April 8, 1979 Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play

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CHW 5
@BAL 1 BOS 7
@CLE 6
(12) KCR 8
TOR 3 NYY 2
MIL 1 MIN 3
@OAK 1 CAL 7
@SEA 5 CIN 7
SFG 6
(10) HOU 2
ATL 0 LAD 6
SDP 5
(12) MON 5
@PIT 4 PHI 2
@STL 2
(5)

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 16,501

Sunday, April 8, 1979
Time of Game: 2:00

Braves

0-3

Lost 3

6th, 3 GB

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

W: J Niekro (1-0), L: R Matula (0-1)

Astros

3-0

Won 3

1st

BATTING

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
J Royster 3B                  4   0   2   0    0   1  .222  .444    0    0   3   SB
G Hubbard 2B                  4   0   1   0    0   2  .167  .334    0    1   1   
G Matthews RF                 4   0   0   0    0   0  .182  .364    0    3   0   
J Burroughs LF                4   0   0   0    0   2  .000  .364    0    1   0   
M Lum 1B                      3   0   0   0    0   0  .100  .200    0    8   0   
D Murphy C                    3   0   1   0    0   1  .222  .522    0    4   4   
B Bonnell CF                  3   0   1   0    0   0  .111  .311    0    3   0   GDP
P Frias SS                    2   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    3   1   
  B Beall PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  D Chaney SS                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     1   0   
R Matula P                    2   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   1   
  J Nolan PH                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  G Garber P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
Totals                       31   0   5   0    0   7                    24  10

BATTING

TB: J Royster 2; G Hubbard; D Murphy; B Bonnell.

GIDP: B Bonnell (1).

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 0 for 3.

FIELDING

E: G Hubbard (1).

BASERUNNING

SB: J Royster (1, 2nd base off J Niekro/A Ashby).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl RF                     4   1   1   0    0   1  .455  .955    0    5   0   
C Reynolds SS                 4   0   1   0    0   0  .100  .200    0    0   2   CS
C Cedeno CF                   4   1   2   1    0   1  .364  .909    0    4   0   2B,CS
J Cruz LF                     3   0   1   1    0   0  .333  .956    0    0   0   2·SB
E Cabell 3B                   3   0   0   0    0   1  .300  .700    0    1   0   
B Watson 1B                   3   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    5   0   
  R Landestoy 2B              0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
A Howe 2B-1B                  3   0   0   0    0   1  .100  .200    0    5   3   
A Ashby C                     3   0   2   0    0   0  .400 1.000    0    6   1   
J Niekro P                    3   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    1   2   
Totals                       30   2   7   2    0   4                    27   9

BATTING

2B: C Cedeno (2, off R Matula).

TB: C Cedeno 3; A Ashby 2; J Cruz; T Puhl; C Reynolds.

RBI: C Cedeno (2); J Cruz (1).

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 2 for 5.

FIELDING

DP: 1. C Reynolds-A Howe-B Watson.

BASERUNNING

SB: J Cruz 2 (3, 2nd base off R Matula/D Murphy 2).

CS: C Cedeno (1, 2nd base by R Matula/D Murphy); C Reynolds (1, 2nd base by G Garber/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
R Matula, L (0-1)              7     6   2   2    0   3   0   2.57   27     -       ·  ·     10· 7· 1· 6     60    -     0.63  -0.01
G Garber                       1     1   0   0    0   1   0   0.00    3     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 0· 1          0-0    0.25   0.01
Totals                         8     7   2   2    0   4   0          30     -       ·  ·     10· 8· 1· 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 Niekro, W (1-0)              9     5   0   0    0   7   0   0.00   31     -       ·  ·      8·10· 1· 5     84    -     1.00   0.51
Totals                         9     5   0   0    0   7   0          31     -       ·  ·      8·10· 1· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Steve Fields, 1B - Jim Rains, 2B - Bob Schroeder, 3B - Murray Strey.

Time of Game: 2:00.

Attendance: 16,501.

Weather: In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Atlanta Braves                Houston Astros                       
1. J Royster            3B    1. T Puhl               RF 
2. G Hubbard            2B    2. C Reynolds           SS 
3. G Matthews           RF    3. C Cedeno             CF 
4. J Burroughs          LF    4. J Cruz               LF 
5. M Lum                1B    5. E Cabell             3B 
6. D Murphy             C     6. B Watson             1B 
7. B Bonnell            CF    7. A Howe               2B 
8. P Frias              SS    8. A Ashby              C  
9. R Matula             P     9. J Niekro             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 1   1  0-0  -2-      10%  67% C Cedeno        R Matula        Double to LF; Puhl Scores
   b 1   1  0-1  -2-       8%  75% J Cruz          R Matula        Single to CF; Cedeno Scores
   t 2   1  2-0  1--       5%  76% B Bonnell       J Niekro        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   t 1   0  0-0  -2-       4%  48% G Hubbard       J Niekro        Strikeout
   t 6   1  2-0  1--       4%  83% G Matthews      J Niekro        Flyball: CF

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---      46%  J Royster       Single to RF
          1--      44%  G Hubbard       Royster Steals 2B
   O      -2-      48%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      51%  G Matthews      Flyball: RF
   O      -2-      55%  J Burroughs     Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Rick Matula facing 1-2-3
          ---      58%  T Puhl          Single to CF
   O      1--      57%  C Reynolds      Groundout: 1B unassisted; Puhl to 2B
   R      -2-      67%  C Cedeno        Double to LF; Puhl Scores
   R      -2-      75%  J Cruz          Single to CF; Cedeno Scores
          1--      76%  E Cabell        Cruz Steals 2B
   O      -2-      74%  " "             Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      -2-      72%  B Watson        Flyball: LF
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      74%  M Lum           Flyball: CF
          ---      71%  D Murphy        Single to RF
   OO     1--      76%  B Bonnell       Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Rick Matula facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      75%  A Howe          Strikeout
          ---      76%  A Ashby         Single to RF
   O      1--      75%  J Niekro        Groundout: C-SS/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--      73%  T Puhl          Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      75%  P Frias         Flyball: RF
   O      ---      77%  R Matula        Groundout: 1B unassisted
          ---      76%  J Royster       Single to CF
   O      1--      78%  G Hubbard       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Rick Matula facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      77%  C Reynolds      Groundout: C-1B
   O      ---      76%  C Cedeno        Strikeout
          ---      76%  J Cruz          Reached on E4 (Ground Ball)
          1--      77%  E Cabell        Cruz Steals 2B
   O      -2-      75%  " "             Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 4th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      77%  G Matthews      Flyball: RF
   O      ---      79%  J Burroughs     Flyball: RF
   O      ---      80%  M Lum           Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Rick Matula facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      79%  B Watson        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      78%  A Howe          Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      79%  A Ashby         Single to RF
   O      1--      77%  J Niekro        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 5th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      80%  D Murphy        Strikeout
          ---      77%  B Bonnell       Single to CF
   O      1--      80%  P Frias         Groundout: P-2B/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--      83%  R Matula        Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Rick Matula facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      82%  T Puhl          Flyball: SS
   O      ---      81%  C Reynolds      Flyball: RF
          ---      81%  C Cedeno        Single to 3B
   O      1--      80%  J Cruz          Cedeno Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 6th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      83%  J Royster       Strikeout
          ---      79%  G Hubbard       Single to CF
   O      1--      83%  G Matthews      Flyball: CF
   O      1--      86%  J Burroughs     Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Rick Matula facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      85%  J Cruz          Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      84%  E Cabell        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      84%  B Watson        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 7th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      87%  M Lum           Flyball: CF
   O      ---      89%  D Murphy        Flyball: RF
   O      ---      90%  B Bonnell       Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Rick Matula facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      89%  A Howe          Flyball: CF
   O      ---      88%  A Ashby         Lineout: 2B
   O      ---      88%  J Niekro        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 8th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
                  Art Howe moves to 1B; Rafael Landestoy replaces Bob Watson playing 2B batting 6th; Bob Beall pinch hits for Pepe Frias batting 8th
   O      ---      91%  B Beall         Groundout: 1B-P
                  Joe Nolan pinch hits for Rick Matula batting 9th
   O      ---      94%  J Nolan         Strikeout
   O      ---      95%  J Royster       Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Gene Garber facing 1-2-3
                  Gene Garber replaces Joe Nolan pitching and batting 9th; Darrel Chaney replaces Bob Beall playing SS batting 8th
   O      ---      94%  T Puhl          Strikeout
          ---      95%  C Reynolds      Single to P
   O      1--      94%  C Cedeno        Reynolds Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
   O      ---      94%  " "             Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 9th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      97%  G Hubbard       Lineout: 3B
   O      ---      99%  G Matthews      Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---     100%  J Burroughs     Groundout: 2B-1B
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197904080

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