Andy Messersmith opened a spot. He went 0-4 with an 8.55 ERA in four starts, before reverting to relief. Capra won his first game back in the bullpen, for his first win since he beat the Mets on May 25, 1975 (two days shy of two years earlier). Messersmith suffered a second injury (on July 3), shutting him down for the season, and gave Capra a second shot at starting. He beat the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine," on July 13, then, on August 10, showed his old form against the Padres, allowing only two hits in nine innings, in an extra-inning game, where he was credited with a no-decision. Capra notched a win in the final game of his career, against the Houston Astros, September 26, 1977. From the time Capra had re-entered the starting rotation, he had gone 2-4, with a 5.02 ERA, in sixteen starts over the remainder of the 1977 season. Overall, that season, Capra was 2-8, with a 5.84 ERA as a starter, and 4-3, with a 4.58 ERA in relief. Coaching The Braves released Capra at the end of spring training, , and he retired as a player, shortly thereafter. He then returned to Illinois State as pitching coach for the Redbirds; Capra went on to become a pitching coach and manager, in the Mets’, Phillies’, and Braves' respective farm systems. While attending Illinois State, Capra earned his degree in teaching, and taught ceramics at a Chicago high school during the off-seasons, while still a player. He is a member of the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame. Career stats As a batter, Capra had only five runs batted in (RBI), in his playing career, the first coming on May 13, 1972, off Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, of the San Francisco Giants. That day, his second inning single drove in Cleon Jones, with the only run of the game. Capra’s second RBI was also a game-winner, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, on June 24, 1974. See also List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders References External links Buzz Capra at Ultimate Mets Database 1947 births Living people New York Mets players Atlanta Braves players National League All-Stars National League ERA champions Major League Baseball pitchers Pompano Beach Mets players Visalia Mets players Memphis Blues players Tidewater Tides players Richmond Braves players Baseball players from Chicago Illinois State Redbirds baseball players