April 17, 1977 Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves Box Score and Play by Play

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SEA 11
@CAL 7 CHW 4
TOR 2 BOS 4
@CLE 1 CLE 10
BOS 5 KCR 6
DET 5 MIL 2
NYY 0 MIN 10
OAK 2 BAL 5
@TEX 0 BAL 6
@TEX 1 ATL 5
HOU 4 MON 2
PHI 1 NYM 6
CHC 0 CIN 4
@SDP 1 LAD 7
@SFG 6 STL 4
PIT 3

Standings at end of play this day

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Attendance: 11,024

Sunday, April 17, 1977
Time of Game: 2:42

Astros

5-4

Lost 3

2nd, 2 GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Astros          0  0  1   2  0  0   1  0  0    4  8  2
Braves          0  0  0   1  0  2   1  1  X    5  7  0

W: M Marshall (1-0), L: K Forsch (2-1), S: R Camp (3)

Braves

5-4

Won 3

2nd, 2 GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
R Sperring 2B                 5   0   1   0    0   1  .176  .352    0    4   2   
E Cabell 3B                   5   0   0   0    0   0  .256  .601    0    1   1   GDP
C Cedeno CF                   3   1   0   0    1   1  .000  .125    0    3   0   
B Watson 1B                   4   1   2   0    0   1  .281  .770    0    8   0   
J Cruz RF                     4   0   2   1    0   2  .265  .698    0    1   0   SB,CS
J Ferguson C                  3   0   1   0    1   1  .393 1.148    0    5   1   
  A Gardner PR-LF             0   0   0   0    0   0  .158  .358         1   0   
C Johnson LF                  2   1   1   1    2   0  .313 1.375    0    1   0   HR
  E Herrmann C                0   0   0   0    0   0  .333  .666         0   0   
R Metzger SS                  3   1   1   0    1   0  .185  .500    0    0   1   2B
J Richard P                   2   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   1   
  W Crawford PH               0   0   0   0    1   0  .333  .917    0    0   0   
  J Niekro P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   1   
  K Forsch P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
  K Boswell PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .500 1.600    0    0   0   
Totals                       32   4   8   2    6   6                    24   8

BATTING

2B: R Metzger (2, off P Niekro).

HR: C Johnson (3, off P Niekro; 3rd inn, 0 on, 0 outs).

TB: C Johnson 4; J Cruz 2; B Watson 2; R Metzger 2; J Ferguson; R Sperring.

GIDP: E Cabell (3).

RBI: C Johnson (5); J Cruz (5).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 2 for 9.

FIELDING

DP: 2. R Sperring-B Watson; E Cabell-B Watson.

PB: J Ferguson 2 (4).

E: E Cabell (1); J Ferguson (1).

BASERUNNING

SB: J Cruz (2, 2nd base off P Niekro/B Pocoroba).

CS: J Cruz (1, 2nd base by P Niekro/B Pocoroba).

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
R Office CF                   4   0   1   0    0   0  .225  .537    0    5   0   GDP
J Royster 3B                  2   1   0   1    1   0  .263  .635    0    0   1   SF
W Montanez 1B                 4   2   2   0    0   1  .297  .738    0    7   0   2B
J Burroughs RF                3   0   1   1    1   1  .212  .818    0    0   0   
  R Camp P                    0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
G Matthews LF                 3   1   1   0    1   2  .400  .919    0    1   0   
B Pocoroba C                  1   0   0   1    1   0  .158  .385    0    6   1   SF,SH
R Gilbreath 2B                3   0   1   1    1   0  .265  .618    0    4   3   2B,GDP
P Rockett SS                  3   1   0   0    1   0  .375  .867    0    1   4   
P Niekro P                    2   0   1   0    0   0  .429  .858    0    1   0   
  J Moore PH                  0   0   0   0    0   0                0    0   0   SH
  M Marshall P                0   0   0   0    0   0 1.000 2.000    0    0   0   
  B Asselstine PH-RF          1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    2   0   
Totals                       26   5   7   4    6   4                    27   9

BATTING

2B: R Gilbreath (1, off K Forsch); W Montanez (1, off J Richard).

SF: J Royster (1, off J Niekro); B Pocoroba (1, off J Richard).

SH: B Pocoroba (1, off K Forsch); J Moore (1, off J Niekro).

TB: W Montanez 3; R Gilbreath 2; R Office; G Matthews; J Burroughs; P Niekro.

GIDP: R Gilbreath (2); R Office (2).

RBI: R Gilbreath (1); B Pocoroba (4); J Royster (3); J Burroughs (9).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 4 for 13.

FIELDING

DP: 2. R Gilbreath-W Montanez; P Rockett-R Gilbreath.

PB: B Pocoroba 2 (2).

BASERUNNING

PO: P Rockett (1st base by K Forsch).

PITCHING

Houston Astros                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
J Richard                      6     3   3   1    5   4   0   1.64   25     -       ·  ·      6· 7· 0· 3     57    -     1.58  -0.02
J Niekro, BS (1)               0.2   2   1   1    1   0   0   3.38    5     -       ·  ·      1· 1· 0· 2          0-0    2.54  -0.21
K Forsch, L (2-1)              1.1   2   1   1    0   0   0   2.25    6     -       ·  ·      2· 2· 0· 2          2-0    1.84  -0.13
Totals                         8     7   5   3    6   4   0          36     -       ·  ·      9·10· 0· 7          2-0

Atlanta Braves                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
P Niekro                       7     7   4   4    5   4   1   3.91   30     -       ·  ·      7· 7· 0· 7     46    -     1.10  -0.15
M Marshall, W (1-0)            1     1   0   0    1   1   0  10.80    5     -       ·  ·      0· 2· 0· 1          0-0    1.93   0.11
R Camp, S (3)                  1     0   0   0    0   1   0   0.00    3     -       ·  ·      0· 2· 0· 0          0-0    2.22   0.17
Totals                         9     8   4   4    6   6   1          38     -       ·  ·      7·11· 0· 8           -

Balks: None.

WP: J Richard (1).

IBB: None.

PO: K Forsch (0; P Rockett, 1st base).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Terry Tata, 1B - Ed Sudol, 2B - Dick Stello, 3B - Bruce Froemming.

Time of Game: 2:42.

Attendance: 11,024.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Atlanta Braves                       
1. R Sperring           2B    1. R Office             CF 
2. E Cabell             3B    2. J Royster            3B 
3. C Cedeno             CF    3. W Montanez           1B 
4. B Watson             1B    4. J Burroughs          RF 
5. J Cruz               RF    5. G Matthews           LF 
6. J Ferguson           C     6. B Pocoroba           C  
7. C Johnson            LF    7. R Gilbreath          2B 
8. R Metzger            SS    8. P Rockett            SS 
9. J Richard            P     9. P Niekro             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 8   1  4-4  -2-      22%  88% R Gilbreath     K Forsch        Double; Matthews Scores
   b 5   1  3-1  123     -21%  23% R Office        J Richard       Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-1B
   b 6   0  3-1  12-      14%  56% J Burroughs     J Richard       Single; Royster Scores/unER; Montanez to 2B
   b 6   1  3-3  12-     -13%  50% R Gilbreath     J Richard       Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-1B
   t 4   1  0-1  12-     -12%  23% J Cruz          P Niekro        Single; Cedeno Scores; Watson to 3B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Phil Niekro facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  R Sperring      Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      54%  E Cabell        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      55%  C Cedeno        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, J.R. Richard facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      53%  R Office        Flyball: LF
   O      ---      51%  J Royster       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      50%  W Montanez      Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 0.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  B Watson        Strikeout
          ---      50%  J Cruz          Single
   O      1--      54%  J Ferguson      Cruz Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
   O      ---      55%  " "             Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, J.R. Richard facing 4-5-6
          ---      59%  J Burroughs     Walk
          1--      61%  G Matthews      Passed Ball; Burroughs to 2B
   O      -2-      57%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      54%  B Pocoroba      Groundout: 2B-1B; Burroughs to 3B
   O      --3      50%  R Gilbreath     Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 0.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Phil Niekro facing 7-8-9
   R      ---      39%  C Johnson       Home Run
   O      ---      42%  R Metzger       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      43%  J Richard       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      44%  R Sperring      Flyball: 2B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Behind 0-1, J.R. Richard facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      42%  P Rockett       Flyball: C
   O      ---      40%  P Niekro        Flyball: RF
   O      ---      38%  R Office        Flyball: 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Braves 0.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Phil Niekro facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      41%  E Cabell        Flyball: CF
          ---      38%  C Cedeno        Walk
          1--      35%  B Watson        Single; Cedeno to 2B
   R      12-      23%  J Cruz          Single; Cedeno Scores; Watson to 3B
          1-3      21%  J Ferguson      Cruz Steals 2B
   R      -23      16%  " "             Passed Ball; Watson Scores; Cruz to 3B
   O      --3      20%  " "             Strikeout
          --3      20%  C Johnson       Walk
          1-3      18%  R Metzger       Walk; Johnson to 2B
   O      123      23%  J Richard       Flyball: P
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Astros 3, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-3, J.R. Richard facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      20%  J Royster       Flyball: 1B
          ---      24%  W Montanez      Double
          -2-      27%  J Burroughs     Wild Pitch; Montanez to 3B
   R      --3      29%  " "             Passed Ball; Montanez Scores/unER
   O      ---      27%  " "             Strikeout
   O      ---      26%  G Matthews      Strikeout Looking
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 3, Braves 1.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-1, Phil Niekro facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      28%  R Sperring      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      29%  E Cabell        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      30%  C Cedeno        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 3, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Braves Batting, Behind 1-3, J.R. Richard facing 6-7-8
          ---      35%  B Pocoroba      Walk
          1--      43%  R Gilbreath     Walk; Pocoroba to 2B
   O      12-      36%  P Rockett       Flyball: C
          12-      44%  P Niekro        Single; Pocoroba to 3B; Gilbreath to 2B
   OO     123      23%  R Office        Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 3, Braves 1.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-1, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
          ---      20%  B Watson        Single
          1--      18%  J Cruz          Passed Ball; Watson to 2B
   O      -2-      21%  " "             Strikeout
          -2-      20%  J Ferguson      Walk
   OO     12-      27%  C Johnson       Double Play: Flyball: SS-2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 3, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Braves Batting, Behind 1-3, J.R. Richard facing 2-3-4
          ---      33%  J Royster       Walk
          1--      42%  W Montanez      Reached on E2 (throw to 2B) (Ground Ball); Royster to 2B; Montanez to 1B
   R      12-      56%  J Burroughs     Single; Royster Scores/unER; Montanez to 2B
          12-      67%  G Matthews      Walk; Montanez to 3B; Burroughs to 2B
   RO     123      63%  B Pocoroba      Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Montanez Scores
   OO     12-      50%  R Gilbreath     Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-1B
                  2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 3, Braves 3.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Tied 3-3, Phil Niekro facing 8-9-1
          ---      40%  R Metzger       Double
                  Willie Crawford pinch hits for J.R. Richard batting 9th
          -2-      36%  W Crawford      Walk
          12-      25%  R Sperring      Single; Metzger to 3B; Crawford to 2B
   ROO    123      33%  E Cabell        Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-1B; Metzger Scores/No RBI; Crawford to 3B
   O      --3      38%  C Cedeno        Strikeout
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Braves 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Braves Batting, Behind 3-4, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
                  Joe Niekro replaces Willie Crawford pitching and batting 9th
          ---      45%  P Rockett       Walk
                  Junior Moore pinch hits for Phil Niekro batting 9th
   O      1--      41%  J Moore         Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Rockett to 2B
          -2-      51%  R Office        Single; Rockett to 3B
   RO     1-3      54%  J Royster       Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Rockett Scores
          1--      59%  W Montanez      Single; Office to 3B
                  Ken Forsch replaces Joe Niekro pitching and batting 9th
   O      1-3      50%  J Burroughs     Flyball: CF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 4, Braves 4.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Tied 4-4, Mike Marshall facing 4-5-6
                  Mike Marshall replaces Junior Moore pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      55%  B Watson        Flyball: CF
   O      ---      59%  J Cruz          Strikeout Looking
          ---      56%  J Ferguson      Single
                  Art Gardner pinch runs for Joe Ferguson batting 6th
          1--      52%  C Johnson       Walk; Gardner to 2B
   O      12-      61%  R Metzger       Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 4, Braves 4.

Bottom of the 8th, Braves Batting, Tied 4-4, Ken Forsch facing 5-6-7
                  Ed Herrmann replaces Cliff Johnson playing C batting 7th; Art Gardner moves to LF
          ---      68%  G Matthews      Single
   O      1--      65%  B Pocoroba      Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Matthews to 2B
   R      -2-      88%  R Gilbreath     Double; Matthews Scores
          -2-      88%  P Rockett       Reached on E5 (Ground Ball); Gilbreath stays at 2B; Rockett to 1B
   O      12-      85%  M Marshall      Rockett Picked off 1B (1B)
                  Brian Asselstine pinch hits for Mike Marshall batting 9th
   O      -2-      83%  B Asselstine    Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Braves 5.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 4-5, Rick Camp facing 9-1-2
                  Rick Camp replaces Jeff Burroughs pitching and batting 4th; Brian Asselstine moves to RF; Ken Boswell pinch hits for Ken Forsch batting 9th
   O      ---      90%  K Boswell       Flyball: RF
   O      ---      96%  R Sperring      Strikeout Looking
   O      ---     100%  E Cabell        Flyball: RF
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Braves 5.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:ATL197704170

Play-by-Play Explanation

Scr/Out- This has a "O" for every out on the play and an "R" for every run that scored on the play. Some plays will have both in no particular order.
RoB- This gives the baserunner (Runners on Base) configuration at the start of the play. "1-3" would mean runners on first and third. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Pt- When available, the number of pitches in this plate appearance. Clicking on this number will show the sequence of pitches thrown including, when available, things like runner going, ball blocked, attempted pickoffs and the like. We believe this data to be as accurate as humanly possible, but there are going to be some errors in the data, so please take it with a grain of salt. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Batter- The batter at the plate when this play occurred. If the play is a baserunning event, then the batter's name will be repeated as indicated by quotes.
Play Detail- This is an explanation of the play that occurred. In some cases, batted ball location and type will be indicated within parentheses. Again, these are best efforts to the record the game as it happened. Also, plays made on the baserunners (including the batter as a baserunner) will be indicated in parentheses after the baserunner's name. Advancement of baserunners is given in cases where the advancement is not easily deduced or obvious from the play. For example, advancement for a walk will not be given, but for a single or double it will be given.

Please report any issues or strangeness you see with the description of plays given above. We have tested several hundred different types of plays, but, in all likelihood, there are still some errors or misinterpretations of the play-by-play data.

The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at 20 Sunset Rd., Newark, DE 19711.

In some cases, the results from play-by-play data will contradict results in the official record. The official record has many, many errors, but we have not undertaken to reconcile those errors. Pitch-by-pitch data should not be taken as completely accurate, though we believe it to be as accurate as is currently possible.


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BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation