September 21, 1977 Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play

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BAL 4
TOR 0 BOS 3
NYY 2 TEX 9
@CAL 1 OAK 8
@CHW 6 KCR 10
MIN 5 SEA 11
@MIL 4 ATL 5
@HOU 3 MON 4
STL 2 STL 8
@MON 2 PIT 4
@NYM 0 CHC 2
@PHI 0 CIN 3
@SDP 2 SFG 5
LAD 4

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 6,282

Wednesday, September 21, 1977
Time of Game: 2:38

Braves

58-94

Won 1

6th, 34 GB

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

W: P Niekro (16-18), L: J Andujar (11-7)

Astros

76-75

Lost 1

3rd, 15½ GB

BATTING

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
J Royster 2B-3B               5   1   2   0    0   2  .217  .563    0    4   0   SB
R Office CF                   4   0   1   1    0   1  .246  .606    0    3   0   SF
J Burroughs RF                4   1   1   1    1   3  .277  .900    0    0   0   2B
  R Gilbreath 2B              0   0   0   0    0   0  .244  .673         0   1   
W Montanez 1B                 4   0   2   1    1   1  .281  .778    0    6   0   IW
G Matthews LF                 5   0   1   1    0   2  .284  .787    0    2   1   
D Murphy C                    5   0   0   0    0   0  .297  .919    0    9   2   
B Bonnell 3B-RF               4   1   2   0    1   1  .294  .697    0    1   2   SB
P Rockett SS                  5   2   2   0    0   1  .267  .659    0    2   3   2B
P Niekro P                    2   0   1   0    0   0  .171  .359    0    0   0   2·SH
Totals                       38   5  12   4    3  11                    27   9

BATTING

2B: P Rockett (10, off J Andujar); J Burroughs (18, off J Andujar).

SF: R Office (3, off J Andujar).

SH: P Niekro 2 (12, 2 off J Andujar).

IBB: W Montanez (3, by J Andujar).

TB: P Rockett 3; B Bonnell 2; J Burroughs 2; J Royster 2; W Montanez 2; R Office; G Matthews; P Niekro.

RBI: W Montanez (63); R Office (39); G Matthews (58); J Burroughs (113).

2-out RBI: W Montanez; J Burroughs.

Team LOB: 12.

With RISP: 3 for 17.

FIELDING

E: B Bonnell (7); D Murphy (3).

BASERUNNING

SB: B Bonnell (7, 2nd base off R Thomas/E Herrmann); J Royster (26, 2nd base off J Andujar/E Herrmann).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl LF                     5   0   1   0    0   1  .303  .790    0    0   0   
E Cabell 3B-1B                3   1   1   0    1   1  .283  .764    0    2   0   SB
C Cedeno CF                   4   1   1   0    0   0  .269  .791    0    2   0   SB
J Cruz RF                     4   0   2   1    0   0  .296  .830    0    2   0   SB
B Watson 1B                   3   0   1   0    1   0  .290  .858    0    5   0   2B,SB
  J Gonzalez PR-2B            0   0   0   0    0   0  .252  .617         1   1   
A Howe 2B-3B                  4   0   0   1    0   2  .254  .737    0    3   1   
E Herrmann C                  4   0   1   0    0   2  .285  .711    0   11   0   
R Metzger SS                  3   1   1   0    0   0  .187  .548    0    1   4   3B,SB
  L Roberts PH                1   0   0   0    0   1  .091  .221    0    0   0   
J Andujar P                   2   0   0   0    0   2  .196  .461    0    0   0   
  B McLaughlin P              0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .111         0   0   
  A Gardner PH                1   0   0   0    0   1  .154  .357    0    0   0   
  R Thomas P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  J Sambito P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .154  .308         0   0   
  D Walton PH                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .333  .666    0    0   0   
Totals                       35   3   8   2    2  10                    27   6

BATTING

2B: B Watson (37, off P Niekro).

3B: R Metzger (6, off P Niekro).

TB: R Metzger 3; J Cruz 2; B Watson 2; T Puhl; E Herrmann; C Cedeno; E Cabell.

RBI: A Howe (56); J Cruz (84).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 2 for 10.

FIELDING

DP: 1. J Gonzalez-E Cabell.

E: E Cabell 2 (23); J Andujar (8).

BASERUNNING

SB: B Watson (5, 2nd base off P Niekro/D Murphy); R Metzger (2, 2nd base off P Niekro/D Murphy); E Cabell (42, 2nd base off P Niekro/D Murphy); C Cedeno (55, 2nd base off P Niekro/D Murphy); J Cruz (43, 2nd base off P Niekro/D Murphy).

PITCHING

Atlanta Braves                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
P Niekro, W (16-18)            9     8   3   3    2  10   0   3.95   37     -       ·  ·      8·10· 0· 7     67    -     1.31   0.22
Totals                         9     8   3   3    2  10   0          37     -       ·  ·      8·10· 0· 7           -

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 Andujar, L (11-7)            5.2   9   5   2    2   6   0   3.29   31     -       ·  ·     10· 4· 0· 9     41    -     1.45  -0.40
B McLaughlin                   0.1   0   0   0    0   1   0   4.20    1     -       ·  ·      0· 0· 0· 0          3-0    2.17   0.05
R Thomas                       1.1   2   0   0    1   2   0   0.00    7     -       ·  ·      0· 2· 0· 2          0-0    0.77   0.01
J Sambito                      1.2   1   0   0    0   2   0   2.22    5     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 1· 1          2-0    0.64   0.05
Totals                         9    12   5   2    3  11   0          44     -       ·  ·     10· 7· 1·12          5-0

Balks: None.

WP: P Niekro (17).

IBB: J Andujar (3; W Montanez).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Paul Pryor, 1B - Jim Quick, 2B - Jerry Crawford, 3B - Ed Sudol.

Time of Game: 2:38.

Attendance: 6,282.

Weather: In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Atlanta Braves                Houston Astros                       
1. J Royster            2B    1. T Puhl               LF 
2. R Office             CF    2. E Cabell             3B 
3. J Burroughs          RF    3. C Cedeno             CF 
4. W Montanez           1B    4. J Cruz               RF 
5. G Matthews           LF    5. B Watson             1B 
6. D Murphy             C     6. A Howe               2B 
7. B Bonnell            3B    7. E Herrmann           C  
8. P Rockett            SS    8. R Metzger            SS 
9. P Niekro             P     9. J Andujar            P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 6   2  3-4  1-3      13%  81% J Burroughs     J Andujar       Double; Rockett Scores/unER; Niekro to 3B
   t 4   2  3-2  --3      12%  47% R Office        J Andujar       Reached on E1 (Ground Ball); Rockett Scores/No RBI/unER; Office to 1B
   t 3   1  3-1  12-      11%  43% G Matthews      J Andujar       Single; Burroughs Scores; Montanez to 2B
   t 6   0  3-3  12-      10%  74% P Niekro        J Andujar       Fielder's Choice /Sacrifice Bunt; Bonnell to 3B; Rockett to 2B; Niekro to 1B
   t 1   2  0-0  -2-      10%  59% W Montanez      J Andujar       Single; Royster Scores

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Joaquin Andujar facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---      54%  J Royster       Single
          1--      56%  R Office        Royster Steals 2B
   O      -2-      52%  " "             Flyball: SS
   O      -2-      49%  J Burroughs     Strikeout
   R      -2-      59%  W Montanez      Single; Royster Scores
   O      1--      56%  G Matthews      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 1, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Phil Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      53%  T Puhl          Single
   O      1--      56%  E Cabell        Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
          1--      49%  C Cedeno        Single; Cabell to 3B
          1-3      47%  J Cruz          Cedeno Steals 2B
   R      -23      38%  " "             Single; Cabell Scores; Cedeno to 3B
          1-3      37%  B Watson        Cruz Steals 2B
          -23      35%  " "             Walk
   RO     123      35%  A Howe          Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B; Cedeno Scores; Cruz to 3B
   O      1-3      39%  E Herrmann      Strikeout
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 1, Astros 2.

Top of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Behind 1-2, Joaquin Andujar facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      36%  D Murphy        Flyball: 2B
          ---      39%  B Bonnell       Single
   O      1--      36%  P Rockett       Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
          1--      38%  P Niekro        Single; Rockett to 2B
   O      12-      34%  J Royster       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 1, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-1, Phil Niekro facing 8-9-1
          ---      25%  R Metzger       Triple
   R      --3      24%  J Andujar       Wild Pitch; Metzger Scores
   O      ---      25%  " "             Strikeout
   O      ---      26%  T Puhl          Flyball: CF
          ---      25%  E Cabell        Walk
   O      1--      27%  C Cedeno        Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 1, Astros 3.

Top of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Behind 1-3, Joaquin Andujar facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      25%  R Office        Strikeout
          ---      27%  J Burroughs     Walk
          1--      32%  W Montanez      Single; Burroughs to 2B
   R      12-      43%  G Matthews      Single; Burroughs Scores; Montanez to 2B
   O      12-      39%  D Murphy        Groundout: 3B unassisted/Forceout at 3B; Matthews to 3B/Adv on E5; Murphy to 2B
   O      -23      32%  B Bonnell       Strikeout
                  1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-2, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      34%  J Cruz          Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      36%  B Watson        Flyball: CF
   O      ---      36%  A Howe          Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 3.

Top of the 4th, Braves Batting, Behind 2-3, Joaquin Andujar facing 8-9-1
          ---      44%  P Rockett       Double
   O      -2-      43%  P Niekro        Bunt Groundout: 1B unassisted/Sacrifice; Rockett to 3B
   O      --3      35%  J Royster       Groundout: SS-1B
   R      --3      47%  R Office        Reached on E1 (Ground Ball); Rockett Scores/No RBI/unER; Office to 1B
   O      1--      44%  J Burroughs     Strikeout
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Braves 3, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 3-3, Phil Niekro facing 7-8-9
          ---      40%  E Herrmann      Single
   O      1--      44%  R Metzger       Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--      47%  J Andujar       Strikeout (foul bunt)
          1--      45%  T Puhl          Metzger Steals 2B; Metzger to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
   O      --3      50%  " "             Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Braves 3, Astros 3.

Top of the 5th, Braves Batting, Tied 3-3, Joaquin Andujar facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      47%  W Montanez      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      45%  G Matthews      Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      44%  D Murphy        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 3, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Tied 3-3, Phil Niekro facing 2-3-4
          ---      39%  E Cabell        Single
          1--      35%  C Cedeno        Cabell Steals 2B
   O      -2-      41%  " "             Flyball: 3B
   O      -2-      45%  J Cruz          Single to LF; Cabell out at Hm/LF-C; Cruz to 2B/Adv on throw to Hm
          -2-      43%  B Watson        Reached on E5 (Ground Ball); Cruz to 3B; Watson to 1B
          1-3      42%  A Howe          Watson Steals 2B
   O      -23      50%  " "             Strikeout
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Braves 3, Astros 3.

Top of the 6th, Braves Batting, Tied 3-3, Joaquin Andujar facing 7-8-9
          ---      55%  B Bonnell       Reached on E5 (Ground Ball); Bonnell to 1B
          1--      63%  P Rockett       Single; Bonnell to 2B
          12-      74%  P Niekro        Fielder's Choice /Sacrifice Bunt; Bonnell to 3B; Rockett to 2B; Niekro to 1B
   O      123      65%  J Royster       Strikeout
   RO     123      68%  R Office        Flyball: RF/Sacrifice Fly; Bonnell Scores/unER; Rockett to 3B
   R      1-3      81%  J Burroughs     Double; Rockett Scores/unER; Niekro to 3B
          -23      81%  W Montanez      Intentional Walk
                  Bo McLaughlin replaces Joaquin Andujar pitching and batting 9th
   O      123      77%  G Matthews      Strikeout
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 3-5, Phil Niekro facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      80%  E Herrmann      Strikeout
   O      ---      82%  R Metzger       Flyball: CF
                  Art Gardner pinch hits for Bo McLaughlin batting 9th
   O      ---      83%  A Gardner       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Top of the 7th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-3, Roy Thomas facing 6-7-8
                  Roy Thomas replaces Art Gardner pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      82%  D Murphy        Flyball: CF
          ---      84%  B Bonnell       Walk
          1--      85%  P Rockett       Bonnell Steals 2B
   O      -2-      83%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      81%  P Niekro        Flyball: 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 3-5, Phil Niekro facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      84%  T Puhl          Flyball: 2B
   O      ---      86%  E Cabell        Strikeout
   O      ---      88%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Top of the 8th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-3, Roy Thomas facing 1-2-3
          ---      90%  J Royster       Single
          1--      92%  R Office        Single; Royster to 2B
   O      12-      90%  J Burroughs     Strikeout
                  Joe Sambito replaces Roy Thomas pitching and batting 9th
   O      12-      88%  W Montanez      Strikeout
   O      12-      86%  G Matthews      Strikeout
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 3-5, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      90%  J Cruz          Flyball: SS
          ---      83%  B Watson        Double to CF
                  Julio Gonzalez pinch runs for Bob Watson batting 5th
   O      -2-      89%  A Howe          Strikeout
   O      -2-      94%  E Herrmann      Flyball: SS
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Top of the 9th, Braves Batting, Ahead 5-3, Joe Sambito facing 6-7-8
                  Enos Cabell moves to 1B; Julio Gonzalez moves to 2B; Art Howe moves to 3B
   O      ---      93%  D Murphy        Flyball: RF
          ---      94%  B Bonnell       Single
   OO     1--      92%  P Rockett       Line Drive Double Play: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 3-5, Phil Niekro facing 8-9-1
                  Rod Gilbreath replaces Jeff Burroughs playing 2B batting 3rd; Jerry Royster moves to 3B; Barry Bonnell moves to RF; Leon Roberts pinch hits for Roger Metzger batting 8th
   O      ---      96%  L Roberts       Strikeout
                  Danny Walton pinch hits for Joe Sambito batting 9th
   O      ---      99%  D Walton        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---     100%  T Puhl          Strikeout
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 5, Astros 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197709210

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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BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation