April 9, 1979 Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play

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DET 7
@KCR 3 SEA 5
OAK 2 CIN 9
@ATL 4 LAD 2
@HOU 1

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 12,116

Monday, April 9, 1979
Time of Game: 2:28

Dodgers

4-1

Won 4

1st

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

W: B Welch (1-0), L: V Ruhle (0-1), S: J Reuss (1)

Astros

3-1

Lost 1

2nd, ½ GB

BATTING

Los Angeles Dodgers          AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Lopes 2B                    4   0   0   0    0   1  .222  .917    0    2   2   
B Russell SS                  4   1   2   1    0   0  .524 1.307    0    1   5   HR
R Smith RF                    3   0   0   0    0   2  .167  .707    0    1   0   HBP
S Garvey 1B                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .381  .857    0   15   0   
R Cey 3B                      3   0   0   0    1   1  .235  .821    0    0   2   SB
D Baker LF                    4   1   1   0    0   2  .211  .602    0    2   0   2B
R Monday CF                   3   0   1   0    0   0  .333  .733    0    4   0   
  D Thomas PR-CF              1   0   0   0    0   0  .111  .222    0    0   0   SB
J Ferguson C                  3   0   1   1    1   0  .273  .974    0    2   0   IW
  T Martinez PR               0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  S Yeager C                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
B Welch P                     0   0   0   0    0   0                0    0   1   HBP,SH
  J Reuss P                   2   0   0   0    0   2  .000  .000    0    0   3   
Totals                       31   2   5   2    2   9                    27  13

BATTING

2B: D Baker (2, off V Ruhle).

HR: B Russell (1, off V Ruhle; 6th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to LF).

SH: B Welch (1, off V Ruhle).

IBB: J Ferguson (1, by J Andujar).

HBP: B Welch (1, by V Ruhle); R Smith (2, by V Ruhle).

TB: B Russell 5; D Baker 2; R Monday; J Ferguson.

RBI: B Russell (5); J Ferguson (5).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 1 for 8.

BASERUNNING

SB: D Thomas (1, 2nd base off V Ruhle/A Ashby); R Cey (2, 2nd base off J Andujar/A Ashby).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl RF                     4   0   0   0    0   0  .333  .708    0    0   0   
C Reynolds SS                 4   0   0   0    0   0  .071  .142    0    0   0   
C Cedeno CF                   4   0   1   0    0   0  .333  .800    0    2   0   
J Cruz LF                     3   0   0   0    0   1  .250  .725    0    2   0   
  J Gonzalez PH               0   0   0   0    0   0                0    0   0   SH
E Cabell 3B                   3   1   1   0    1   0  .308  .742    0    3   5   
B Watson 1B                   3   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    7   1   SH
A Howe 2B                     3   0   1   0    0   0  .154  .308    0    3   2   
A Ashby C                     3   0   1   1    0   0  .385  .923    0    9   2   
V Ruhle P                     0   0   0   0    1   0                0    1   1   SH
  J Alou PH                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  J Andujar P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
Totals                       28   1   4   1    2   2                    27  11

BATTING

SH: B Watson (1, off J Reuss); J Gonzalez (1, off J Reuss); V Ruhle (1, off B Welch).

TB: A Ashby; A Howe; C Cedeno; E Cabell.

RBI: A Ashby (4).

Team LOB: 5.

With RISP: 0 for 7.

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 Welch, W (1-0)               5     3   1   1    1   2   0   1.80   19     -       ·  ·      4· 7· 2· 3     58    -     1.17   0.10
J Reuss, S (1)                 4     1   0   0    1   0   0   0.00   14     -       ·  ·     11· 1· 0· 1          0-0    2.74   0.50
Totals                         9     4   1   1    2   2   0          33     -       ·  ·     15· 8· 2· 4           -

Houston Astros                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
V Ruhle, L (0-1)               8     5   2   2    0   8   1   2.25   31     -       ·  ·      9· 6· 1· 5     72    -     0.99   0.06
J Andujar                      1     0   0   0    2   1   0   0.00    5     -       ·  ·      2· 0· 0· 0          0-0    1.01   0.03
Totals                         9     5   2   2    2   9   1          36     -       ·  ·     11· 6· 1· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: J Andujar (1; J Ferguson).

HBP: V Ruhle 2 (2; R Smith, B Welch).

OTHER

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

Time of Game: 2:28.

Attendance: 12,116.

Weather: In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Los Angeles Dodgers           Houston Astros                       
1. D Lopes              2B    1. T Puhl               RF 
2. B Russell            SS    2. C Reynolds           SS 
3. R Smith              RF    3. C Cedeno             CF 
4. S Garvey             1B    4. J Cruz               LF 
5. R Cey                3B    5. E Cabell             3B 
6. D Baker              LF    6. B Watson             1B 
7. R Monday             CF    7. A Howe               2B 
8. J Ferguson           C     8. A Ashby              C  
9. B Welch              P     9. V Ruhle              P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 6   0  1-1  ---      18%  68% B Russell       V Ruhle         Home Run
   b 9   2  2-1  -2-      13% 100% B Watson        J Reuss         Groundout: SS-1B
   b 9   0  2-1  ---     -13%  69% C Cedeno        J Reuss         Single to LF
   b 9   1  2-1  -2-      13%  87% E Cabell        J Reuss         Flyball: SS
   t 5   1  0-0  -2-      13%  66% J Ferguson      V Ruhle         Single to CF; Baker Scores

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Ruhle facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      48%  D Lopes         Flyball: LF
   O      ---      46%  B Russell       Flyball: CF
          ---      48%  R Smith         Hit By Pitch
   O      1--      45%  S Garvey        Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Welch facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      48%  T Puhl          Flyball: CF
   O      ---      49%  C Reynolds      Flyball: 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, Vern Ruhle facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      48%  R Cey           Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      46%  D Baker         Strikeout
   O      ---      45%  R Monday        Flyball: 3B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Welch facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      47%  J Cruz          Lineout: CF
   O      ---      49%  E Cabell        Lineout: 1B
   O      ---      50%  B Watson        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Ruhle facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      48%  J Ferguson      Foul Flyball: 3B
          ---      50%  B Welch         Hit By Pitch
   O      1--      47%  D Lopes         Strikeout
   O      1--      45%  B Russell       Groundout: C-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Welch facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      47%  A Howe          Flyball: LF
          ---      44%  A Ashby         Single to LF
   O      1--      46%  V Ruhle         Bunt Groundout: 1B unassisted/Sacrifice; Ashby to 2B
   O      -2-      50%  T Puhl          Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Ruhle facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      47%  R Smith         Strikeout
   O      ---      46%  S Garvey        Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      44%  R Cey           Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Welch facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      47%  C Reynolds      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      49%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      50%  J Cruz          Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 5th, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Ruhle facing 6-7-8
          ---      59%  D Baker         Double to LF
   O      -2-      53%  R Monday        Groundout: 2B-1B
   R      -2-      66%  J Ferguson      Single to CF; Baker Scores
   O      1--      64%  B Welch         Bunt Groundout: C-2B/Sacrifice; Ferguson to 2B
   O      -2-      60%  D Lopes         Groundout: 3B-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 1, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Bob Welch facing 5-6-7
          ---      55%  E Cabell        Single to 3B
   O      1--      60%  B Watson        Flyball: CF
          1--      50%  A Howe          Single to RF; Cabell to 3B
   RO     1-3      45%  A Ashby         Groundout: 1B unassisted; Cabell Scores; Howe to 2B
          -2-      44%  V Ruhle         Walk
   O      12-      50%  T Puhl          Groundout: P-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Dodgers 1, Astros 1.

Top of the 6th, Dodgers Batting, Tied 1-1, Vern Ruhle facing 2-3-4
   R      ---      68%  B Russell       Home Run
   O      ---      65%  R Smith         Strikeout
   O      ---      64%  S Garvey        Strikeout
   O      ---      63%  R Cey           Lineout: CF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Jerry Reuss facing 2-3-4
                  Jerry Reuss replaces Bob Welch pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      67%  C Reynolds      Groundout: P-SS-1B
   O      ---      69%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      71%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Top of the 7th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 2-1, Vern Ruhle facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      69%  D Baker         Strikeout
          ---      71%  R Monday        Single to CF
                  Derrel Thomas pinch runs for Rick Monday batting 7th
          1--      73%  J Ferguson      Thomas Steals 2B
   O      -2-      70%  " "             Groundout: 1B-P
   O      -2-      66%  J Reuss         Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Jerry Reuss facing 5-6-7
                  Derrel Thomas moves to CF
          ---      58%  E Cabell        Walk
   O      1--      62%  B Watson        Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Cabell to 2B
   O      -2-      69%  A Howe          Groundout: SS-1B
   O      -2-      76%  A Ashby         Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Top of the 8th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 2-1, Vern Ruhle facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      74%  D Lopes         Flyball: 3B
          ---      77%  B Russell       Single to CF
   O      1--      74%  R Smith         Flyball: LF
   O      1--      72%  S Garvey        Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Jerry Reuss facing 9-1-2
                  Jesus Alou pinch hits for Vern Ruhle batting 9th
   O      ---      78%  J Alou          Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      82%  T Puhl          Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      85%  C Reynolds      Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Top of the 9th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 2-1, Joaquin Andujar facing 5-6-7
                  Joaquin Andujar replaces Jesus Alou pitching and batting 9th
          ---      87%  R Cey           Walk
          1--      89%  D Baker         Cey Steals 2B
   O      -2-      87%  " "             Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      -2-      84%  D Thomas        Groundout: 2B-1B
          -2-      85%  J Ferguson      Intentional Walk
                  Ted Martinez pinch runs for Joe Ferguson batting 8th
   O      12-      82%  J Reuss         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Jerry Reuss facing 3-4-5
                  Steve Yeager replaces Ted Martinez playing C batting 8th
          ---      69%  C Cedeno        Single to LF
                  Julio Gonzalez pinch hits for Jose Cruz batting 4th
   O      1--      74%  J Gonzalez      Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Cedeno to 2B
   O      -2-      87%  E Cabell        Flyball: SS
   O      -2-     100%  B Watson        Groundout: SS-1B
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Dodgers 2, Astros 1.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197904090

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