Ashby Pulls Astros Within One Game of Padres

Alan Ashby hit the second grand slam of his career Saturday to help the Houston Astros beat the Padres, 9-3, in front of 9,122 fans in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

For Ashby, the bases-loaded homer off Ed Wojna in the second inning was his first as an Astro and his first since . . . well, a very long time.

How long? Let Alan tell it.

“Yeah, I remember it,” Ashby said. “I was with Cleveland late in the 1975 season, and I hit one out against Boston at Fenway Park.”

Off who?

“Well, let’s see,” he said, wracking his brain. “You know I can remember the guy but I can’t remember his name. He came up at the end of the year. You know, one of those kind of guys.”

Ashby’s seventh homer of the year gave the Astros a 4-0 lead and one batter later, Wojna was gone. The rookie right-hander, starting because neither Dave Dravecky or LaMaar Hoyt was able to, finished the season with a 2-4 record. Saturday’s outing didn’t do a lot for a pitcher who is hoping not to fall into the same kind of obscurity that Ashby’s other grand slam victim, whoever he is, did.

After Wojna exited, Manager Dick Williams gave just about everybody in the bullpen a chance at cooling down the Astros. But, of the five pitchers who followed Wojna to the mound, only Roy Lee Jackson, who pitched the third and fourth innings, was able to keep Houston from scoring.

Meanwhile, Astro right-hander Nolan Ryan pitched seven strong innings to pick up his 10th win of the year. Twice in the early innings, the Padres threatened to score off Ryan but came away with nothing. In the fourth, Ryan left San Diego runners stranded at first and third while striking out Carmelo Martinez, Kevin McReynolds and Mario Ramirez.

“Boy, have we left a lot of men on this year,” said Williams, whose team stranded 12 more runners against Houston. “Maybe the stats don’t show it, but it sure seems like we’ve left a lot.”

Houston’s victory moved the Astros within one game of the Padres in the race for third place in the National League West. Houston can tie the defending league champions for third by beating them again today.

“It may sound a little dumb, but you’re always striving for something,” Ashby said. “We’ve played a long year and you’d like to claim something out of it at the end.”

Padre Notes

Today is fan appreciation day with the Astros’ Mike Scott (18-8) opposing the Padres’ Eric Show (12-10) . . . . Tony Gwynn had one hit Saturday and needs five today to reach 200 for the season. Dick Williams removed Gwynn in the seventh inning, costing him one at-bat. Said Williams: “I’ll feel bad if he gets four hits today. Otherwise, I just took him out because he’s been busting his butt all year for us.”. . . . The Padres’ team earned-run average is lower this season (3.36) than it was at the end of last year (3.49).