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Scores
Standings
CHW
@BAL		5
1
BOS
@CLE		7
6		 
(12)
TOR
@KCR		3
8
MIL
@NYY		1
2
MIN
@OAK		3
1
CAL
@SEA		7
5
SFG
@CIN		6
7		 
(10)
ATL
@HOU		0
2
SDP
@LAD		5
6		 
(12)
MON
@PIT		5
4
PHI
@STL		2
2		 
(5)
Sunday, April 8, 1979
, Astrodome
Attendance: 16,501, Time of Game: 2:00
Braves
0
0-3
⇐ Lost 3 ⇒
6th, 3 GB
 at Astros
2
3-0
⇐ Won 3 ⇒
1st
W: Joe Niekro (1-0)
L: Rick Matula (0-1)
 
                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

Atlanta Braves

Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OPS WPA aLI WPA+ WPA- RE24 PO A
Jerry Royster 3B 4 0 2 0 0 1 .222 .444 0.035 0.89 0.076 -0.041 0.4 0 3 SB
Glenn Hubbard 2B 4 0 1 0 0 2 .167 .333 -0.064 1.08 0.035 -0.099 -0.6 1 1
Gary Matthews RF 4 0 0 0 0 0 .182 .364 -0.117 1.19 0.000 -0.117 -1.0 3 0
Jeff Burroughs LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .364 -0.087 0.82 0.000 -0.087 -0.7 1 0
Mike Lum 1B 3 0 0 0 0 0 .100 .200 -0.064 0.88 0.000 -0.064 -0.5 8 0
Dale Murphy C 3 0 1 0 0 1 .222 .522 -0.022 0.86 0.026 -0.048 -0.1 4 4
Barry Bonnell CF 3 0 1 0 0 0 .111 .311 -0.030 0.82 0.032 -0.062 -0.3 3 0 GDP
Pepe Frias SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 -0.058 1.23 0.000 -0.058 -0.5 3 1
   Bob Beall PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 -0.033 1.37 0.000 -0.033 -0.2
   Darrel Chaney SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 1 0
Rick Matula P 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 -0.042 0.81 0.000 -0.042 -0.3 0 1
   Joe Nolan PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 -0.021 0.89 0.000 -0.021 -0.1
   Gene Garber P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 0 0
Team Totals 31 0 5 0 0 7 .161 .323 -0.503 0.96 0.169 -0.672 -4.0 24 10
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

Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OPS WPA aLI WPA+ WPA- RE24 PO A
Terry Puhl RF 4 1 1 0 0 1 .455 .955 0.003 0.53 0.036 -0.032 -0.3 5 0
Craig Reynolds SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 .100 .200 -0.042 0.57 0.005 -0.048 -0.7 0 2 CS
Cesar Cedeno CF 4 1 2 1 0 1 .364 .909 0.086 0.50 0.112 -0.026 0.7 4 0 2B,CS
Jose Cruz LF 3 0 1 1 0 0 .333 .956 0.095 0.62 0.106 -0.011 1.0 0 0 2·SB
Enos Cabell 3B 3 0 0 0 0 1 .300 .700 -0.053 0.67 0.000 -0.053 -0.8 1 0
Bob Watson 1B 3 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 -0.041 0.53 0.000 -0.041 -0.6 5 0
   Rafael Landestoy 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 0 1
Art Howe 2B-1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 .100 .200 -0.032 0.45 0.000 -0.032 -0.6 5 3
Alan Ashby C 3 0 2 0 0 0 .400 1.000 0.017 0.32 0.024 -0.006 0.2 6 1
Joe Niekro P 3 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 -0.037 0.49 0.000 -0.037 -0.6 1 2
Team Totals 30 2 7 2 0 4 .233 .500 -0.004 0.53 0.283 -0.286 -1.5 27 9
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).

Atlanta Braves

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Rick Matula, L (0-1) 7 6 2 2 0 3 0 2.57 27 60 -0.007 0.57 1.1
Gene Garber 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 3 0 0 0.011 0.17 0.4
Team Totals 8 7 2 2 0 4 0 2.25 30 60 0 0 0.004 0.96 1.5

Houston Astros

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Joe Niekro, W (1-0) 9 5 0 0 0 7 0 0.00 31 84 0.505 0.96 4.0
Team Totals 9 5 0 0 0 7 0 0.00 31 84 0.505 0.53 4.0
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.

Other Info

Umpires: HP - Steve Fields, 1B - Jim Rains, 2B - Bob Schroeder, 3B - Murray Strey.
Time of Game: 2:00.
Attendance: 16,501.
Start Time Weather: In Dome.

Starting Lineups

Atlanta Braves         Houston Astros
1 Jerry Royster 3B 1 Terry Puhl RF
2 Glenn Hubbard 2B 2 Craig Reynolds SS
3 Gary Matthews RF 3 Cesar Cedeno CF
4 Jeff Burroughs LF 4 Jose Cruz LF
5 Mike Lum 1B 5 Enos Cabell 3B
6 Dale Murphy C 6 Bob Watson 1B
7 Barry Bonnell CF 7 Art Howe 2B
8 Pepe Frias SS 8 Alan Ashby C
9 Rick Matula P 9 Joe Niekro P

Win Probability Chart

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Top 5 Plays

View Pitches · wWE and wWPA Explanation
Inn Score Out RoB Pit(cnt) R/O @Bat Batter Pitcher wWPA wWE Play Description
b1 0-0 1 -2- R HOU C. Cedeno R. Matula 10% 67% Double to LF; Puhl Scores
b1 1-0 1 -2- R HOU J. Cruz R. Matula 8% 75% Single to CF; Cedeno Scores
t2 0-2 1 1-- OO ATL B. Bonnell J. Niekro 5% 76% Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
t1 0-0 0 -2- O ATL G. Hubbard J. Niekro 4% 48% Strikeout
t6 0-2 1 1-- O ATL G. Matthews J. Niekro 4% 83% Flyball: CF

Play By Play

View Pitches · Box Score Explanation · wWE and wWPA Explanation
Inn Score Out RoB Pit(cnt) R/O @Bat Batter Pitcher wWPA wWE Play Description
Top of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
t1 0-0 0 --- ATL J. Royster J. Niekro -4% 46% Single to RF
t1 0-0 0 1-- ATL G. Hubbard J. Niekro -3% 44% Royster Steals 2B
t1 0-0 0 -2- O ATL G. Hubbard J. Niekro 4% 48% Strikeout
t1 0-0 1 -2- O ATL G. Matthews J. Niekro 3% 51% Flyball: RF
t1 0-0 2 -2- O ATL J. Burroughs J. Niekro 3% 55% Strikeout Looking
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 0.
Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Braves' Rick Matula facing 1-2-3
b1 0-0 0 --- HOU T. Puhl R. Matula 4% 58% Single to CF
b1 0-0 0 1-- O HOU C. Reynolds R. Matula -2% 57% Groundout: 1B unassisted; Puhl to 2B
b1 0-0 1 -2- R HOU C. Cedeno R. Matula 10% 67% Double to LF; Puhl Scores
b1 1-0 1 -2- R HOU J. Cruz R. Matula 8% 75% Single to CF; Cedeno Scores
b1 2-0 1 1-- HOU E. Cabell R. Matula 1% 76% Cruz Steals 2B
b1 2-0 1 -2- O HOU E. Cabell R. Matula -2% 74% Groundout: 3B-1B
b1 2-0 2 -2- O HOU B. Watson R. Matula -2% 72% Flyball: LF
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
t2 0-2 0 --- O ATL M. Lum J. Niekro 2% 74% Flyball: CF
t2 0-2 1 --- ATL D. Murphy J. Niekro -3% 71% Single to RF
t2 0-2 1 1-- OO ATL B. Bonnell J. Niekro 5% 76% 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, Braves' Rick Matula facing 7-8-9
b2 2-0 0 --- O HOU A. Howe R. Matula -1% 75% Strikeout
b2 2-0 1 --- HOU A. Ashby R. Matula 2% 76% Single to RF
b2 2-0 1 1-- O HOU J. Niekro R. Matula -2% 75% Groundout: C-SS/Forceout at 2B
b2 2-0 2 1-- O HOU T. Puhl R. Matula -1% 73% Flyball: CF
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
t3 0-2 0 --- O ATL P. Frias J. Niekro 2% 75% Flyball: RF
t3 0-2 1 --- O ATL R. Matula J. Niekro 2% 77% Groundout: 1B unassisted
t3 0-2 2 --- ATL J. Royster J. Niekro -1% 76% Single to CF
t3 0-2 2 1-- O ATL G. Hubbard J. Niekro 2% 78% Strikeout
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Braves' Rick Matula facing 2-3-4
b3 2-0 0 --- O HOU C. Reynolds R. Matula -1% 77% Groundout: C-1B
b3 2-0 1 --- O HOU C. Cedeno R. Matula -1% 76% Strikeout
b3 2-0 2 --- HOU J. Cruz R. Matula 1% 76% Reached on E4 (Ground Ball)
b3 2-0 2 1-- HOU E. Cabell R. Matula 1% 77% Cruz Steals 2B
b3 2-0 2 -2- O HOU E. Cabell R. Matula -2% 75% Strikeout
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 4th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
t4 0-2 0 --- O ATL G. Matthews J. Niekro 3% 77% Flyball: RF
t4 0-2 1 --- O ATL J. Burroughs J. Niekro 2% 79% Flyball: RF
t4 0-2 2 --- O ATL M. Lum J. Niekro 1% 80% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Braves' Rick Matula facing 6-7-8
b4 2-0 0 --- O HOU B. Watson R. Matula -1% 79% Groundout: SS-1B
b4 2-0 1 --- O HOU A. Howe R. Matula -1% 78% Groundout: 3B-1B
b4 2-0 2 --- HOU A. Ashby R. Matula 1% 79% Single to RF
b4 2-0 2 1-- O HOU J. Niekro R. Matula -1% 77% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 5th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
t5 0-2 0 --- O ATL D. Murphy J. Niekro 3% 80% Strikeout
t5 0-2 1 --- ATL B. Bonnell J. Niekro -3% 77% Single to CF
t5 0-2 1 1-- O ATL P. Frias J. Niekro 3% 80% Groundout: P-2B/Forceout at 2B
t5 0-2 2 1-- O ATL R. Matula J. Niekro 3% 83% Groundout: P-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Braves' Rick Matula facing 1-2-3
b5 2-0 0 --- O HOU T. Puhl R. Matula -1% 82% Flyball: SS
b5 2-0 1 --- O HOU C. Reynolds R. Matula -1% 81% Flyball: RF
b5 2-0 2 --- HOU C. Cedeno R. Matula 1% 81% Single to 3B
b5 2-0 2 1-- O HOU J. Cruz R. Matula -1% 80% Cedeno Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 6th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
t6 0-2 0 --- O ATL J. Royster J. Niekro 3% 83% Strikeout (C-1B)
t6 0-2 1 --- ATL G. Hubbard J. Niekro -4% 79% Single to CF
t6 0-2 1 1-- O ATL G. Matthews J. Niekro 4% 83% Flyball: CF
t6 0-2 2 1-- O ATL J. Burroughs J. Niekro 3% 86% Strikeout
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Braves' Rick Matula facing 4-5-6
b6 2-0 0 --- O HOU J. Cruz R. Matula -1% 85% Groundout: P-1B
b6 2-0 1 --- O HOU E. Cabell R. Matula -1% 84% Groundout: 3B-1B
b6 2-0 2 --- O HOU B. Watson R. Matula -1% 84% Flyball: CF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 7th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
t7 0-2 0 --- O ATL M. Lum J. Niekro 3% 87% Flyball: CF
t7 0-2 1 --- O ATL D. Murphy J. Niekro 2% 89% Flyball: RF
t7 0-2 2 --- O ATL B. Bonnell J. Niekro 1% 90% Flyball: CF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Braves' Rick Matula facing 7-8-9
b7 2-0 0 --- O HOU A. Howe R. Matula -1% 89% Flyball: CF
b7 2-0 1 --- O HOU A. Ashby R. Matula -1% 88% Lineout: 2B
b7 2-0 2 --- O HOU J. Niekro R. Matula -0% 88% Flyball: RF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 8th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
Art Howe moves from 2B to 1B
Rafael Landestoy replaces Bob Watson (1B) playing 2B batting 6th
Bob Beall pinch hits for Pepe Frias (SS) batting 8th
t8 0-2 0 --- O ATL B. Beall J. Niekro 3% 91% Groundout: 1B-P
Joe Nolan pinch hits for Rick Matula (P) batting 9th
t8 0-2 1 --- O ATL J. Nolan J. Niekro 2% 94% Strikeout
t8 0-2 2 --- O ATL J. Royster J. Niekro 1% 95% Flyball: 1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Braves' Gene Garber facing 1-2-3
Gene Garber replaces Joe Nolan (PH) pitching and batting 9th
Darrel Chaney replaces Bob Beall (PH) playing SS batting 8th
b8 2-0 0 --- O HOU T. Puhl G. Garber -0% 94% Strikeout
b8 2-0 1 --- HOU C. Reynolds G. Garber 1% 95% Single to P
b8 2-0 1 1-- O HOU C. Cedeno G. Garber -1% 94% Reynolds Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
b8 2-0 2 --- O HOU C. Cedeno G. Garber -0% 94% Flyball: RF
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.
Top of the 9th, Braves Batting, Behind 0-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
t9 0-2 0 --- O ATL G. Hubbard J. Niekro 3% 97% Lineout: 3B
t9 0-2 1 --- O ATL G. Matthews J. Niekro 2% 99% Groundout: SS-1B
t9 0-2 2 --- O ATL J. Burroughs J. Niekro 1% 100% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Astros 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197904080
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Play-by-Play Explanation

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  • wWPA- Winning Team's Win Probability Added. The amount that this play increased or decreased the eventual winning team's probability of winning the game. More About Win Probability Added
  • wWE- Winning Team's Win Expectancy. The probability of the eventual winning team winning the game prior to this play given two average teams playing each other. More About Win Probability Added
  • 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.

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