May 12, 1979 Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play

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BAL 4
SEA 2 BOS 8
OAK 2 KCR 5
@CHW 4 MIL 3
@DET 2 MIN 4
CLE 0 NYY 6
CAL 5 TEX 3
@TOR 1 HOU 11
CHC 3 CHC 2
@HOU 0 LAD 4
MON 3
(11) PIT 3
CIN 2 SDP 2
NYM 1 SFG 4
PHI 1 STL 7
ATL 6

Standings at end of play this day

First game of doubleheader, see Second game.

Astrodome, Attendance: Not Given

Saturday, May 12, 1979
Time of Game: 2:20

Cubs

14-13

Lost 1

3rd, 5 GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Cubs            2  0  0   1  0  0   0  0  0    3  7  4
Astros          6  1  3   0  0  0   0  1  X   11 16  1

W: K Forsch (4-2), L: L McGlothen (4-4)

Astros

19-14

Won 1

1st

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
I DeJesus SS                  4   0   0   0    0   0  .205  .600    0    2   0   
B Murcer RF                   2   1   1   0    1   0  .269  .870    0    3   0   
  L Biittner LF               1   0   0   0    0   0  .273  .606    0    1   0   
B Buckner 1B                  4   1   1   0    0   0  .254  .729    0    2   2   
D Kingman LF                  2   0   2   0    0   0  .283  .989    0    1   1   
  S Thompson LF-RF            2   0   1   0    0   0  .333  .786    0    1   0   
S Ontiveros 3B                4   0   0   0    0   1  .321  .772    0    1   0   GDP
J Martin CF                   3   1   1   0    0   0  .269  .712    0    1   1   
  B Caudill P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  M Vail PH                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .400 1.433    0    0   0   
B Foote C                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .176  .511    0    9   0   
T Sizemore 2B                 3   0   1   1    0   0  .275  .723    0    1   1   
L McGlothen P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .273  .637         0   0   
  D Moore P                   2   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    0   2   
  S Mejias CF                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    2   0   
Totals                       32   3   7   1    1   2                    24   7

BATTING

TB: D Kingman 2; T Sizemore; S Thompson; J Martin; B Murcer; B Buckner.

GIDP: S Ontiveros (3).

RBI: T Sizemore (8).

Team LOB: 3.

With RISP: 2 for 5.

FIELDING

DP: 1. J Martin-B Buckner-I DeJesus.

E: I DeJesus 3 (5); B Foote (4).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl RF                     4   2   3   2    1   0  .283  .708    0    2   0   2B,SB,IW
C Reynolds SS                 5   2   3   3    0   1  .261  .605    0    3   1   2·SB
C Cedeno CF                   2   1   1   1    1   0  .272  .840    0    0   1   HBP,SF
J Cruz LF                     4   1   3   2    0   0  .345  .928    0    0   0   
  J Leonard LF                1   0   0   0    0   0  .353  .976    0    1   0   
E Cabell 3B                   5   0   0   0    0   2  .311  .794    0    0   1   
  J Sexton 3B                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .250  .650         0   0   
B Watson 1B                   5   2   2   1    0   0  .285  .697    0   13   2   2B
A Ashby C                     3   2   2   1    2   0  .242  .619    0    3   1   IW
J Gonzalez 2B                 4   1   2   1    1   0  .333  .745    0    3   7   
K Forsch P                    4   0   0   0    0   4  .120  .280    0    2   3   SH
Totals                       37  11  16  11    5   7                    27  16

BATTING

2B: B Watson (4, off L McGlothen); T Puhl (4, off D Moore).

SF: C Cedeno (4, off D Moore).

SH: K Forsch (4, off D Moore).

IBB: T Puhl (1, by D Moore); A Ashby (3, by L McGlothen).

HBP: C Cedeno (1, by B Caudill).

TB: T Puhl 4; C Reynolds 3; B Watson 3; J Cruz 3; J Gonzalez 2; A Ashby 2; C Cedeno.

RBI: C Reynolds 3 (11); T Puhl 2 (8); J Cruz 2 (24); C Cedeno (14); A Ashby (13); B Watson (16); J Gonzalez (3).

2-out RBI: T Puhl 2.

Team LOB: 10.

With RISP: 8 for 18.

FIELDING

DP: 1. J Gonzalez-C Reynolds-B Watson.

E: J Cruz (5).

BASERUNNING

SB: T Puhl (7, 2nd base off L McGlothen/B Foote); C Reynolds 2 (2, 2nd base off L McGlothen/B Foote, 2nd base off D Moore/B Foote).

PO: C Cedeno (1st base by D Moore).

PITCHING

Chicago Cubs                  IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
L McGlothen, L (4-4)           0.1   5   6   6    2   1   0   5.89    8     -       ·  ·      0· 0· 0· 5     16    -     1.46  -0.48
D Moore                        4.2  10   4   4    2   2   0   5.14   24     -       ·  ·      4· 6· 0·10          3-2    0.38  -0.12
B Caudill                      3     1   1   0    1   4   0   0.00   13     -       ·  ·      1· 5· 0· 1          0-0    0.02   0.00
Totals                         8    16  11  10    5   7   0          45     -       ·  ·      5·11· 0·16          3-2

Houston Astros                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
K Forsch, W (4-2)              9     7   3   2    1   2   0   2.58   33     -       ·  ·     16· 6· 1· 7     64    -     0.39  -0.10
Totals                         9     7   3   2    1   2   0          33     -       ·  ·     16· 6· 1· 7           -

Balks: None.

WP: B Caudill (1).

IBB: L McGlothen (2; A Ashby); D Moore (2; T Puhl).

PO: D Moore (1; C Cedeno, 1st base).

HBP: B Caudill (1; C Cedeno).

OTHER

Umpires: HP - , 1B - , 2B - , 3B - .

Time of Game: 2:20.

Attendance: 0.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Night.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Houston Astros                       
1. I DeJesus            SS    1. T Puhl               RF 
2. B Murcer             RF    2. C Reynolds           SS 
3. B Buckner            1B    3. C Cedeno             CF 
4. D Kingman            LF    4. J Cruz               LF 
5. S Ontiveros          3B    5. E Cabell             3B 
6. J Martin             CF    6. B Watson             1B 
7. B Foote              C     7. A Ashby              C  
8. T Sizemore           2B    8. J Gonzalez           2B 
9. L McGlothen          P     9. K Forsch             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 1   1  0-0  12-     -18%  28% D Kingman       K Forsch        Single to LF; Murcer Scores/Adv on E7/No RBI; Buckner Scores/No RBI/unER; Kingman to 2B
   b 1   1  2-2  12-      14%  73% B Watson        L McGlothen     Double to LF; Cedeno Scores; Cruz to 3B
   b 1   2  2-4  123      10%  86% T Puhl          D Moore         Double to LF; Watson Scores; Ashby Scores; Gonzalez out at Hm/LF-C
   b 1   0  2-0  -2-       8%  47% C Reynolds      L McGlothen     Single to RF; Puhl Scores
   b 1   1  2-3  123       8%  81% J Gonzalez      L McGlothen     Single to LF; Cruz Scores; Watson to 3B; Ashby to 2B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Ken Forsch facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  I DeJesus       Flyball: 2B
          ---      50%  B Murcer        Single to CF
          1--      46%  B Buckner       Single to CF; Murcer to 2B
   RR     12-      28%  D Kingman       Single to LF; Murcer Scores/Adv on E7/No RBI; Buckner Scores/No RBI/unER; Kingman to 2B
   O      -2-      31%  S Ontiveros     Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      -2-      33%  J Martin        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Lynn McGlothen facing 1-2-3
          ---      37%  T Puhl          Single to LF
          1--      39%  C Reynolds      Puhl Steals 2B
   R      -2-      47%  " "             Single to RF; Puhl Scores
          1--      53%  C Cedeno        Reynolds Steals 2B; Reynolds to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
          --3      58%  " "             Walk
   R      1-3      64%  J Cruz          Single to LF; Reynolds Scores; Cedeno to 2B
   O      12-      58%  E Cabell        Strikeout
   R      12-      73%  B Watson        Double to LF; Cedeno Scores; Cruz to 3B
          -23      74%  A Ashby         Intentional Walk
   R      123      81%  J Gonzalez      Single to LF; Cruz Scores; Watson to 3B; Ashby to 2B
                  Donnie Moore replaces Lynn McGlothen pitching and batting 9th
   O      123      76%  K Forsch        Strikeout
   RRO    123      86%  T Puhl          Double to LF; Watson Scores; Ashby Scores; Gonzalez out at Hm/LF-C
                  6 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 6.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-6, Ken Forsch facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      88%  B Foote         Flyball: RF
   O      ---      89%  T Sizemore      Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---      89%  D Moore         Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 6.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 6-2, Donnie Moore facing 2-3-4
          ---      91%  C Reynolds      Single to CF
          1--      92%  C Cedeno        Reynolds Steals 2B
          -2-      94%  " "             Single to RF; Reynolds to 3B
   O      1-3      91%  J Cruz          Cedeno Picked off 1B (P-1B)
   R      --3      94%  " "             Fielder's Choice SS; Reynolds Scores; Cruz to 2B/Adv on E6
   O      -2-      93%  E Cabell        Groundout: 2B-1B; Cruz to 3B
   O      --3      92%  B Watson        Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 7.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-7, Ken Forsch facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      93%  I DeJesus       Flyball: 2B
          ---      92%  B Murcer        Walk
   O      1--      94%  B Buckner       Groundout: 1B-SS/Forceout at 2B
          1--      92%  D Kingman       Single to CF; Buckner to 3B
   O      1-3      95%  S Ontiveros     Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 7.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 7-2, Donnie Moore facing 7-8-9
          ---      95%  A Ashby         Single to SS
          1--      96%  J Gonzalez      Single to CF; Ashby to 2B
   O      12-      96%  K Forsch        Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Ashby to 3B; Gonzalez to 2B
          -23      96%  T Puhl          Intentional Walk
   RR     123      99%  C Reynolds      Single to RF; Ashby Scores; Gonzalez Scores; Puhl to 3B
   ROO    1-3      99%  C Cedeno        Double Play: Flyball: CF-1B-SS/Sacrifice Fly; Puhl Scores
                  3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 10.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-10, Ken Forsch facing 6-7-8
          ---      98%  J Martin        Single to RF
   O      1--      99%  B Foote         Groundout: P-1B; Martin to 2B
   RO     -2-      99%  T Sizemore      Single to CF; Martin Scores; Sizemore out at 2B/CF-C-2B
   O      ---      99%  D Moore         Strikeout
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 10-3, Donnie Moore facing 4-5-6
                  Scot Thompson replaces Dave Kingman playing LF batting 4th
          ---      99%  J Cruz          Single to RF
   O      1--      99%  E Cabell        Flyball: RF
          1--      99%  B Watson        Single to 2B; Cruz to 3B
   O      1-3      99%  A Ashby         Fielder's Choice 1B; Cruz out at Hm/1B-C; Watson to 2B; Ashby to 1B
          12-      99%  J Gonzalez      Walk; Watson to 3B; Ashby to 2B
   O      123      98%  K Forsch        Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-10, Ken Forsch facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      99%  I DeJesus       Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      99%  B Murcer        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      99%  B Buckner       Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 10-3, Donnie Moore facing 1-2-3
          ---      99%  T Puhl          Single to CF
   O      1--      99%  C Reynolds      Flyball: RF
   O      1--      99%  C Cedeno        Flyball: SS
          1--      99%  J Cruz          Single to LF; Puhl to 2B
   O      12-      99%  E Cabell        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-10, Ken Forsch facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      99%  S Thompson      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      99%  S Ontiveros     Strikeout Looking
   O      ---     100%  J Martin        Lineout: SS
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 10-3, Bill Caudill facing 6-7-8
                  Bill Caudill replaces Jerry Martin pitching and batting 6th; Larry Biittner replaces Bobby Murcer playing LF batting 2nd; Sam Mejias replaces Donnie Moore playing CF batting 9th; Scot Thompson moves to RF
   O      ---     100%  B Watson        Flyball: CF
          ---     100%  A Ashby         Walk
          1--     100%  J Gonzalez      Wild Pitch; Ashby to 2B
   O      -2-     100%  " "             Flyball: 3B
   O      -2-      99%  K Forsch        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-10, Ken Forsch facing 7-8-9
                  Jeffrey Leonard replaces Jose Cruz playing LF batting 4th
   O      ---     100%  B Foote         Foul Flyball: C
   O      ---     100%  T Sizemore      Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---     100%  S Mejias        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 10-3, Bill Caudill facing 1-2-3
   O      ---     100%  T Puhl          Flyball: LF
   O      ---     100%  C Reynolds      Strikeout Looking
          ---     100%  C Cedeno        Hit By Pitch
   O      1--     100%  J Leonard       Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-10, Ken Forsch facing 1-2-3
   O      ---     100%  I DeJesus       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---     100%  L Biittner      Groundout: P unassisted
   O      ---     100%  B Buckner       Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 10.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 10-3, Bill Caudill facing 5-6-7
   O      ---     100%  E Cabell        Strikeout
          ---     100%  B Watson        Reached on E6 (Ground Ball); Watson to 2B/Adv on E6
   R      -2-     100%  A Ashby         Single to RF; Watson Scores/unER
   O      1--     100%  J Gonzalez      Flyball: CF
   O      1--     100%  K Forsch        Strikeout
                  1 run, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 11.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Behind 3-11, Ken Forsch facing 4-5-6
                  Jimmy Sexton replaces Enos Cabell playing 3B batting 5th
          ---     100%  S Thompson      Single to RF
   OO     1--     100%  S Ontiveros     Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
                  Mike Vail pinch hits for Bill Caudill batting 6th
   O      ---     100%  M Vail          Groundout: 1B unassisted
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 11.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197905121

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