batting average and has 164 strikeouts in 220.1 innings. |
 | Saturday, September 18th, 1976: Cedeno Wants to Leave Astros
In the latest churning of the rumor mill, reports indicate that 25-year-old center fielder Cesar Cedeno of the Houston Astros could be on the trading block. While the player refused to comment, the team did not outright deny the claims. "If it'll help this team, we'll make a move," said one team official.
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 | Thursday, August 26th, 1976: Big Day with Bat: Wathan 5-5
"It was like I was hitting little league pitching," said John Wathan after his 5-hit performance against the Cubs. "No offense meant to Chicago, but it was like I was back in little league again. I could see the ball that well. But this wasn't a kid league park, it was Astrodome."
The Houston catcher had a fantastic day at the plate, knocking out 5 hits in 5 at-bats and pacing his club to a 8-3 victory.
His manager elaborated after the game to the press, saying, "John worked the entire offseason on trying to shorten his swing and stay inside the ball and the hard work is paying off in base hits."
"That's what I'm trying to do," Wathan said. "Be quick to the ball and let it travel a little farther so I get a better look at it."
J. Wathan doubled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, singled in the 5th, singled in the 8th and hit a two-run double in the 9th.
Currently Wathan has 1 home run and a .251 batting average.
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| Injuries | | Player | Injury | Out for... | Disabled List Status | | P Dick Baney | fractured elbow | 3 months | On DL, eligible for return (60-day DL) |
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| Team Information | | Record overall | 75-82, .478 PCT | | Position in Division | 4th, 22.0 GB | | Record at home | 39-40, .494 PCT | | Record on the road | 36-42, .462 PCT | | Record in X-inning games | 4-7, .364 PCT | | Record in one-run games | 22-19, .537 PCT | | Record versus LHP | 24-29, .453 PCT | | Record versus RHP | 51-53, .490 PCT | | Record last 10 games | 6-4, .600 PCT | | Record in April | 16-6, .727 PCT | | Record in May | 12-16, .429 PCT | | Record in June | 14-16, .467 PCT | | Record in July | 14-14, .500 PCT | | Record in August | 10-18, .357 PCT | | Record in September | 9-12, .429 PCT |
| Team Batting Stats & Rankings | | Batting Average | .252 - 12th in NL | | On-Base Percentage | .330 - 10th in NL | | Slugging Percentage | .349 - 12th in NL | | On-Base + Slugging | .679 - 10th in NL | | Runs Scored | 694 - 8th in NL | | Hits | 1331 - 11th in NL | | Extra-Base Hits | 352 - 9th in NL | | Home Runs | 49 - 12th in NL | | Bases-On-Balls | 618 - 6th in NL | | Strikeouts | 659 - 2nd in NL | | Stolen Bases | 222 - 2nd in NL |
| Team Pitching Stats & Rankings | | Earned Run Average | 3.74 - 7th in NL | | Starters' ERA | 3.68 - 6th in NL | | Bullpen ERA | 3.88 - 7th in NL | | Runs allowed | 743 - 9th in NL | | Hits allowed | 1380 - 7th in NL | | Opponents AVG | .259 - 8th in NL | | BABIP | .298 - 10th in NL | | Home Runs allowed | 39 - 1st in NL | | Bases-On-Balls | 666 - 10th in NL | | Strikeouts | 778 - 5th in NL |
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