July 24, 1977 Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play

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BAL 3
MIL 2 BAL 4
MIL 3 CHW 9
@BOS 6 TEX 4
@CLE 1 DET 6
TOR 2 MIN 5
OAK 3 MIN 10
OAK 9
(12) NYY 3
KCR 1 CAL 3
@SEA 1 CAL 4
@SEA 3 HOU 10
@CHC 6 HOU 6
@CHC 4 LAD 5
NYM 3 PIT 7
ATL 6
(13) PHI 7
@SDP 4 SFG 3
MON 0 SFG 5
MON 4
(12) STL 3
CIN 0

Standings at end of play this day

Second game of doubleheader, see First game.

Wrigley Field, Attendance: 25,963

Sunday, July 24, 1977
Time of Game: 2:46

Astros

46-52

Won 2

3rd, 15 GB

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

W: J Niekro (5-3), L: D Moore (3-1)

Cubs

56-38

Lost 3

1st

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl LF                     5   0   1   1    0   1  .200  .514    0    1   0   
E Cabell 3B                   5   2   2   1    0   1  .272  .741    0    1   1   HR,2B
J Cruz RF                     5   0   0   0    0   0  .296  .849    0    2   0   
B Watson 1B                   5   0   1   1    0   2  .287  .838    0    7   1   
A Howe 2B                     5   1   1   1    0   3  .289  .844    6    2   2   HR
C Cedeno CF                   4   1   1   0    0   1  .207  .617    0    3   0   SB
E Herrmann C                  3   2   3   1    1   0  .243  .584    6    7   0   2B
R Metzger SS                  3   0   1   1    1   0  .187  .522    8    3   4   2B
J Niekro P                    2   0   0   0    1   1  .214  .481    0    1   1   SH
Totals                       37   6  10   6    3   9               20   27   9

BATTING

2B: R Metzger (3, off S Renko); E Herrmann (3, off S Renko); E Cabell (22, off D Moore).

HR: A Howe (7, off S Renko; 4th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to CF); E Cabell (10, off D Moore; 7th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to CF).

SH: J Niekro (1, off D Moore).

TB: E Cabell 6; E Herrmann 4; A Howe 4; R Metzger 2; B Watson; T Puhl; C Cedeno.

RBI: R Metzger (7); E Herrmann (4); B Watson (58); T Puhl (2); A Howe (27); E Cabell (39).

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 4 for 14.

FIELDING

DP: 1. J Niekro-R Metzger-B Watson.

BASERUNNING

SB: C Cedeno (30, 2nd base off J Todd/G Mitterwald).

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
I DeJesus SS                  4   1   1   0    1   1  .255  .630    0    1   2   
G Gross LF                    4   1   2   1    0   0  .283  .742    0    1   0   
  J Todd P                    0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  W Hernandez P               0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
L Biittner 1B                 3   0   1   1    0   0  .289  .734    0    6   2   SF
B Murcer RF                   4   1   1   2    0   2  .274  .816    5    1   0   HR
S Ontiveros 3B                4   0   1   0    0   2  .284  .778    7    3   2   
J Wallis CF                   4   0   3   0    0   0  .293  .854    0    1   0   2B
M Trillo 2B                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .302  .770    0    1   2   GDP
S Swisher C                   2   0   0   0    0   0  .171  .495    0    9   0   
  J Cardenal PH               1   0   0   0    0   0  .230  .651    0    0   0   
  G Mitterwald C              1   0   0   0    0   1  .250  .697    0    2   0   
S Renko P                     1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    8    0   0   
  D Moore P                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .143  .393    0    0   2   
  J Morales PH-LF             2   1   1   0    0   0  .328  .883    0    2   0   2B
Totals                       35   4  10   4    1   7               20   27  10

BATTING

2B: J Wallis (2, off J Niekro); J Morales (26, off J Niekro).

HR: B Murcer (14, off J Niekro; 3rd inn, 1 on, 2 outs to RF).

SF: L Biittner (1, off J Niekro).

TB: J Wallis 4; B Murcer 4; G Gross 2; J Morales 2; L Biittner; I DeJesus; S Ontiveros.

GIDP: M Trillo (8).

RBI: B Murcer 2 (60); G Gross (21); L Biittner (36).

2-out RBI: B Murcer 2; G Gross.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 1 for 4.

FIELDING

E: L Biittner (10); G Mitterwald (4).

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 Niekro, W (5-3)              9    10   4   4    1   7   1   3.21   37     -       · 7· 2   10·11· 6· 2     57    -     1.26   0.22
Totals                         9    10   4   4    1   7   1          37     -     35· 7· 2   10·11· 6· 2           -

Chicago Cubs                  IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
S Renko                        3.1   4   3   2    2   3   1   4.85   17     -       · 0· 0    7· 1· 4· 0     43    -     1.37  -0.19
D Moore, L (3-1)               3.2   4   2   2    0   4   1   3.58   15     -       · 2· 0    3· 2· 4· 2          1-0    1.16  -0.02
J Todd                         0     1   1   1    0   0   0   9.10    1     -       · 0· 0    1· 0· 0· 0          0-0    1.21  -0.10
W Hernandez                    2     1   0   0    1   2   0   2.20    8     -       · 5· 0    2· 2· 1· 0          1-1    0.70   0.04
Totals                         9    10   6   5    3   9   2          41     -     33· 7· 0   13· 5· 9· 2          2-1

J Todd faced 1 batter in the 8th inning.

Balks: None.

WP: J Niekro (3).

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Ed Vargo, 1B - Harry Wendelstedt, 2B - Satch Davidson, 3B - Terry Tata.

Time of Game: 2:46.

Attendance: 25,963.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: 74° F, Wind 8mph in unknown direction, Overcast.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Chicago Cubs                         
1. T Puhl               LF    1. I DeJesus            SS 
2. E Cabell             3B    2. G Gross              LF 
3. J Cruz               RF    3. L Biittner           1B 
4. B Watson             1B    4. B Murcer             RF 
5. A Howe               2B    5. S Ontiveros          3B 
6. C Cedeno             CF    6. J Wallis             CF 
7. E Herrmann           C     7. M Trillo             2B 
8. R Metzger            SS    8. S Swisher            C  
9. J Niekro             P     9. S Renko              P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 3   2  1-1  1--     -20%  27% B Murcer        J Niekro        Home Run (Line Drive); Gross Scores
   t 7   0  3-4  ---      12%  81% E Cabell        D Moore         Home Run
   t 4   1  3-2  -2-      12%  52% R Metzger       S Renko         Double to LF (Line Drive); Herrmann Scores
   b 7   2  5-3  --3     -11%  68% G Gross         J Niekro        Single to RF (Ground Ball); Morales Scores
   t 4   0  3-1  ---      10%  38% A Howe          S Renko         Home Run (Line Drive)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Steve Renko facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      48%  T Puhl          Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      46%  E Cabell        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      45%  J Cruz          Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Cubs 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      42%  I DeJesus       Single to CF (Line Drive)
          1--      33%  G Gross         Single to CF (Line Drive); DeJesus to 3B
   RO     1-3      35%  L Biittner      Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly; DeJesus Scores
   O      1--      38%  B Murcer        Popfly: 2B
          1--      36%  S Ontiveros     Single to RF; Gross to 3B
   O      1-3      40%  J Wallis        Flyball: SS
                  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Cubs 1.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Steve Renko facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      38%  B Watson        Strikeout
   O      ---      36%  A Howe          Strikeout
   O      ---      35%  C Cedeno        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Cubs 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Ahead 1-0, Joe Niekro facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      37%  M Trillo        Popfly: 2B
   O      ---      38%  S Swisher       Foul Flyball: 3B
   O      ---  8   39%  S Renko         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Cubs 1.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Steve Renko facing 7-8-9
          ---      43%  E Herrmann      Walk
          1--      53%  R Metzger       Reached on E3 (Ground Ball); Herrmann to 3B; Metzger to 1B
          1-3      58%  J Niekro        Walk; Metzger to 2B
   R      123      68%  T Puhl          Single to CF (Line Drive); Herrmann Scores/unER; Metzger to 3B; Niekro to 2B
   O      123      61%  E Cabell        Groundout: 1B-C/Forceout at Hm; Niekro to 3B; Puhl to 2B
   O      123      52%  J Cruz          Groundout: 1B-C/Forceout at Hm; Puhl to 3B; Cabell to 2B
   O      123      44%  B Watson        Strikeout
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Tied 1-1, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      40%  I DeJesus       Walk
   O      1--      44%  G Gross         Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--      47%  L Biittner      Foul Flyball: 1B
   RR     1--      27%  B Murcer        Home Run (Line Drive); Gross Scores
   O      ---  7   28%  S Ontiveros     Strikeout Looking
                  2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cubs 3.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Steve Renko facing 5-6-7
   R      ---      38%  A Howe          Home Run (Line Drive)
   O      ---      35%  C Cedeno        Popfly: 3B
          ---      40%  E Herrmann      Double to RF (Line Drive)
   R      -2-      52%  R Metzger       Double to LF (Line Drive); Herrmann Scores
                  Donnie Moore replaces Steve Renko pitching and batting 9th
   O      -2-      48%  J Niekro        Strikeout
   O      -2-      44%  T Puhl          Strikeout Looking
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 3, Cubs 3.

Bottom of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Tied 3-3, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
          ---      40%  J Wallis        Single to RF (Line Drive)
   O      1--      44%  M Trillo        Flyball: CF
   O      1--      47%  S Swisher       Flyball: RF
   O      1--      50%  D Moore         Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 3, Cubs 3.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Tied 3-3, Donnie Moore facing 2-3-4
          ---      58%  E Cabell        Double to LF
   O      -2-      56%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B; Cabell to 3B
   R      --3      63%  B Watson        Single to RF (Line Drive); Cabell Scores
   O      1--      60%  A Howe          Strikeout Looking
   O      1--      58%  C Cedeno        Strikeout
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Cubs 3.

Bottom of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-4, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      61%  I DeJesus       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      64%  G Gross         Flyball: CF
          ---      62%  L Biittner      Single to CF
   O      1--      65%  B Murcer        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Cubs 3.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-3, Donnie Moore facing 7-8-9
          ---  6   69%  E Herrmann      Single to CF (Line Drive)
   O      1--      65%  R Metzger       Lineout: 3B
   O      1--      64%  J Niekro        Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Herrmann to 2B
   O      -2-      60%  T Puhl          Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Cubs 3.

Bottom of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-4, Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      64%  S Ontiveros     Groundout: 1B-P
          ---      59%  J Wallis        Single to 1B (Ground Ball)
   OO     1--      69%  M Trillo        Ground Ball Double Play: P-SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Cubs 3.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-3, Donnie Moore facing 2-3-4
   R      ---      81%  E Cabell        Home Run
   O      ---      79%  J Cruz          Flyball: LF
   O      ---      78%  B Watson        Lineout: CF
   O      ---      77%  A Howe          Flyball: RF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Cubs 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-5, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
                  Jose Cardenal pinch hits for Steve Swisher batting 8th
   O      ---      81%  J Cardenal      Groundout: SS-1B
                  Jerry Morales pinch hits for Donnie Moore batting 9th
          ---      74%  J Morales       Double to LF (Line Drive)
   O      -2-      80%  I DeJesus       Groundout: 3B-1B
          -2-      80%  G Gross         Wild Pitch; Morales to 3B
   R      --3      68%  " "             Single to RF (Ground Ball); Morales Scores
   O      1--      74%  L Biittner      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 5, Cubs 4.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 5-4, Jim Todd facing 6-7-8
                  Jim Todd replaces Greg Gross pitching and batting 2nd; George Mitterwald replaces Jose Cardenal playing C batting 8th; Jerry Morales moves to LF
          ---      77%  C Cedeno        Single to CF (Ground Ball)
          1--      84%  E Herrmann      Cedeno Steals 2B; Cedeno to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
                  Willie Hernandez replaces Jim Todd pitching and batting 2nd
   R      --3      88%  " "             Single to RF (Ground Ball); Cedeno Scores
          1--  8   90%  R Metzger       Walk; Herrmann to 2B
   O      12-      88%  J Niekro        Bunt Groundout: 3B-SS/Forceout at 3B; Metzger to 2B
   O      12-      85%  T Puhl          Flyball: LF
   O      12-      82%  E Cabell        Strikeout
                  1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Astros 6, Cubs 4.

Bottom of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Behind 4-6, Joe Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  5   87%  B Murcer        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---      90%  S Ontiveros     Strikeout Looking
          ---      86%  J Wallis        Double to RF (Line Drive)
   O      -2-      92%  M Trillo        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 6, Cubs 4.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Ahead 6-4, Willie Hernandez facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      91%  J Cruz          Popfly: LF
   O      ---      90%  B Watson        Lineout: 3B
   O      ---  6   90%  A Howe          Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 6, Cubs 4.

Bottom of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Behind 4-6, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      95%  G Mitterwald    Strikeout
   O      ---      98%  J Morales       Flyball: RF
   O      ---     100%  I DeJesus       Strikeout Looking
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 6, Cubs 4.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:CHN197707242

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