You might be familiar with the 1986 season. It's the year that the Astros almost won the World Series (I'm assuming that if they HAD beaten the Mets, that the Red Sox still would have choked).
You may also know 1986 as the season of Mike Scott. The right-hander was absolutely phenomenal that season, posting an ERA of 2.22 with 306 strikeouts and an 18-10 record. Scotty struck out at least 10 batters 11 times that season.
Why do I bring all this up? Because on April 13, Scott got absolutely lit up by the visiting Atlanta Braves. The Bravos beat the Astros 8-7 with some pretty ugly pitching on both sides. Scott only gave up four or more runs five times in 37 starts that season. This was the first of two straight starts where Scotty gave up 13 hits and nine runs in 13 1/3 innings.
Against the Braves, he allowed seven hits and six runs (five earned) while walking one and striking out three. Scotty only had two other games where he struck out three or less all season! With those kinds of numbers, you'd expect it to be guys like Dale Murphy, Ted Simmons, Rafael Ramirez or even Omar Moreno doing the damage against Scott.
No, in this game, it was the itinerant Chris Chambliss, Billy Sample and Ken Oberkfell who did the most damage. Sample and Oberkfell combined for seven RBIs, including a three-run home run by Sample.
The Astros tried to keep pace, as Phil Garner appeared in the game to replace starting left fielder Eric Bullock, driving in four runs and going 2 for 4 with a triple. Second baseman Billy Doran was also very good, going 3 for 4 with a double four runs scored and raising his average to .412. Craig Reynolds also pinch-hit and stayed in the game, going 1 for 2 with a run scored.
The Astros even rallied in the bottom of the ninth against future Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter. Garner hit a two-RBI single that scored Reynolds and Doran, closing the lead to 8-7. Jim Pankovits followed with a single, sending Garner from first to third on the play. Unfortunately, Glenn Davis followed with a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.