September 9, 1981 Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves Box Score and Play by Play

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CLE 8
@BAL 5 SEA 3
@CHW 1 BOS 6
@DET 5
(11) KCR 7
CAL 3 MIN 3
TOR 1 NYY 5
MIL 2 MIL 5
@NYY 3 TEX 9
@OAK 4 ATL 9
HOU 0 CIN 5
SDP 4 SFG 6
@LAD 3
(11) PHI 11
MON 8 NYM 5
@PIT 3 CHC 7
@STL 3

Standings at end of play this day

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Attendance: 4,482

Wednesday, September 9, 1981
Time of Game: 2:34

Astros

47-40

Lost 2

3rd, 7 GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Astros          0  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  0    0  8  1
Braves          2  3  0   0  0  0   1  3  X    9 15  0

W: P Niekro (7-5), L: N Ryan (8-4)

Braves

41-42

Won 2

5th, 11 GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Scott CF                    4   0   1   0    0   0  .256  .637    0    2   0   2B
P Garner 2B                   3   0   0   0    1   0  .237  .609    0    2   2   
D Walling RF                  4   0   0   0    0   1  .244  .732    0    2   0   
J Cruz LF                     3   0   0   0    1   0  .264  .742    0    0   0   
H Spilman 1B                  4   0   3   0    0   0  .311  .700    0    9   0   CS
A Howe 3B                     3   0   1   0    0   1  .317  .816    0    1   1   
  M Ivie PH                   1   0   1   0    0   0  .263  .630    0    0   0   
A Ashby C                     3   0   0   0    1   0  .277  .714    0    7   1   GDP
C Reynolds SS                 4   0   1   0    0   0  .245  .649    0    1   2   
N Ryan P                      1   0   1   0    0   0  .216  .509    0    0   1   
  J Pittman PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .276  .670    0    0   0   
  G Pladson P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  D Heep PH                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .225  .553    0    0   0   
  B Sprowl P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .167  .334         0   1   
  T Tolman PH                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
Totals                       33   0   8   0    3   2                    24   8

BATTING

2B: T Scott (13, off P Niekro).

TB: H Spilman 3; T Scott 2; M Ivie; A Howe; C Reynolds; N Ryan.

GIDP: A Ashby (6).

Team LOB: 9.

With RISP: 1 for 9.

FIELDING

E: C Reynolds (10).

BASERUNNING

CS: H Spilman (1, 2nd base by P Niekro/B Benedict).

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
E Miller RF                   4   0   1   0    1   1  .231  .554    0    4   0   SB,CS
B Butler LF                   3   2   1   0    2   1  .233  .683    0    2   0   
B Horner 3B                   4   2   2   3    1   0  .273  .760    0    0   1   HR
C Chambliss 1B                4   2   2   0    1   0  .275  .765    0    5   3   2B
D Murphy CF                   4   1   2   1    1   0  .262  .711    0    3   0   
G Hubbard 2B                  5   1   3   2    0   0  .258  .708    0    4   5   
B Benedict C                  3   0   0   0    1   1  .259  .693    0    3   2   SH
R Ramirez SS                  5   1   4   3    0   0  .216  .565    0    3   2   3B
P Niekro P                    4   0   0   0    0   3  .068  .136    0    3   1   SH
Totals                       36   9  15   9    7   6                    27  14

BATTING

2B: C Chambliss (21, off G Pladson).

3B: R Ramirez (1, off G Pladson).

HR: B Horner (9, off N Ryan; 2nd inn, 2 on, 2 outs to LF).

SH: B Benedict (5, off B Sprowl); P Niekro (2, off N Ryan).

TB: R Ramirez 6; B Horner 5; C Chambliss 3; G Hubbard 3; D Murphy 2; B Butler; E Miller.

RBI: R Ramirez 3 (18); B Horner 3 (32); G Hubbard 2 (31); D Murphy (41).

2-out RBI: B Horner 3; R Ramirez 2; G Hubbard 2.

Team LOB: 12.

With RISP: 6 for 17.

FIELDING

DP: 2. C Chambliss-B Benedict-C Chambliss; B Benedict-G Hubbard.

BASERUNNING

SB: E Miller (21, 2nd base off N Ryan/A Ashby).

CS: E Miller (4, 2nd base by N Ryan/A Ashby).

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
N Ryan, L (8-4)                4     7   5   5    5   3   1   1.63   23     -       ·  ·      3· 4· 1· 7     26    -     0.72  -0.31
G Pladson                      2     2   0   0    1   1   0   0.00    9     -       ·  ·      2· 3· 0· 2          0-0    0.13   0.01
B Sprowl                       2     6   4   4    1   2   0   6.18   13     -       ·  ·      2· 2· 0· 6          0-0    0.03  -0.01
Totals                         8    15   9   9    7   6   1          45     -       ·  ·      7· 9· 1·15           -

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, W (7-5)              9     8   0   0    3   2   0   2.99   36     -       ·  ·     11·12· 0· 8     70    -     0.52   0.19
Totals                         9     8   0   0    3   2   0          36     -       ·  ·     11·12· 0· 8           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Bill Williams, 1B - Dave Pallone, 2B - Fred Brocklander, 3B - Paul Pryor.

Time of Game: 2:34.

Attendance: 4,482.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Atlanta Braves                       
1. T Scott              CF    1. E Miller             RF 
2. P Garner             2B    2. B Butler             LF 
3. D Walling            RF    3. B Horner             3B 
4. J Cruz               LF    4. C Chambliss          1B 
5. H Spilman            1B    5. D Murphy             CF 
6. A Howe               3B    6. G Hubbard            2B 
7. A Ashby              C     7. B Benedict           C  
8. C Reynolds           SS    8. R Ramirez            SS 
9. N Ryan               P     9. P Niekro             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 1   2  0-0  123      18%  75% G Hubbard       N Ryan          Single to LF; Horner Scores; Chambliss Scores; Murphy to 3B
   b 2   2  0-2  1-3      16%  93% B Horner        N Ryan          Home Run; Ramirez Scores; Butler Scores
   t 4   1  5-0  123       8%  96% A Ashby         P Niekro        Ground Ball Double Play: 1B-C-1B
   b 2   1  0-2  1-3      -5%  76% B Butler        N Ryan          Miller Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B-1B)
   t 2   1  2-0  1--       5%  76% A Howe          P Niekro        Double Play: Strikeout, Spilman Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)

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%  T Scott         Flyball: CF
   O      ---      54%  P Garner        Flyball: LF
   O      ---      55%  D Walling       Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Nolan Ryan facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  E Miller        Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      51%  B Butler        Strikeout
          ---      52%  B Horner        Single to LF
          1--      54%  C Chambliss     Walk; Horner to 2B
          12-      57%  D Murphy        Walk; Horner to 3B; Chambliss to 2B
   RR     123      75%  G Hubbard       Single to LF; Horner Scores; Chambliss Scores; Murphy to 3B
   O      1-3      72%  B Benedict      Strikeout
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 2.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      74%  J Cruz          Flyball: 2B
          ---      71%  H Spilman       Single to RF
   OO     1--      76%  A Howe          Double Play: Strikeout, Spilman Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 2.

Bottom of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Nolan Ryan facing 8-9-1
          ---      79%  R Ramirez       Single to LF
   O      1--      78%  P Niekro        Bunt Groundout: 1B unassisted/Sacrifice; Ramirez to 2B
          -2-      81%  E Miller        Single to 1B; Ramirez to 3B
   O      1-3      76%  B Butler        Miller Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B-1B)
          --3      76%  " "             Walk
   RRR    1-3      93%  B Horner        Home Run; Ramirez Scores; Butler Scores
   O      ---      92%  C Chambliss     Flyball: 2B
                  3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-5, Phil Niekro facing 7-8-9
          ---      90%  A Ashby         Walk
   O      1--      92%  C Reynolds      Flyball: 2B
          1--      90%  N Ryan          Single to CF; Ashby to 2B
   O      12-      92%  T Scott         Groundout: P-SS/Forceout at 2B
   O      12-      95%  P Garner        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Bottom of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-0, Nolan Ryan facing 5-6-7
          ---      95%  D Murphy        Single to CF
          1--      96%  G Hubbard       Single to LF; Murphy to 2B
   O      12-      96%  B Benedict      Groundout: P-1B; Murphy to 3B; Hubbard to 2B
   O      -23      95%  R Ramirez       Fielder's Choice 3B; Murphy out at Hm/3B-C; Hubbard to 3B
   O      1-3      94%  P Niekro        Lineout: SS
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-5, Phil Niekro facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      95%  D Walling       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      93%  J Cruz          Walk
          1--      91%  H Spilman       Single to LF; Cruz to 2B
          12-      87%  A Howe          Single to CF; Cruz to 3B; Spilman to 2B
   OO     123      96%  A Ashby         Ground Ball Double Play: 1B-C-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Bottom of the 4th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-0, Nolan Ryan facing 1-2-3
          ---      96%  E Miller        Walk
          1--      97%  B Butler        Miller Steals 2B
          -2-      97%  " "             Walk
   O      12-      96%  B Horner        Flyball: 1B
   O      12-      96%  C Chambliss     Foul Flyball: 3B
   O      12-      95%  D Murphy        Foul Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-5, Phil Niekro facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      96%  C Reynolds      Flyball: SS
                  Joe Pittman pinch hits for Nolan Ryan batting 9th
   O      ---      97%  J Pittman       Flyball: RF
          ---      96%  T Scott         Double to LF
          -2-      95%  P Garner        Walk
   O      12-      97%  D Walling       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Bottom of the 5th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-0, Gordie Pladson facing 6-7-8
                  Gordie Pladson replaces Joe Pittman pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      97%  G Hubbard       Flyball: CF
   O      ---      96%  B Benedict      Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      97%  R Ramirez       Triple to LF
   O      --3      96%  P Niekro        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-5, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      97%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-P
   O      ---      98%  H Spilman       Flyball: RF
   O      ---      98%  A Howe          Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Bottom of the 6th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-0, Gordie Pladson facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      98%  E Miller        Flyball: RF
   O      ---      98%  B Butler        Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      98%  B Horner        Walk
          1--      98%  C Chambliss     Double to RF; Horner to 3B
   O      -23      98%  D Murphy        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-5, Phil Niekro facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      98%  A Ashby         Groundout: 1B-P
          ---      97%  C Reynolds      Single to LF
                  Danny Heep pinch hits for Gordie Pladson batting 9th
   O      1--      98%  D Heep          Groundout: 1B-2B-P; Reynolds to 2B
   O      -2-      99%  T Scott         Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 5.

Bottom of the 7th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-0, Bobby Sprowl facing 6-7-8
                  Bobby Sprowl replaces Danny Heep pitching and batting 9th
          ---      99%  G Hubbard       Single to SS; Hubbard to 2B/Adv on E6 (throw to 1B)
   O      -2-      99%  B Benedict      Bunt Groundout: P-1B/Sacrifice; Hubbard to 3B
   R      --3     100%  R Ramirez       Single to LF; Hubbard Scores
   O      1--      99%  P Niekro        Strikeout
   O      1--      99%  E Miller        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 6.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-6, Phil Niekro facing 2-3-4
   O      ---     100%  P Garner        Flyball: CF
   O      ---     100%  D Walling       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---     100%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 6.

Bottom of the 8th, Braves Batting, Ahead 6-0, Bobby Sprowl facing 2-3-4
          ---     100%  B Butler        Single to SS
   O      1--     100%  B Horner        Flyball: 2B
          1--     100%  C Chambliss     Single to RF; Butler to 3B
   R      1-3     100%  D Murphy        Single to LF; Butler Scores; Chambliss to 2B
   O      12-     100%  G Hubbard       Flyball: CF
          12-     100%  B Benedict      Walk; Chambliss to 3B; Murphy to 2B
   RR     123     100%  R Ramirez       Single to LF; Chambliss Scores; Murphy Scores; Benedict to 2B
   O      12-     100%  P Niekro        Strikeout
                  3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 9.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-9, Phil Niekro facing 5-6-7
          ---     100%  H Spilman       Single to RF
                  Mike Ivie pinch hits for Art Howe batting 6th
          1--     100%  M Ivie          Single to CF; Spilman to 2B
   O      12-     100%  A Ashby         Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B; Spilman to 3B
   O      1-3     100%  C Reynolds      Flyball: RF
                  Tim Tolman pinch hits for Bobby Sprowl batting 9th
   O      1-3     100%  T Tolman        Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
        0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Braves 9.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:ATL198109090

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