June 25, 1968 Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score

View a short video showing advanced box score features / click orange/red text for additional info

BAL 6
BOS 0 CAL 7
OAK 6 DET 8
@NYY 5 CLE 6
@WSA 1 ATL 6
PHI 1 NYM 4
@CIN 0 HOU 4
CHC 2 SFG 9
LAD 0 PIT 3
@STL 2

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 13,474

Tuesday, June 25, 1968, 7:30PM
Time of Game: 2:11

Cubs

31-39

Lost 5

9th, 12½ GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Cubs            0  0  0   1  1  0   0  0  0    2  5  1
Astros          1  0  0   0  0  3   0  0  X    4 11  0

W: M Cuellar (5-3), L: J Niekro (6-6)

Astros

29-41

Won 3

10th, 14½ GB

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Kessinger SS                3   0   1   0    1   0  .255  .609    0    3   7   
G Beckert 2B                  3   0   0   1    0   0  .263  .630    0    3   0   SF
B Williams LF                 4   1   1   0    0   1  .282  .772    0    0   0   2B
E Banks 1B                    4   0   0   0    0   2  .246  .735    0    8   0   
R Hundley C                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .243  .621    0    3   0   
J Hickman RF                  4   0   2   1    0   2  .263  .754    0    2   0   3B
L Elia 3B                     3   0   0   0    0   1  .083  .166    0    1   1   
A Phillips CF                 3   1   1   0    0   1  .236  .701    0    4   0   2B
J Niekro P                    1   0   0   0    0   0  .100  .256    0    0   3   SH
  J Lamabe P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .250  .500         0   0   
  L Johnson PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .244  .645    0    0   0   
  P Regan P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .143  .286         0   0   
Totals                       30   2   5   2    1   7                    24  11

BATTING

2B: B Williams (16, off M Cuellar); A Phillips (10, off M Cuellar).

3B: J Hickman (1, off M Cuellar).

SF: G Beckert (3, off M Cuellar).

SH: J Niekro (5, off M Cuellar).

TB: J Hickman 4; A Phillips 2; B Williams 2; D Kessinger.

RBI: G Beckert (14); J Hickman (4).

2-out RBI: J Hickman.

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 1 for 5.

FIELDING

DP: 2. D Kessinger-G Beckert; J Niekro-D Kessinger-E Banks.

PB: R Hundley (3).

E: D Kessinger (13).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Simpson RF                  4   1   0   0    1   0  .185  .652    0    0   0   
H Torres SS                   4   1   1   0    0   0  .246  .564    0    1   2   3B
R Staub 1B                    4   1   3   1    0   0  .323  .840    0   10   0   2B
J Wynn CF                     3   0   1   0    1   0  .246  .755    0    3   0   IW
D Menke 2B                    4   0   1   0    0   0  .251  .689    0    4   3   
D Rader 3B                    4   1   2   0    0   0  .264  .694    0    0   3   
B Watson LF                   4   0   1   1    0   1  .190  .501    0    1   0   GDP
J Bateman C                   3   0   1   0    1   0  .200  .571    0    8   1   IW
M Cuellar P                   4   0   1   0    0   2  .222  .592    0    0   1   
Totals                       34   4  11   2    3   3                    27  10

BATTING

2B: R Staub (19, off P Regan).

3B: H Torres (1, off J Niekro).

IBB: J Wynn (6, by P Regan); J Bateman (8, by J Lamabe).

TB: R Staub 4; H Torres 3; D Rader 2; B Watson; J Wynn; J Bateman; M Cuellar; D Menke.

GIDP: B Watson (6).

RBI: R Staub (39); B Watson (7).

2-out RBI: B Watson.

Team LOB: 9.

With RISP: 3 for 12.

PITCHING

Chicago Cubs                  IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
J Niekro, L (6-6)              5.2   8   4   3    1   2   0   4.90   25     -       ·  ·      9· 4· 2· 7     40    -     1.33  -0.33
J Lamabe                       0.1   0   0   0    1   1   0   4.09    2     -       ·  ·      0· 0· 0· 0          2-1    1.91  -0.08
P Regan                        2     3   0   0    1   0   0   2.95   10     -       ·  ·      2· 3· 1· 3          0-0    0.48   0.02
Totals                         8    11   4   3    3   3   0          37     -       ·  ·     11· 7· 3·10          2-1

Houston Astros                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
M Cuellar, W (5-3)             9     5   2   2    1   7   0   1.72   33     -       ·  ·     11· 9· 0· 5     75    -     1.05   0.11
Totals                         9     5   2   2    1   7   0          33     -       ·  ·     11· 9· 0· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: J Niekro (2); J Lamabe (1).

IBB: J Lamabe (3; J Bateman); P Regan (1; J Wynn).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Mel Steiner, 1B - Paul Pryor, 2B - Augie Donatelli, 3B - Tony Venzon.

Time of Game: 2:11.

Attendance: 13,474.

Weather: Wind 0mph, In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Houston Astros                       
1. D Kessinger          SS    1. D Simpson            RF 
2. G Beckert            2B    2. H Torres             SS 
3. B Williams           LF    3. R Staub              1B 
4. E Banks              1B    4. J Wynn               CF 
5. R Hundley            C     5. D Menke              2B 
6. J Hickman            RF    6. D Rader              3B 
7. L Elia               3B    7. B Watson             LF 
8. A Phillips           CF    8. J Bateman            C  
9. J Niekro             P     9. M Cuellar            P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 6   2  2-2  12-      22%  78% B Watson        J Niekro        Single to SS; Staub Scores; Rader to 3B; Watson to 2B/Adv on throw
   b 6   0  2-1  ---      19%  54% H Torres        J Niekro        Triple to RF
   t 4   2  1-0  -2-     -14%  53% J Hickman       M Cuellar       Single to 2B; Williams Scores
   b 1   2  0-0  -2-      11%  65% J Wynn          J Niekro        Reached on E6 (Ground Ball); Simpson Scores/No RBI/unER; Wynn to 1B
   b 4   1  1-1  12-     -10%  50% D Rader         J Niekro        Line Drive Double Play: SS-2B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Mike Cuellar facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  D Kessinger     Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      53%  G Beckert       Popfly: SS
   O      ---      54%  B Williams      Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      58%  D Simpson       Walk
   O      1--      57%  H Torres        Groundout: P-1B; Simpson to 2B
   O      -2-      53%  R Staub         Flyball: CF
   R      -2-      65%  J Wynn          Reached on E6 (Ground Ball); Simpson Scores/No RBI/unER; Wynn to 1B
          1--      66%  D Menke         Wild Pitch; Wynn to 2B
   O      -2-      63%  " "             Flyball: CF
                  1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Mike Cuellar facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      65%  E Banks         Strikeout
   O      ---      67%  R Hundley       Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      64%  J Hickman       Triple to CF
   O      --3      68%  L Elia          Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
          ---      71%  D Rader         Single to SS
   OO     1--      65%  B Watson        Ground Ball Double Play: P-SS-1B
   O      ---      64%  J Bateman       Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Mike Cuellar facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      66%  A Phillips      Strikeout
   O      ---      68%  J Niekro        Groundout: 1B unassisted
          ---      67%  D Kessinger     Single to RF
   O      1--      69%  G Beckert       Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      67%  M Cuellar       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      66%  D Simpson       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      65%  H Torres        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Mike Cuellar facing 3-4-5
          ---      56%  B Williams      Double to CF
   O      -2-      62%  E Banks         Strikeout
   O      -2-      67%  R Hundley       Flyball: CF
   R      -2-      53%  J Hickman       Single to 2B; Williams Scores
   O      1--      55%  L Elia          Popfly: 2B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 1-1, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
          ---      60%  R Staub         Single to 3B/Bunt
          1--      67%  J Wynn          Single to LF; Staub to 2B
   O      12-      60%  D Menke         Groundout: P-3B/Forceout at 3B; Wynn to 2B
   OO     12-      50%  D Rader         Line Drive Double Play: SS-2B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 1.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Tied 1-1, Mike Cuellar facing 8-9-1
          ---      41%  A Phillips      Double to LF
   O      -2-      41%  J Niekro        Bunt Groundout: C-2B/Sacrifice; Phillips to 3B
          --3      39%  D Kessinger     Walk
   RO     1-3      34%  G Beckert       Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Phillips Scores; Kessinger to 2B
   O      -2-      37%  B Williams      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Joe Niekro facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      34%  B Watson        Strikeout Looking
          ---      38%  J Bateman       Single to RF
          1--      41%  M Cuellar       Passed Ball; Bateman to 2B
   O      -2-      35%  " "             Strikeout Looking
   O      -2-      30%  D Simpson       Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 1.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 2-1, Mike Cuellar facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      32%  E Banks         Foul Flyball: C
   O      ---      33%  R Hundley       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      34%  J Hickman       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
          ---      54%  H Torres        Triple to RF
   R      --3      62%  R Staub         Single to RF; Torres Scores
   O      1--      57%  J Wynn          Lineout: 2B
   O      1--      53%  D Menke         Flyball: CF
          1--      56%  D Rader         Single to RF; Staub to 2B
   R      12-      78%  B Watson        Single to SS; Staub Scores; Rader to 3B; Watson to 2B/Adv on throw
                  Jack Lamabe replaces Joe Niekro pitching and batting 9th
          -23      79%  J Bateman       Intentional Walk
   R      123      88%  M Cuellar       Wild Pitch; Rader Scores; Watson to 3B; Bateman to 2B
   O      -23      86%  " "             Strikeout
                  3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Mike Cuellar facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      89%  L Elia          Strikeout
   O      ---      90%  A Phillips      Popfly: 2B
                  Lou Johnson pinch hits for Jack Lamabe batting 9th
   O      ---      91%  L Johnson       Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-2, Phil Regan facing 1-2-3
                  Phil Regan replaces Lou Johnson pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      91%  D Simpson       Lineout: SS
   O      ---      90%  H Torres        Flyball: RF
          ---      91%  R Staub         Double to RF
          -2-      91%  J Wynn          Intentional Walk
          12-      92%  D Menke         Single to LF; Staub to 3B; Wynn to 2B
   O      123      90%  D Rader         Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Mike Cuellar facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      93%  D Kessinger     Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      95%  G Beckert       Popfly: 2B
   O      ---      96%  B Williams      Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-2, Phil Regan facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      95%  B Watson        Popfly: 1B
   O      ---      95%  J Bateman       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      95%  M Cuellar       Single to 2B
   O      1--      95%  D Simpson       Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Mike Cuellar facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      98%  E Banks         Flyball: CF
   O      ---      99%  R Hundley       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---     100%  J Hickman       Strikeout
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU196806250

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.


Quick Index: Play Index \| Players \| Teams \| Leagues \| Managers \| Leaders \| Awards \| Postseason \| Box Scores \| Minors \| Draft SportingNews.com \| Stat of the Day \| SR Blog \| Tutorial Videos \| All-Star \| Travel \| Bullpen Wiki \| Random
You Are Here > Baseball-Reference.com > Boxes > 1968 > HOU \| CHC > Jun 25, 1968, Cubs at Astros Box Score and Play by Play

Baseball-Reference.com-- Baseball's History: 1871-Now

BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation