September 3, 1976 Los Angeles Dodgers 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

NYY 3
@BAL 1 OAK 3
@CAL 0 BOS 5
@CLE 3 MIL 11
@DET 2 TEX 4
@KCR 1 MIN 11
CHW 1 CIN 10
@ATL 5 CHC 8
STL 5 LAD 4
@HOU 3 PIT 9
@MON 7 PIT 7
@MON 2 NYM 1
PHI 0 SFG 7
SDP 3

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 9,028

Friday, September 3, 1976
Time of Game: 2:15

Dodgers

77-56

Won 5

2nd, 7 GB

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

W: B Hooton (9-12), L: L Dierker (13-13), S: C Hough (14)

Astros

68-69

Lost 1

3rd, 18 GB

BATTING

Los Angeles Dodgers          AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
B Buckner LF                  5   1   1   0    0   0  .306  .724    0    4   0   SB
T Sizemore 2B                 4   0   0   0    0   2  .245  .558    0    0   2   
R Smith RF                    4   0   1   0    0   1  .248  .745    0    3   0   
S Garvey 1B                   3   1   1   0    1   0  .302  .772    0   13   1   2B
R Cey 3B                      4   1   3   3    0   0  .286  .879    0    0   2   HR,2B
J Lyttle CF                   3   0   1   0    1   0  .287  .737    0    2   0   IW
B Russell SS                  4   0   0   0    0   1  .293  .693    0    2   3   
S Yeager C                    4   1   1   0    0   0  .220  .658    0    2   0   3B
B Hooton P                    3   0   1   1    0   1  .115  .310    0    1   1   
  C Hough P                   1   0   0   0    0   1  .263  .631    0    0   0   
Totals                       35   4   9   4    2   6                    27   9

BATTING

2B: S Garvey (31, off L Dierker); R Cey (16, off L Dierker).

3B: S Yeager (3, off L Dierker).

HR: R Cey (22, off L Dierker; 4th inn, 1 on, 1 out to LF).

IBB: J Lyttle (5, by K Forsch).

TB: R Cey 7; S Yeager 3; S Garvey 2; J Lyttle; R Smith; B Hooton; B Buckner.

RBI: R Cey 3 (72); B Hooton (3).

2-out RBI: R Cey.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 3 for 12.

FIELDING

DP: 1. T Sizemore-B Russell-S Garvey.

BASERUNNING

SB: B Buckner (22, 2nd base off G Pentz/E Herrmann).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
G Gross RF                    5   1   1   0    0   0  .296  .719    0    0   1   
E Cabell 3B                   4   1   1   0    0   1  .276  .642    0    0   4   
C Cedeno CF                   4   0   1   0    0   0  .294  .818    0    2   0   SB
B Watson 1B                   3   1   2   2    0   0  .302  .817    0    9   0   2B,SF
J Cruz LF                     3   0   1   1    1   0  .312  .796    0    5   0   SB
E Herrmann C                  4   0   0   0    0   0  .205  .579    0    6   0   
R Andrews 2B                  4   0   1   0    0   0  .261  .626    0    3   1   
R Metzger SS                  3   0   1   0    0   0  .217  .576    0    1   4   
  C Johnson PH                0   0   0   0    1   0  .222  .751    0    0   0   
  W Howard PR                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .223  .548         0   0   
L Dierker P                   2   0   1   0    0   1  .145  .335    0    1   0   
  K Boswell PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .257  .621    0    0   0   GDP
  G Pentz P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .250  .650         0   0   
  K Forsch P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .100  .282         0   0   
  L Roberts PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .284  .777    0    0   0   
Totals                       34   3   9   3    2   2                    27  10

BATTING

2B: B Watson (25, off C Hough).

SF: B Watson (7, off B Hooton).

TB: B Watson 3; J Cruz; G Gross; R Andrews; R Metzger; C Cedeno; L Dierker; E Cabell.

GIDP: K Boswell (6).

RBI: B Watson 2 (83); J Cruz (53).

2-out RBI: J Cruz; B Watson.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 2 for 7.

FIELDING

PB: E Herrmann (12).

BASERUNNING

SB: C Cedeno (45, 2nd base off B Hooton/S Yeager); J Cruz (24, 2nd base off C Hough/S Yeager).

PITCHING

Los Angeles Dodgers           IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
B Hooton, W (9-12)             6.1   6   1   1    1   1   0   3.66   26     -       ·  ·      7· 9· 2· 6     57    -     1.08   0.09
C Hough, S (14)                2.2   3   2   2    1   1   0   2.31   11     -       ·  ·      4· 2· 0· 3          2-0    2.76   0.27
Totals                         9     9   3   3    2   2   0          37     -       ·  ·     11·11· 2· 9          2-0

Houston Astros                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
L Dierker, L (13-13)           7     7   3   3    0   4   1   3.74   27     -       ·  ·     10· 5· 1· 7     55    -     0.77  -0.11
G Pentz                        0.2   2   1   1    1   1   0   3.10    5     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 0· 2          0-0    0.77  -0.06
K Forsch                       1.1   0   0   0    1   1   0   2.30    5     -       ·  ·      2· 1· 0· 0          2-0    0.64   0.04
Totals                         9     9   4   4    2   6   1          37     -       ·  ·     12· 7· 1· 9          2-0

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: K Forsch (4; J Lyttle).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Jerry Dale, 1B - Ed Sudol, 2B - Bob Engel, 3B - Bruce Froemming.

Time of Game: 2:15.

Attendance: 9,028.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Night.

LINEUPS

   Los Angeles Dodgers           Houston Astros                       
1. B Buckner            LF    1. G Gross              RF 
2. T Sizemore           2B    2. E Cabell             3B 
3. R Smith              RF    3. C Cedeno             CF 
4. S Garvey             1B    4. B Watson             1B 
5. R Cey                3B    5. J Cruz               LF 
6. J Lyttle             CF    6. E Herrmann           C  
7. B Russell            SS    7. R Andrews            2B 
8. S Yeager             C     8. R Metzger            SS 
9. B Hooton             P     9. L Dierker            P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 4   1  0-0  -2-      22%  75% R Cey           L Dierker       Home Run; Garvey Scores
   b 7   1  3-1  1-3      18%  89% K Boswell       C Hough         Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
   b 9   2  4-3  -2-      13% 100% G Gross         C Hough         Flyball: LF
   b 7   1  3-1  1--     -11%  71% R Metzger       B Hooton        Single to RF; Andrews to 3B
   b 8   2  4-2  -2-     -10%  80% J Cruz          C Hough         Single to RF; Watson Scores

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Larry Dierker facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      48%  B Buckner       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      47%  T Sizemore      Strikeout
          ---      48%  R Smith         Single to CF
   O      1--      46%  S Garvey        Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Burt Hooton facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      48%  G Gross         Flyball: LF
   O      ---      49%  E Cabell        Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      50%  C Cedeno        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Larry Dierker facing 5-6-7
          ---      57%  R Cey           Double to LF
   O      -2-      56%  J Lyttle        Groundout: P unassisted; Cey to 3B
   O      --3      49%  B Russell       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      --3      45%  S Yeager        Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Burt Hooton facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      48%  B Watson        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      49%  J Cruz          Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---      50%  E Herrmann      Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Larry Dierker facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      48%  B Hooton        Flyball: LF
   O      ---      46%  B Buckner       Lineout: LF
   O      ---      45%  T Sizemore      Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Burt Hooton facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      47%  R Andrews       Lineout: SS
   O      ---      49%  R Metzger       Groundout: 1B unassisted
          ---      48%  L Dierker       Single to LF
   O      1--      50%  G Gross         Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Larry Dierker facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      47%  R Smith         Strikeout
          ---      53%  S Garvey        Double to RF
   RR     -2-      75%  R Cey           Home Run; Garvey Scores
   O      ---      74%  J Lyttle        Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      73%  B Russell       Groundout: 3B-1B
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Burt Hooton facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      76%  E Cabell        Flyball: 1B
   O      ---      77%  C Cedeno        Foul Flyball: 1B
          ---      76%  B Watson        Single to CF
          1--      73%  J Cruz          Walk; Watson to 2B
   O      12-      78%  E Herrmann      Lineout: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 5th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 2-0, Larry Dierker facing 8-9-1
          ---      86%  S Yeager        Triple to CF
   RO     --3      86%  B Hooton        Single to RF; Yeager Scores; Hooton out at 2B/RF-SS
   O      ---      85%  B Buckner       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      85%  T Sizemore      Flyball: CF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Burt Hooton facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      87%  R Andrews       Flyball: RF
   O      ---      88%  R Metzger       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      89%  L Dierker       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 3, Astros 0.

Top of the 6th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 3-0, Larry Dierker facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      88%  R Smith         Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      88%  S Garvey        Flyball: 2B
   O      ---      88%  R Cey           Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Burt Hooton facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      90%  G Gross         Flyball: CF
          ---      87%  E Cabell        Single to LF
          1--      80%  C Cedeno        Single to RF; Cabell to 3B
          1-3      77%  B Watson        Cedeno Steals 2B
   RO     -23      81%  " "             Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly; Cabell Scores
   O      -2-      85%  J Cruz          Flyball: 1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 3, Astros 1.

Top of the 7th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 3-1, Larry Dierker facing 6-7-8
          ---      87%  J Lyttle        Single to CF
          1--      88%  B Russell       Passed Ball; Lyttle to 2B
   O      -2-      86%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      84%  S Yeager        Flyball: CF
   O      -2-      82%  B Hooton        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 3, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Burt Hooton facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      86%  E Herrmann      Groundout: 1B unassisted
          ---      81%  R Andrews       Single to RF
          1--      71%  R Metzger       Single to RF; Andrews to 3B
                  Charlie Hough replaces Burt Hooton pitching and batting 9th; Ken Boswell pinch hits for Larry Dierker batting 9th
   OO     1-3      89%  K Boswell       Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 3, Astros 1.

Top of the 8th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 3-1, Gene Pentz facing 1-2-3
                  Gene Pentz replaces Ken Boswell pitching and batting 9th
          ---      90%  B Buckner       Single to CF
          1--      92%  T Sizemore      Buckner Steals 2B
   O      -2-      90%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      89%  R Smith         Flyball: LF
          -2-      89%  S Garvey        Walk
   R      12-      95%  R Cey           Single to CF; Buckner Scores; Garvey to 3B
                  Ken Forsch replaces Gene Pentz pitching and batting 9th
          1-3      95%  J Lyttle        Intentional Walk; Cey to 2B
   O      123      94%  B Russell       Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Dodgers 4, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-4, Charlie Hough facing 1-2-3
          ---      89%  G Gross         Single to CF
   O      1--      93%  E Cabell        Strikeout
   O      1--      95%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 3B-1B; Gross to 2B
   R      -2-      90%  B Watson        Double to LF; Gross Scores
   R      -2-      80%  J Cruz          Single to RF; Watson Scores
          1--      77%  E Herrmann      Cruz Steals 2B
   O      -2-      86%  " "             Groundout: SS-1B
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 4, Astros 3.

Top of the 9th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 4-3, Ken Forsch facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      85%  S Yeager        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      84%  C Hough         Strikeout
   O      ---      83%  B Buckner       Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 4, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 3-4, Charlie Hough facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      91%  R Andrews       Flyball: RF
                  Cliff Johnson pinch hits for Roger Metzger batting 8th
          ---      82%  C Johnson       Walk
                  Leon Roberts pinch hits for Ken Forsch batting 9th; Wilbur Howard pinch runs for Cliff Johnson batting 8th
   O      1--      87%  L Roberts       Groundout: 3B-1B; Howard to 2B
   O      -2-     100%  G Gross         Flyball: LF
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 4, Astros 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197609030

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 > 1976 > HOU \| LAD > Sep 3, 1976, Dodgers 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