September 3, 1997 Detroit Tigers at Atlanta Braves Box Score and Play by Play

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OAK 12
SFG 3 SDP 6
@SEA 5 TEX 5
LAD 2 DET 12
@ATL 4 CHC 10
MIN 6 CIN 6
KCR 3 FLA 7
BAL 6 HOU 4
MIL 0 MON 1
BOS 0 NYM 4
TOR 2 PHI 5
NYY 4 CLE 7
@PIT 3 STL 4
CHW 2

Standings at end of play this day

Turner Field, Attendance: 36,556

Wednesday, September 3, 1997, 1:10
Time of Game: 2:46

Tigers

65-73

Won 1

4th, 21 GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Tigers          2  0  1   6  0  3   0  0  0   12 15  0
Braves          1  0  1   0  0  1   0  0  1    4 10  0

W: W Blair (15-6), L: J Smoltz (13-11)

Braves

86-53

Lost 1

1st

BATTING

Detroit Tigers               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
B Hunter CF                   5   2   2   0    0   2  .264  .682   11    8   0   3B,2B
  M Nieves PH-RF              1   0   0   0    0   1  .236  .782    3    0   0   
D Easley 2B                   4   3   2   1    0   0  .267  .845   12    5   3   2·2B,SF
B Higginson LF                3   2   2   2    1   1  .297  .906   20    0   0   
  K Bartee LF                 0   0   0   0    0   0                4    0   0   HBP
T Clark 1B                    4   2   3   5    0   0  .279  .897   18    6   0   HR,2B
  P Nevin PH-1B               1   0   0   0    0   1  .237  .699    6    3   0   
T Fryman 3B                   4   1   2   0    1   0  .271  .761   22    1   1   
J Encarnacion RF-CF           5   0   1   1    0   1  .125  .250   17    1   0   GDP
M Jensen C                    5   1   2   1    0   3  .165  .461   22    2   1   
D Cruz SS                     5   1   1   2    0   1  .247  .591   10    1   8   HR
W Blair P                     4   0   0   0    0   3  .000  .000   12    0   0   
  M Myers P                   0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  F Catalanotto PH            0   0   0   0    1   0                5    0   0   
  D Miceli P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
Totals                       41  12  15  12    3  13              162   27  13

BATTING

2B: T Clark (25, off J Smoltz); B Hunter (25, off J Smoltz); D Easley 2 (33, 2 off J Smoltz).

3B: B Hunter (6, off P Byrd).

HR: T Clark (29, off K Ligtenberg; 4th inn, 2 on, 1 out to Deep RF); D Cruz (2, off J Smoltz; 4th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep LF).

SF: D Easley (4, off P Byrd).

HBP: K Bartee (1, by A Embree).

TB: T Clark 7; B Hunter 5; D Cruz 4; D Easley 4; M Jensen 2; T Fryman 2; B Higginson 2; J Encarnacion.

GIDP: J Encarnacion (1).

RBI: T Clark 5 (103); D Cruz 2 (34); B Higginson 2 (80); D Easley (58); M Jensen (4); J Encarnacion (1).

2-out RBI: J Encarnacion; M Jensen; T Clark.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 6 for 13.

FIELDING

DP: 2. D Easley-D Cruz-T Clark; D Cruz-D Easley-T Clark.

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
K Lofton CF                   3   2   2   0    0   0  .346  .865   18    1   0   2B
  P Byrd P                    0   0   0   0    0   0  .200  .400         0   0   
  E Giovanola 3B              2   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .167    4    0   0   
M Tucker RF                   3   0   1   0    0   1  .274  .774   18    1   0   SH
C Jones 3B                    3   0   1   1    0   0  .304  .865    4    0   0   GDP
  T Spehr C                   1   0   1   0    0   0  .178  .562    5    5   0   2B
R Simon 1B                    4   1   2   1    0   0  .400  .800   10    6   1   
R Klesko LF                   3   0   1   1    1   1  .254  .814   10    1   0   2B
J Lopez C                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .286  .886   10    8   0   
  R Belliard SS               1   0   0   0    0   0  .213  .458    2    0   2   
J Blauser SS                  2   0   0   0    0   0  .304  .874   10    2   0   HBP
  B Clontz P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  A Embree P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  C Fox P                     0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  G Colbrunn PH               1   1   1   1    0   0  .285  .752    1    0   0   HR
T Graffanino 2B               4   0   1   0    0   0  .244  .744   18    1   3   
J Smoltz P                    1   0   0   0    0   0  .265  .660    2    0   0   
  K Ligtenberg P              0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  T Gregg PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    1    0   0   
  A Jones CF                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .250  .795         2   0   
  D Bautista CF               2   0   0   0    0   0  .244  .713    5    0   0   GDP
Totals                       34   4  10   4    1   2              118   27   6

BATTING

2B: T Spehr (1, off M Myers); K Lofton (18, off W Blair); R Klesko (23, off W Blair).

HR: G Colbrunn (7, off D Miceli; 9th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF).

SH: M Tucker (4, off W Blair).

HBP: J Blauser (17, by W Blair).

TB: G Colbrunn 4; K Lofton 3; R Simon 2; T Spehr 2; R Klesko 2; M Tucker; T Graffanino; C Jones.

GIDP: C Jones (17); D Bautista (3).

RBI: G Colbrunn (33); R Simon (1); R Klesko (73); C Jones (104).

2-out RBI: R Simon.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 2 for 7.

FIELDING

DP: 1. R Belliard-T Graffanino-R Simon.

PITCHING

Detroit Tigers                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
W Blair, W (15-6)              7     8   3   3    0   1   0   4.02   28   90-61   46· 5·10   10·10· 6· 0     50    -     0.65  -0.01
M Myers                        1     1   0   0    1   1   0   6.15    5   20-10    5· 1· 4    1· 2· 0· 0          0-0    0.02   0.00
D Miceli                       1     1   1   1    0   0   1   5.48    4    8-7     4· 0· 3    3· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.01   0.00
Totals                         9    10   4   4    1   2   1          37  118-78   55· 6·17   14·13· 6· 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
J Smoltz, L (13-11)            3.1  10   8   8    0   4   1   3.16   21   71-53   28·12·13    8· 8· 1· 0     12    -     0.89  -0.43
K Ligtenberg                   1.2   1   1   1    0   4   1   6.35    6   26-18    7· 3· 8    0· 2· 0· 0          2-2    0.19  -0.07
P Byrd                         1     3   3   3    2   0   0   5.44    8   26-14    8· 1· 5    1· 3· 2· 0          0-0    0.04  -0.01
B Clontz                       1     0   0   0    0   2   0   3.54    3    8-7     1· 2· 4    1· 0· 0· 0          0-0    0.01   0.00
A Embree                       1     1   0   0    0   1   0   2.79    4   16-10    4· 3· 3    2· 0· 0· 0          0-0    0.00   0.00
C Fox                          1     0   0   0    1   2   0   3.43    4   15-9     2· 5· 2    1· 0· 0· 0          0-0    0.00   0.00
Totals                         9    15  12  12    3  13   2          46  162-111  50·26·35   13·13· 3· 0          2-2

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: W Blair (3; J Blauser); A Embree (2; K Bartee).

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Greg Bonin, 1B - Frank Pulli, 2B - Bruce Dreckman, 3B - Ron Barnes.

Time of Game: 2:46.

Attendance: 36,556.

Field Condition: Dry.

Weather: 85° F, Wind 12mph from Left to Right, Cloudy, No Precipitation.

LINEUPS

   Detroit Tigers                Atlanta Braves                       
1. B Hunter             CF    1. K Lofton             CF 
2. D Easley             2B    2. M Tucker             RF 
3. B Higginson          LF    3. C Jones              3B 
4. T Clark              1B    4. R Simon              1B 
5. T Fryman             3B    5. R Klesko             LF 
6. J Encarnacion        RF    6. J Lopez              C  
7. M Jensen             C     7. J Blauser            SS 
8. D Cruz               SS    8. T Graffanino         2B 
9. W Blair              P     9. J Smoltz             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 4   0  2-3  1--  2   15%  81% D Cruz          J Smoltz        Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF); Jensen Scores
   b 3   0  3-1  12-  1   13%  69% C Jones         W Blair         Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B (SS-2B); Lofton to 3B
   t 1   1  0-1  1--  3   10%  70% T Clark         J Smoltz        Double to RF (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Higginson Scores
   t 3   2  1-2  -2-  6    9%  69% T Clark         J Smoltz        Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Easley Scores
   b 3   2  3-1  --3  1   -9%  59% R Simon         W Blair         Single to 3B (Ground Ball to Weak 3B); Lofton Scores

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Tigers Batting, Tied 0-0, John Smoltz facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  2   48%  B Hunter        Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---  2   52%  D Easley        Double to LF (Ground Ball)
   R      -2-  6   60%  B Higginson     Single to CF (Line Drive); Easley Scores
   R      1--  3   70%  T Clark         Double to RF (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Higginson Scores
   O      -2-  6   67%  T Fryman        Groundout: 1B unassisted; Clark to 3B
   O      --3  2   65%  J Encarnacion   Foul Popfly: 1B (1B Foul)
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 2, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Willie Blair facing 1-2-3
          ---  6   59%  K Lofton        Double to LF (Line Drive)
   O      -2-  3   60%  M Tucker        Bunt Groundout: C-1B/Sacrifice; Lofton to 3B
   R      --3  1   55%  C Jones         Single to LF (Line Drive); Lofton Scores
   O      1--  4   58%  R Simon         Flyball: CF
   O      1--  3   60%  R Klesko        Strikeout Looking
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 2, Braves 1.

Top of the 2nd, Tigers Batting, Ahead 2-1, John Smoltz facing 7-8-9
   O      ---  5   58%  M Jensen        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  2   57%  D Cruz          Flyball: LF
   O      ---  3   56%  W Blair         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 2, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Behind 1-2, Willie Blair facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  5   58%  J Lopez         Flyball: CF
          ---  5   55%  J Blauser       Hit By Pitch
   O      1--  5   59%  T Graffanino    Groundout: 2B unassisted/Forceout at 2B (SS-2B)
   O      1--  2   61%  J Smoltz        Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 2, Braves 1.

Top of the 3rd, Tigers Batting, Ahead 2-1, John Smoltz facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  3   59%  B Hunter        Strikeout Swinging
          ---  2   63%  D Easley        Double to CF (Fly Ball)
   O      -2-  5   59%  B Higginson     Strikeout Swinging
   R      -2-  6   69%  T Clark         Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Easley Scores
          1--  2   71%  T Fryman        Single to CF (Fly Ball); Clark to 3B
   O      1-3  4   67%  J Encarnacion   Popfly: SS (Deep SS-2B)
                  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Tigers 3, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Behind 1-3, Willie Blair facing 1-2-3
          ---  6   63%  K Lofton        Single to RF (Line Drive to Deep 2B)
          1--  2   56%  M Tucker        Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Lofton to 2B
   OO     12-  1   69%  C Jones         Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B (SS-2B); Lofton to 3B
   R      --3  1   59%  R Simon         Single to 3B (Ground Ball to Weak 3B); Lofton Scores
   O      1--  1   62%  R Klesko        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 3, Braves 2.

Top of the 4th, Tigers Batting, Ahead 3-2, John Smoltz facing 7-8-9
          ---  4   66%  M Jensen        Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B)
   RR     1--  2   81%  D Cruz          Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF); Jensen Scores
   O      ---  1   80%  W Blair         Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
          ---  1   82%  B Hunter        Double to RF (Ground Ball)
          -2-  6   85%  D Easley        Fielder's Choice SS; Hunter to 3B; Easley to 1B
   R      1-3  4   89%  B Higginson     Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Hunter Scores; Easley to 2B
                  Kerry Ligtenberg replaces John Smoltz pitching and batting 9th
   RRR    12-  3   97%  T Clark         Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Easley Scores; Higginson Scores
   O      ---  7   96%  T Fryman        Flyball: CF
   O      ---  3   96%  J Encarnacion   Strikeout Looking
                  6 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 9, Braves 2.

Bottom of the 4th, Braves Batting, Behind 2-9, Willie Blair facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  1   97%  J Lopez         Flyball: RF
   O      ---  1   97%  J Blauser       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---  7   98%  T Graffanino    Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 9, Braves 2.

Top of the 5th, Tigers Batting, Ahead 9-2, Kerry Ligtenberg facing 7-8-9
   O      ---  6   98%  M Jensen        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   97%  D Cruz          Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  4   97%  W Blair         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 9, Braves 2.

Bottom of the 5th, Braves Batting, Behind 2-9, Willie Blair facing 9-1-2
                  Tommy Gregg pinch hits for Kerry Ligtenberg batting 9th
   O      ---  1   98%  T Gregg         Flyball: CF
   O      ---  6   98%  K Lofton        Flyball: CF
   O      ---  7   98%  M Tucker        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 9, Braves 2.

Top of the 6th, Tigers Batting, Ahead 9-2, Paul Byrd facing 1-2-3
                  Paul Byrd replaces Kenny Lofton pitching and batting 1st; Andruw Jones replaces Tommy Gregg playing CF batting 9th
          ---  2   99%  B Hunter        Triple to CF (Fly Ball)
   RO     --3  1   99%  D Easley        Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Hunter Scores
          ---  5   99%  B Higginson     Walk
   O      1--  6   99%  T Clark         Groundout: 1B-SS/Forceout at 2B
          1--  5   99%  T Fryman        Walk; Clark to 2B
   R      12-  4  100%  J Encarnacion   Single to RF (Line Drive to Short RF Line); Clark Scores; Fryman to 3B
   R      1-3  1  100%  M Jensen        Single to LF (Line Drive); Fryman Scores; Encarnacion to 3B
   O      1-3  2  100%  D Cruz          Flyball: CF
                  3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 2.

Bottom of the 6th, Braves Batting, Behind 2-12, Willie Blair facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  2  100%  C Jones         Flyball: CF
          ---  3  100%  R Simon         Single to CF (Line Drive)
   R      1--  1   99%  R Klesko        Double to CF (Line Drive); Simon Scores
   O      -2-  4  100%  J Lopez         Flyball: CF
   O      -2-  4  100%  J Blauser       Groundout: SS-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 3.

Top of the 7th, Tigers Batting, Ahead 12-3, Brad Clontz facing 9-1-2
                  Brad Clontz replaces Jeff Blauser pitching and batting 7th; Tim Spehr replaces Chipper Jones playing C batting 3rd; Ed Giovanola replaces Paul Byrd playing 3B batting 1st; Rafael Belliard replaces Javy Lopez playing SS batting 6th; Danny Bautista replaces Andruw Jones playing CF batting 9th
   O      ---  4  100%  W Blair         Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  3  100%  B Hunter        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  1  100%  D Easley        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Braves Batting, Behind 3-12, Willie Blair facing 8-9-1
                  Kimera Bartee replaces Bobby Higginson playing LF batting 3rd
          ---  4  100%  T Graffanino    Single to LF (Line Drive to Deep SS-3B Hole)
   OO     1--  1  100%  D Bautista      Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   O      ---  3  100%  E Giovanola     Popfly: 3B (Weak 3B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 3.

Top of the 8th, Tigers Batting, Ahead 12-3, Alan Embree facing 3-4-5
                  Alan Embree replaces Brad Clontz pitching and batting 7th
          ---  4  100%  K Bartee        Hit By Pitch
                  Phil Nevin pinch hits for Tony Clark batting 4th
   O      1--  6  100%  P Nevin         Strikeout Swinging
          1--  2  100%  T Fryman        Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Bartee to 2B
   OO     12-  4  100%  J Encarnacion   Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 3.

Bottom of the 8th, Braves Batting, Behind 3-12, Mike Myers facing 2-3-4
                  Mike Myers replaces Willie Blair pitching and batting 9th; Phil Nevin moves to 1B
   O      ---  6  100%  M Tucker        Strikeout Swinging
          ---  5  100%  T Spehr         Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
   O      -2-  2  100%  R Simon         Popfly: 2B
          -2-  5  100%  R Klesko        Walk
   O      12-  2  100%  R Belliard      Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 3.

Top of the 9th, Tigers Batting, Ahead 12-3, Chad Fox facing 7-8-9
                  Chad Fox replaces Alan Embree pitching and batting 7th
   O      ---  6  100%  M Jensen        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  1  100%  D Cruz          Groundout: SS-1B
                  Frank Catalanotto pinch hits for Mike Myers batting 9th
          ---  5  100%  F Catalanotto   Walk
                  Melvin Nieves pinch hits for Brian Hunter batting 1st
   O      1--  3  100%  M Nieves        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 3.

Bottom of the 9th, Braves Batting, Behind 3-12, Dan Miceli facing 7-8-9
                  Dan Miceli replaces Frank Catalanotto pitching and batting 9th; Juan Encarnacion moves to CF; Melvin Nieves moves to RF; Greg Colbrunn pinch hits for Chad Fox batting 7th
   R      ---  1  100%  G Colbrunn      Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
   O      ---  2  100%  T Graffanino    Groundout: SS-1B (SS-2B)
   O      ---  4  100%  D Bautista      Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  1  100%  E Giovanola     Groundout: SS-1B
        1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Tigers 12, Braves 4.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:ATL199709030

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.

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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