1981 Houston Astros Game-by-Game Results
National League (NL)
Team Record: 61-49
Finished 3rd in the NL's West Division
Attendance: 1,321,222, Avg. 26,424
Ballpark: Astrodome
Won Division
National League West Division Series - Lost to Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2
Manager: Bill Virdon (61-49)
Location: Houston, Texas
1981 Houston Astros StatisticsTeam Record: 61-49
Finished 3rd in the NL's West Division
Attendance: 1,321,222, Avg. 26,424
Ballpark: Astrodome
Won Division
National League West Division Series - Lost to Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2
Manager: Bill Virdon (61-49)
Location: Houston, Texas
1981 Houston Astros Roster
The Houston Astros of the National League ended the 1981 season with a record of 61 wins and 49 losses, finishing third in the NL's West Division.
The Astros led the league with just 331 runs allowed. Houston scored 394 runs. Jose Cruz paced the team with 13 home runs and recorded 55 runs batted in. Art Howe topped hitters with significant playing time by hitting .296. Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton paced the squad with 11 wins each, while Nolan Ryan recorded a 1.69 ERA, tops among regularly-used pitchers.
Bill Virdon coached the team. The 1981 Houston Astros qualified for the playoffs as a division winner.
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Regular Season Runs For: 394
Regular Season Runs Against: 331
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 9, 1981 | Houston Astros 0 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2 | L | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | ||
| April 11, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Los Angeles Dodgers 7 | L | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-2 | ||
| April 12, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Los Angeles Dodgers 3 | L | 0-0 | 0-3 | 0-3 | ||
| April 13, 1981 | Atlanta Braves 2 at Houston Astros 1 | L | 0-1 | 0-3 | 0-4 | ||
| April 14, 1981 | Atlanta Braves 2 at Houston Astros 8 | W | 1-1 | 0-3 | 1-4 | ||
| April 15, 1981 | Atlanta Braves 0 at Houston Astros 2 | W | 2-1 | 0-3 | 2-4 | ||
| April 17, 1981 | Pittsburgh Pirates 4 at Houston Astros 3 | L | 2-2 | 0-3 | 2-5 | ||
| April 18, 1981 | Pittsburgh Pirates 6 at Houston Astros 3 | L | 2-3 | 0-3 | 2-6 | ||
| April 19, 1981 | Pittsburgh Pirates 2 at Houston Astros 0 | L | 2-4 | 0-3 | 2-7 | ||
| April 20, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 5 at Houston Astros 2 | L | 2-5 | 0-3 | 2-8 | ||
| April 21, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 0 at Houston Astros 1 | W | 3-5 | 0-3 | 3-8 | ||
| April 22, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 1 at Houston Astros 0 | L | 3-6 | 0-3 | 3-9 | ||
| April 23, 1981 | Cincinnati Reds 5 at Houston Astros 4 | L | 3-7 | 0-3 | 3-10 | ||
| April 24, 1981 | Cincinnati Reds 3 at Houston Astros 0 | L | 3-8 | 0-3 | 3-11 | ||
| April 25, 1981 | Cincinnati Reds 2 at Houston Astros 1 | L | 3-9 | 0-3 | 3-12 | ||
| April 26, 1981 | Cincinnati Reds 0 at Houston Astros 1 | W | 4-9 | 0-3 | 4-12 | ||
| April 28, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Atlanta Braves 1 | W | 4-9 | 1-3 | 5-12 | ||
| April 29, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Atlanta Braves 4 | W | 4-9 | 2-3 | 6-12 | ||
| April 30, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Atlanta Braves 1 | W | 4-9 | 3-3 | 7-12 | ||
| May 1, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Pittsburgh Pirates 3 | W | 4-9 | 4-3 | 8-12 | ||
| May 2, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Pittsburgh Pirates 5 | L | 4-9 | 4-4 | 8-13 | ||
| May 3, 1981 | Houston Astros 3 at Pittsburgh Pirates 1 | W | 4-9 | 5-4 | 9-13 | ||
| May 4, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Chicago Cubs 4 | W | 4-9 | 6-4 | 10-13 | ||
| May 5, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Chicago Cubs 3 | W | 4-9 | 7-4 | 11-13 | ||
| May 6, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at Chicago Cubs 2 | L | 4-9 | 7-5 | 11-14 | ||
| May 7, 1981 | Houston Astros 6 at Chicago Cubs 0 | W | 4-9 | 8-5 | 12-14 | ||
| May 8, 1981 | Houston Astros 0 at Cincinnati Reds 4 | L | 4-9 | 8-6 | 12-15 | ||
| May 9, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Cincinnati Reds 9 | L | 4-9 | 8-7 | 12-16 | ||
| May 10, 1981 | Houston Astros 7 at Cincinnati Reds 5 | W | 4-9 | 9-7 | 13-16 | ||
| May 11, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Cincinnati Reds 0 | W | 4-9 | 10-7 | 14-16 | ||
| May 12, 1981 | St. Louis Cardinals 3 at Houston Astros 2 | L | 4-10 | 10-7 | 14-17 | ||
| May 13, 1981 | St. Louis Cardinals 0 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 5-10 | 10-7 | 15-17 | ||
| May 14, 1981 | St. Louis Cardinals 7 at Houston Astros 6 | L | 5-11 | 10-7 | 15-18 | ||
| May 15, 1981 | Chicago Cubs 0 at Houston Astros 5 | W | 6-11 | 10-7 | 16-18 | ||
| May 16, 1981 | Chicago Cubs 1 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 7-11 | 10-7 | 17-18 | ||
| May 17, 1981 | Chicago Cubs 1 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 8-11 | 10-7 | 18-18 | ||
| May 19, 1981 | Houston Astros 12 at St. Louis Cardinals 15 | L | 8-11 | 10-8 | 18-19 | ||
| May 20, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at St. Louis Cardinals 3 | W | 8-11 | 11-8 | 19-19 | ||
| May 21, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at St. Louis Cardinals 3 | L | 8-11 | 11-9 | 19-20 | ||
| May 22, 1981 | San Francisco Giants 6 at Houston Astros 3 | L | 8-12 | 11-9 | 19-21 | ||
| May 23, 1981 | San Francisco Giants 3 at Houston Astros 5 | W | 9-12 | 11-9 | 20-21 | ||
| May 24, 1981 | San Francisco Giants 2 at Houston Astros 1 | L | 9-13 | 11-9 | 20-22 | ||
| May 25, 1981 | San Diego Padres 3 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 10-13 | 11-9 | 21-22 | ||
| May 26, 1981 | San Diego Padres 0 at Houston Astros 1 | W | 11-13 | 11-9 | 22-22 | ||
| May 27, 1981 | San Diego Padres 0 at Houston Astros 1 | W | 12-13 | 11-9 | 23-22 | ||
| May 29, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at San Francisco Giants 3 | L | 12-13 | 11-10 | 23-23 | ||
| May 30, 1981 | Houston Astros 9 at San Francisco Giants 8 | W | 12-13 | 12-10 | 24-23 | ||
| May 31, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at San Francisco Giants 6 | L | 12-13 | 12-11 | 24-24 | ||
| June 2, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at San Diego Padres 1 | W | 12-13 | 13-11 | 25-24 | ||
| June 3, 1981 | Houston Astros 6 at San Diego Padres 1 | W | 12-13 | 14-11 | 26-24 | ||
| June 4, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at San Diego Padres 7 | L | 12-13 | 14-12 | 26-25 | ||
| June 5, 1981 | New York Mets 0 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 13-13 | 14-12 | 27-25 | ||
| June 6, 1981 | New York Mets 2 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 14-13 | 14-12 | 28-25 | ||
| June 7, 1981 | New York Mets 3 at Houston Astros 1 | L | 14-14 | 14-12 | 28-26 | ||
| June 8, 1981 | Houston Astros 3 at Philadelphia Phillies 4 | L | 14-14 | 14-13 | 28-27 | ||
| June 9, 1981 | Houston Astros 3 at Philadelphia Phillies 10 | L | 14-14 | 14-14 | 28-28 | ||
| June 10, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Philadelphia Phillies 5 | L | 14-14 | 14-15 | 28-29 | ||
| August 10, 1981 | Houston Astros 6 at San Francisco Giants 5 | W | 14-14 | 15-15 | 29-29 | ||
| August 11, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at San Francisco Giants 3 | L | 14-14 | 15-16 | 29-30 | ||
| August 12, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at San Francisco Giants 4 | W | 14-14 | 16-16 | 30-30 | ||
| August 13, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at San Diego Padres 9 | L | 14-14 | 16-17 | 30-31 | ||
| August 14, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at San Diego Padres 1 | W | 14-14 | 17-17 | 31-31 | ||
| August 15, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at San Diego Padres 0 | W | 14-14 | 18-17 | 32-31 | ||
| August 16, 1981 | Houston Astros 3 at San Diego Padres 0 | W | 14-14 | 19-17 | 33-31 | ||
| August 17, 1981 | Montreal Expos 6 at Houston Astros 2 | L | 14-15 | 19-17 | 33-32 | ||
| August 18, 1981 | Montreal Expos 2 at Houston Astros 4 | W | 15-15 | 19-17 | 34-32 | ||
| August 19, 1981 | Montreal Expos 1 at Houston Astros 9 | W | 16-15 | 19-17 | 35-32 | ||
| August 21, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Philadelphia Phillies 5 | L | 16-15 | 19-18 | 35-33 | ||
| August 22, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Philadelphia Phillies 8 | L | 16-15 | 19-19 | 35-34 | ||
| August 23, 1981 | Houston Astros 0 at Philadelphia Phillies 6 | L | 16-15 | 19-20 | 35-35 | ||
| August 25, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at New York Mets 2 | L | 16-15 | 19-21 | 35-36 | ||
| August 26, 1981 | Houston Astros 9 at New York Mets 3 | W | 16-15 | 20-21 | 36-36 | ||
| August 27, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at New York Mets 3 | L | 16-15 | 20-22 | 36-37 | ||
| August 28, 1981 | Philadelphia Phillies 2 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 17-15 | 20-22 | 37-37 | ||
| August 29, 1981 | Philadelphia Phillies 1 at Houston Astros 2 | W | 18-15 | 20-22 | 38-37 | ||
| August 29, 1981 | Philadelphia Phillies 1 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 19-15 | 20-22 | 39-37 | ||
| August 30, 1981 | Philadelphia Phillies 4 at Houston Astros 5 | W | 20-15 | 20-22 | 40-37 | ||
| August 31, 1981 | New York Mets 1 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 21-15 | 20-22 | 41-37 | ||
| September 1, 1981 | New York Mets 2 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 22-15 | 20-22 | 42-37 | ||
| September 2, 1981 | New York Mets 0 at Houston Astros 8 | W | 23-15 | 20-22 | 43-37 | ||
| September 3, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Montreal Expos 1 | W | 23-15 | 21-22 | 44-37 | ||
| September 4, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Montreal Expos 0 | W | 23-15 | 22-22 | 45-37 | ||
| September 5, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Montreal Expos 5 | L | 23-15 | 22-23 | 45-38 | ||
| September 6, 1981 | Houston Astros 4 at Montreal Expos 3 | W | 23-15 | 23-23 | 46-38 | ||
| September 7, 1981 | Houston Astros 3 at Atlanta Braves 2 | W | 23-15 | 24-23 | 47-38 | ||
| September 8, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Atlanta Braves 3 | L | 23-15 | 24-24 | 47-39 | ||
| September 9, 1981 | Houston Astros 0 at Atlanta Braves 9 | L | 23-15 | 24-25 | 47-40 | ||
| September 11, 1981 | San Francisco Giants 0 at Houston Astros 6 | W | 24-15 | 24-25 | 48-40 | ||
| September 12, 1981 | San Francisco Giants 2 at Houston Astros 5 | W | 25-15 | 24-25 | 49-40 | ||
| September 13, 1981 | San Francisco Giants 0 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 26-15 | 24-25 | 50-40 | ||
| September 14, 1981 | Cincinnati Reds 4 at Houston Astros 2 | L | 26-16 | 24-25 | 50-41 | ||
| September 15, 1981 | Cincinnati Reds 4 at Houston Astros 0 | L | 26-17 | 24-25 | 50-42 | ||
| September 16, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at San Diego Padres 2 | W | 26-17 | 25-25 | 51-42 | ||
| September 17, 1981 | Houston Astros 9 at San Diego Padres 0 | W | 26-17 | 26-25 | 52-42 | ||
| September 18, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at San Francisco Giants 5 | L | 26-17 | 26-26 | 52-43 | ||
| September 19, 1981 | Houston Astros 8 at San Francisco Giants 1 | W | 26-17 | 27-26 | 53-43 | ||
| September 20, 1981 | Houston Astros 7 at San Francisco Giants 3 | W | 26-17 | 28-26 | 54-43 | ||
| September 22, 1981 | Atlanta Braves 0 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 27-17 | 28-26 | 55-43 | ||
| September 23, 1981 | Atlanta Braves 3 at Houston Astros 1 | L | 27-18 | 28-26 | 55-44 | ||
| September 24, 1981 | Atlanta Braves 3 at Houston Astros 5 | W | 28-18 | 28-26 | 56-44 | ||
| September 25, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 3 at Houston Astros 0 | L | 28-19 | 28-26 | 56-45 | ||
| September 26, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 0 at Houston Astros 5 | W | 29-19 | 28-26 | 57-45 | ||
| September 27, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 1 at Houston Astros 4 | W | 30-19 | 28-26 | 58-45 | ||
| September 28, 1981 | San Diego Padres 1 at Houston Astros 2 | W | 31-19 | 28-26 | 59-45 | ||
| September 29, 1981 | San Diego Padres 2 at Houston Astros 1 | L | 31-20 | 28-26 | 59-46 | ||
| September 30, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Cincinnati Reds 5 | L | 31-20 | 28-27 | 59-47 | ||
| October 1, 1981 | Houston Astros 8 at Cincinnati Reds 1 | W | 31-20 | 29-27 | 60-47 | ||
| October 2, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at Los Angeles Dodgers 6 | L | 31-20 | 29-28 | 60-48 | ||
| October 3, 1981 | Houston Astros 2 at Los Angeles Dodgers 7 | L | 31-20 | 29-29 | 60-49 | ||
| October 4, 1981 | Houston Astros 5 at Los Angeles Dodgers 3 | W | 31-20 | 30-29 | 61-49 | ||
| October 6, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 1 at Houston Astros 3 | W | 1-0 | 0-0 | 1-0 | ||
| October 7, 1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers 0 at Houston Astros 1 | W | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | ||
| October 9, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at Los Angeles Dodgers 6 | L | 2-0 | 0-1 | 2-1 | ||
| October 10, 1981 | Houston Astros 1 at Los Angeles Dodgers 2 | L | 2-0 | 0-2 | 2-2 | ||
| October 11, 1981 | Houston Astros 0 at Los Angeles Dodgers 4 | L | 2-0 | 0-3 | 2-3 |
