October 1, 1978 San Francisco Giants at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score

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

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 7,077

Sunday, October 1, 1978
Time of Game: 1:41

Giants

89-73

Lost 2

3rd, 6 GB

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

W: J Niekro (14-14), L: P Nastu (0-1), S: M Lemongello (1)

Astros

74-88

Won 2

5th, 21 GB

BATTING

San Francisco Giants         AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Whitfield LF                4   0   1   0    0   2  .289  .735    0    1   0   
R Metzger SS                  4   0   1   0    0   2  .246  .577    0    0   2   
J Dwyer 1B                    3   0   0   0    1   0  .223  .691    0   14   0   
J Clark RF                    4   0   0   0    0   1  .306  .895    0    2   0   
J Tamargo C                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .224  .658    0    5   1   
H Cruz CF                     4   0   2   0    0   0  .227  .662    0    1   0   2B
T Heintzelman 3B              4   0   1   0    0   0  .229  .699    0    0   5   
R Andrews 2B                  3   0   0   0    0   0  .220  .587    0    1   4   
P Nastu P                     1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  D Evans PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .243  .764    0    0   0   
  E Plank P                   0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  M Ivie PH                   1   0   0   0    0   1  .308  .838    0    0   0   
  J Curtis P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   1   
Totals                       33   0   5   0    1   6                    24  13

BATTING

2B: H Cruz (13, off J Niekro).

TB: H Cruz 3; R Metzger; T Whitfield; T Heintzelman.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 1 for 9.

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
E Cabell 3B                   3   0   0   0    0   0  .295  .719    0    1   1   
  V Ruhle P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .056  .206         0   0   
  J Cannon LF                 1   0   1   0    0   0  .222  .444    0    2   0   
J Sexton SS-3B                4   1   2   0    0   1  .206  .571    0    0   2   3B,CS
C Cedeno CF                   3   1   1   2    0   1  .281  .786    0    4   0   HR
A Howe 1B                     3   0   0   0    0   1  .293  .779    0    6   0   
J Leonard RF                  2   1   1   0    0   0  .385  .869    0    3   0   2B
  D Walling RF                1   0   0   0    0   0  .251  .688    0    1   0   
J Alou LF                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .324  .762    0    1   0   
  M Lemongello P              0   0   0   0    0   0  .172  .409         0   0   
J Gonzalez 2B                 3   0   1   1    0   0  .233  .532    0    0   0   SB
B Bochy C                     3   0   0   0    0   1  .266  .688    0    7   0   
J Niekro P                    1   0   0   0    0   0  .138  .307    0    1   0   
  B Watson PH                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .289  .808    0    0   0   
  M Fischlin SS               1   0   0   0    0   1  .116  .293    0    1   0   
Totals                       29   3   6   3    0   5                    27   3

BATTING

2B: J Leonard (2, off P Nastu).

3B: J Sexton (2, off P Nastu).

HR: C Cedeno (7, off P Nastu; 3rd inn, 0 on, 2 outs).

TB: C Cedeno 4; J Sexton 4; J Leonard 2; J Gonzalez; J Cannon.

RBI: C Cedeno 2 (23); J Gonzalez (16).

2-out RBI: C Cedeno.

Team LOB: 2.

With RISP: 1 for 5.

FIELDING

E: A Howe (13).

BASERUNNING

SB: J Gonzalez (6, 2nd base off P Nastu/J Tamargo).

CS: J Sexton (2, 2nd base by E Plank/J Tamargo).

PITCHING

San Francisco Giants          IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
P Nastu, L (0-1)               4     4   3   3    0   3   1   5.63   16     -       ·  ·      7· 2· 0· 4     45    -     0.67  -0.19
E Plank                        2     1   0   0    0   1   0   4.05    6     -       ·  ·      4· 0· 0· 1          0-0    0.31   0.03
J Curtis                       2     1   0   0    0   1   0   3.71    7     -       ·  ·      3· 2· 0· 1          0-0    0.14   0.01
Totals                         8     6   3   3    0   5   1          29     -       ·  ·     14· 4· 0· 6           -

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 (14-14)            5     3   0   0    0   2   0   3.86   18     -       ·  ·      5· 8· 0· 3     63    -     1.04   0.22
V Ruhle, H (1)                 2     2   0   0    0   3   0   2.12    9     -       ·  ·      1· 3· 0· 2          0-0    1.57   0.08
M Lemongello, S (1)            2     0   0   0    1   1   0   3.94    7     -       ·  ·      0· 5· 0· 0          0-0    0.56   0.06
Totals                         9     5   0   0    1   6   0          34     -       ·  ·      6·16· 0· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Doug Harvey, 1B - Andy Olsen, 2B - Jim Quick, 3B - Jerry Crawford.

Time of Game: 1:41.

Attendance: 7,077.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   San Francisco Giants          Houston Astros                       
1. T Whitfield          LF    1. E Cabell             3B 
2. R Metzger            SS    2. J Sexton             SS 
3. J Dwyer              1B    3. C Cedeno             CF 
4. J Clark              RF    4. A Howe               1B 
5. J Tamargo            C     5. J Leonard            RF 
6. H Cruz               CF    6. J Alou               LF 
7. T Heintzelman        3B    7. J Gonzalez           2B 
8. R Andrews            2B    8. B Bochy              C  
9. P Nastu              P     9. J Niekro             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 3   2  0-2  ---       8%  85% C Cedeno        P Nastu         Home Run
   t 7   1  3-0  123       8%  87% R Andrews       V Ruhle         Flyball: RF
   t 7   2  3-0  123       8%  95% M Ivie          V Ruhle         Strikeout
   t 7   1  3-0  12-      -8%  79% T Heintzelman   V Ruhle         Single; Tamargo to 3B; Cruz to 2B
   b 1   1  0-0  ---       7%  60% J Sexton        P Nastu         Triple

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Giants Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  T Whitfield     Flyball: LF
   O      ---      53%  R Metzger       Strikeout
   O      ---      54%  J Dwyer         Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Philip Nastu facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  E Cabell        Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      60%  J Sexton        Triple
   RO     --3      63%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 2B-1B; Sexton Scores
   O      ---      62%  A Howe          Groundout: 3B-1B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 2nd, Giants Batting, Behind 0-1, Joe Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      64%  J Clark         Flyball: CF
   O      ---      66%  J Tamargo       Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      67%  H Cruz          Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Philip Nastu facing 5-6-7
          ---      73%  J Leonard       Double
   O      -2-      72%  J Alou          Groundout: 1B unassisted; Leonard to 3B
   R      --3      77%  J Gonzalez      Single; Leonard Scores
          1--      78%  B Bochy         Gonzalez Steals 2B
   O      -2-      76%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      74%  J Niekro        Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 3rd, Giants Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      76%  T Heintzelman   Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      78%  R Andrews       Flyball: CF
   O      ---      79%  P Nastu         Foul Flyball: 3B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Philip Nastu facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      77%  E Cabell        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      77%  J Sexton        Strikeout
   R      ---      85%  C Cedeno        Home Run
   O      ---      85%  A Howe          Strikeout
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Top of the 4th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-3, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      81%  T Whitfield     Single
          1--      74%  R Metzger       Single; Whitfield to 2B
   O      12-      80%  J Dwyer         Flyball: P
   O      12-      85%  J Clark         Strikeout
   O      12-      88%  J Tamargo       Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-0, Philip Nastu facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      88%  J Leonard       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      87%  J Alou          Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      87%  J Gonzalez      Foul Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Top of the 5th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-3, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
          ---      81%  H Cruz          Double
   O      -2-      85%  T Heintzelman   Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      -2-      88%  R Andrews       Groundout: SS-1B
                  Darrell Evans pinch hits for Philip Nastu batting 9th
   O      -2-      91%  D Evans         Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-0, Ed Plank facing 8-9-1
                  Ed Plank replaces Darrell Evans pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      90%  B Bochy         Groundout: 2B-1B
                  Bob Watson pinch hits for Joe Niekro batting 9th
   O      ---      89%  B Watson        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      89%  E Cabell        Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Top of the 6th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-3, Vern Ruhle facing 1-2-3
                  Vern Ruhle replaces Enos Cabell pitching and batting 1st; Jimmy Sexton moves to 3B; Mike Fischlin replaces Bob Watson playing SS batting 9th
   O      ---      91%  T Whitfield     Strikeout
   O      ---      92%  R Metzger       Strikeout
   O      ---      93%  J Dwyer         Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-0, Ed Plank facing 2-3-4
          ---      94%  J Sexton        Single
   O      1--      92%  C Cedeno        Sexton Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
   O      ---      92%  " "             Strikeout
   O      ---      92%  A Howe          Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Top of the 7th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-3, Vern Ruhle facing 4-5-6
                  Denny Walling replaces Jeffrey Leonard playing RF batting 5th
   O      ---      94%  J Clark         Flyball: SS
          ---      91%  J Tamargo       Reached on E3 (Ground Ball); Tamargo to 1B
          1--      87%  H Cruz          Single; Tamargo to 2B
          12-      79%  T Heintzelman   Single; Tamargo to 3B; Cruz to 2B
   O      123      87%  R Andrews       Flyball: RF
                  Mike Ivie pinch hits for Ed Plank batting 9th
   O      123      95%  M Ivie          Strikeout
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-0, John Curtis facing 5-6-7
                  John Curtis replaces Mike Ivie pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      95%  D Walling       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      95%  J Alou          Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      95%  J Gonzalez      Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Top of the 8th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-3, Mark Lemongello facing 1-2-3
                  Mark Lemongello replaces Jesus Alou pitching and batting 6th; Joe Cannon replaces Vern Ruhle playing LF batting 1st
   O      ---      96%  T Whitfield     Strikeout
   O      ---      97%  R Metzger       Flyball: CF
          ---      96%  J Dwyer         Walk
   O      1--      98%  J Clark         Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 3-0, John Curtis facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      98%  B Bochy         Flyball: RF
   O      ---      98%  M Fischlin      Strikeout
          ---      98%  J Cannon        Single
   O      1--      97%  J Sexton        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Top of the 9th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-3, Mark Lemongello facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      99%  J Tamargo       Flyball: CF
   O      ---     100%  H Cruz          Flyball: LF
   O      ---     100%  T Heintzelman   Foul Flyball: C
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197810010

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