July 31, 1968 Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs Play by Play and Box Score

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NYY 7
@BOS 3 BAL 4
@CLE 2 DET 4
WSA 0 CHW 12
@MIN 8 OAK 4
CAL 1 OAK 4
CAL 3 CHC 6
HOU 1 CIN 8
PIT 2 PIT 10
@CIN 1 LAD 6
SFG 3 ATL 3
@NYM 2 STL 3
@PHI 2

Standings at end of play this day

Wrigley Field, Attendance: 11,033

Wednesday, July 31, 1968, 1:30PM
Time of Game: 2:11

Astros

45-60

Lost 2

10th, 24½ GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Astros          1  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  0    1  3  0
Cubs            0  0  0   4  0  1   0  1  X    6 10  0

W: F Jenkins (12-10), L: D Lemaster (9-11)

Cubs

54-52

Won 2

4th, 16 GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
B Watson LF                   1   0   1   0    0   0  .229  .618    0    0   0   2B
  D Simpson PR-LF             3   1   0   0    0   1  .174  .579    0    1   0   
H Torres SS                   3   0   0   0    1   1  .227  .516    0    1   5   
R Staub 1B                    4   0   0   1    0   0  .299  .789    0   11   0   
J Wynn CF                     3   0   0   0    1   0  .249  .789    0    3   0   
N Miller RF                   3   0   0   0    1   1  .228  .635    0    1   0   
D Menke 2B                    3   0   1   0    0   1  .239  .661    0    3   2   
B Aspromonte 3B               3   0   0   0    0   0  .239  .594    0    2   3   GDP
J Bateman C                   3   0   1   0    0   1  .235  .616    0    2   1   
D Lemaster P                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .020  .077    0    0   1   
  J Buzhardt P                0   0   0   0    0   0  .200  .400         0   0   
  J Gotay PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .233  .527    0    0   0   
  J Ray P                     0   0   0   0    0   0  .111  .222         0   0   
  L Thomas PH                 1   0   0   0    0   1  .187  .467    0    0   0   
  D Coombs P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .500 1.000         0   0   
Totals                       29   1   3   1    3   7                    24  12

BATTING

2B: B Watson (7, off F Jenkins).

TB: B Watson 2; J Bateman; D Menke.

GIDP: B Aspromonte (11).

RBI: R Staub (50).

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 0 for 3.

FIELDING

DP: 1. D Lemaster-H Torres-R Staub.

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Kessinger SS                3   0   0   0    1   0  .248  .581    0    3   0   CS
G Beckert 2B                  3   1   1   0    1   0  .285  .675    0    3   4   2B
B Williams LF                 4   1   3   2    0   0  .282  .782    0    1   0   HR
R Santo 3B                    3   0   0   0    1   0  .249  .788    0    3   3   GDP
E Banks 1B                    4   2   3   2    0   0  .262  .777    0    6   0   2·HR
  D Nen PR-1B                 0   1   0   0    0   0  .215  .547         2   0   
R Hundley C                   3   0   0   0    1   0  .228  .588    0    7   1   
J Hickman RF                  4   1   2   2    0   0  .202  .585    0    1   0   HR
A Phillips CF                 4   0   1   0    0   1  .239  .719    0    1   0   3B
F Jenkins P                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .169  .485    0    0   2   
Totals                       32   6  10   6    4   2                    27  10

BATTING

2B: G Beckert (22, off D Lemaster).

3B: A Phillips (4, off D Lemaster).

HR: E Banks 2 (18, off D Lemaster, off J Ray; 4th inn, 0 on, 1 out to LF; 6th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to LF); B Williams (14, off D Lemaster; 4th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to RF); J Hickman (2, off D Lemaster; 4th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to LF).

TB: E Banks 9; B Williams 6; J Hickman 5; A Phillips 3; G Beckert 2.

GIDP: R Santo (13).

RBI: E Banks 2 (58); J Hickman 2 (16); B Williams 2 (56).

2-out RBI: J Hickman.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 2 for 5.

FIELDING

DP: 1. R Santo-G Beckert-E Banks.

PB: R Hundley (6).

BASERUNNING

CS: D Kessinger (7, 3rd base by J Ray/J Bateman).

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
D Lemaster, L (9-11)           3.2   6   4   4    1   0   3   2.84   17     -       ·  ·      7· 4· 0· 5     32    -     0.87  -0.33
J Buzhardt                     0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   2.75    1     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 0· 0          1-0    0.72   0.01
J Ray                          3     2   1   1    3   2   1   2.98   13     -       ·  ·      3· 4· 0· 1          0-0    0.31  -0.01
D Coombs                       1     2   1   1    0   0   0   4.91    5     -       ·  ·      3· 0· 1· 1          0-0    0.06  -0.00
Totals                         8    10   6   6    4   2   4          36     -       ·  ·     13· 9· 1· 7          1-0

Chicago Cubs                  IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
F Jenkins, W (12-10)           9     3   1   0    3   7   0   2.26   32     -       ·  ·      9·11· 2· 0     83    -     0.76   0.17
Totals                         9     3   1   0    3   7   0          32     -       ·  ·      9·11· 2· 0           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Doug Harvey, 1B - John Kibler, 2B - Shag Crawford, 3B - Chris Pelekoudas.

Time of Game: 2:11.

Attendance: 11,033.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: 80° F, Cloudy.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Chicago Cubs                         
1. B Watson             LF    1. D Kessinger          SS 
2. H Torres             SS    2. G Beckert            2B 
3. R Staub              1B    3. B Williams           LF 
4. J Wynn               CF    4. R Santo              3B 
5. N Miller             RF    5. E Banks              1B 
6. D Menke              2B    6. R Hundley            C  
7. B Aspromonte         3B    7. J Hickman            RF 
8. J Bateman            C     8. A Phillips           CF 
9. D Lemaster           P     9. F Jenkins            P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 4   0  1-0  1--      25%  70% B Williams      D Lemaster      Home Run; Beckert Scores
   b 1   1  1-0  1-3     -13%  38% R Santo         D Lemaster      Ground Ball Double Play: P-SS-1B
   b 4   1  1-2  ---      11%  80% E Banks         D Lemaster      Home Run
   b 4   2  1-3  ---       8%  87% J Hickman       D Lemaster      Home Run
   t 1   0  0-0  ---      -6%  44% B Watson        F Jenkins       Double to LF (Line Drive)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Fergie Jenkins facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---      44%  B Watson        Double to LF (Line Drive)
                  Dick Simpson pinch runs for Bob Watson batting 1st
          -2-      40%  H Torres        Passed Ball; Simpson to 3B
          --3      36%  " "             Walk
   RO     1-3      38%  R Staub         Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B; Simpson Scores/unER
          1--      35%  J Wynn          Walk; Staub to 2B
   O      12-      39%  N Miller        Popfly: 2B
   O      12-      43%  D Menke         Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Denny Lemaster facing 1-2-3
                  Dick Simpson moves to LF
   O      ---      40%  D Kessinger     Flyball: CF
          ---      45%  G Beckert       Double to CF
          -2-      51%  B Williams      Single to 2B (Ground Ball); Beckert to 3B
   OO     1-3      38%  R Santo         Ground Ball Double Play: P-SS-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Fergie Jenkins facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      40%  B Aspromonte    Foul Flyball: 1B
          ---      38%  J Bateman       Single to 2B (Pop Fly)
   O      1--      40%  D Lemaster      Strikeout (foul bunt)
   O      1--      42%  D Simpson       Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Denny Lemaster facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      40%  E Banks         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      38%  R Hundley       Flyball: RF
   O      ---      37%  J Hickman       Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Fergie Jenkins facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      39%  H Torres        Strikeout
   O      ---      40%  R Staub         Foul Flyball: 3B
   O      ---      41%  J Wynn          Popfly: C
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Denny Lemaster facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      38%  A Phillips      Popfly: 3B
   O      ---      37%  F Jenkins       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      36%  D Kessinger     Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Fergie Jenkins facing 5-6-7
          ---      32%  N Miller        Walk
   O      1--      35%  D Menke         Strikeout Looking
   OO     1--      40%  B Aspromonte    Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Denny Lemaster facing 2-3-4
          ---      45%  G Beckert       Walk
   RR     1--      70%  B Williams      Home Run; Beckert Scores
   O      ---      68%  R Santo         Flyball: CF
   R      ---      80%  E Banks         Home Run
   O      ---      79%  R Hundley       Groundout: SS-1B
   R      ---      87%  J Hickman       Home Run
          ---      88%  A Phillips      Triple to LF
                  John Buzhardt replaces Denny Lemaster pitching and batting 9th
   O      --3      87%  F Jenkins       Popfly: 2B
                  4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 4.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-4, Fergie Jenkins facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      89%  J Bateman       Strikeout
                  Julio Gotay pinch hits for John Buzhardt batting 9th
   O      ---      90%  J Gotay         Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      91%  D Simpson       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 4.

Bottom of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 4-1, Jim Ray facing 1-2-3
                  Jim Ray replaces Julio Gotay pitching and batting 9th
          ---      92%  D Kessinger     Walk
   O      1--      91%  G Beckert       Popfly: 2B
   O      1--      90%  B Williams      Flyball: CF
          1--      91%  R Santo         Walk; Kessinger to 2B
   O      12-      89%  E Banks         Kessinger Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 4.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-4, Fergie Jenkins facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      91%  H Torres        Popfly: 3B
   O      ---      92%  R Staub         Popfly: SS
   O      ---      93%  J Wynn          Lineout: SS
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 4.

Bottom of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 4-1, Jim Ray facing 5-6-7
   R      ---      96%  E Banks         Home Run
          ---      97%  R Hundley       Walk
   O      1--      96%  J Hickman       Popfly: 2B
   O      1--      96%  A Phillips      Strikeout Looking
   O      1--      96%  F Jenkins       Strikeout
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 5.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-5, Fergie Jenkins facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      97%  N Miller        Strikeout Looking
          ---      95%  D Menke         Single to RF
   O      1--      97%  B Aspromonte    Flyball: CF
   O      1--      98%  J Bateman       Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 5.

Bottom of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 5-1, Jim Ray facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      98%  D Kessinger     Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      98%  G Beckert       Flyball: LF
          ---      98%  B Williams      Single to RF (Ground Ball)
   O      1--      97%  R Santo         Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 5.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-5, Fergie Jenkins facing 9-1-2
                  Lee Thomas pinch hits for Jim Ray batting 9th
   O      ---      98%  L Thomas        Strikeout
   O      ---      99%  D Simpson       Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      99%  H Torres        Popfly: 3B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 5.

Bottom of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 5-1, Danny Coombs facing 5-6-7
                  Danny Coombs replaces Lee Thomas pitching and batting 9th
          ---      99%  E Banks         Single to 3B
                  Dick Nen pinch runs for Ernie Banks batting 5th
   O      1--      99%  R Hundley       Groundout: 1B unassisted; Nen to 2B
   R      -2-     100%  J Hickman       Single to CF (Line Drive); Nen Scores
   O      1--     100%  A Phillips      Groundout: 3B-1B; Hickman to 2B
   O      -2-     100%  F Jenkins       Groundout: SS-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 6.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-6, Fergie Jenkins facing 3-4-5
                  Dick Nen moves to 1B
   O      ---     100%  R Staub         Flyball: RF
   O      ---     100%  J Wynn          Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---     100%  N Miller        Groundout: 2B-1B
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 6.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:CHN196807310

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