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Scores
Standings
DET
@CHW		4
1
DET
@CHW		0
0
Forfeit to
Visiting
Team
TEX
@KCR		6
2
NYY
@SEA		14
2
MIL
@TOR		5
3
CHC
@CIN		10
8
PIT
@HOU		5
3
SFG
@MON		5
3
LAD
@NYM		5
12
SDP
@PHI		3
4
Thursday, July 12, 1979, 7:35PM
, Astrodome
Attendance: 22,956, Time of Game: 2:44
Pirates
5
44-38
⇐ Won 4 ⇒
 at Astros
3
53-38
⇐ Lost 6 ⇒
W: Bert Blyleven (7-3)
L: Joe Niekro (13-4)
S: Kent Tekulve (13)
 
                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Pirates         0  0  0   1  0  0   2  2  0    5  7  1
Astros          1  0  0   1  0  0   0  0  1    3  7  0

Pittsburgh Pirates

Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OPS WPA aLI WPA+ WPA- RE24 PO A
Omar Moreno CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 .297 .758 -0.034 0.71 0.023 -0.057 -0.2 2 0 SB
Tim Foli SS 4 1 1 1 0 0 .278 .672 0.062 0.91 0.121 -0.059 0.6 2 3
Dave Parker RF 4 0 2 1 0 0 .299 .892 0.104 0.89 0.132 -0.029 1.0 1 0
Willie Stargell 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 .307 .977 -0.034 1.16 0.139 -0.173 -0.1 12 1 HR,GDP
John Milner LF 2 1 0 0 1 0 .248 .809 -0.004 0.65 0.024 -0.028 -0.1 3 0
   Bill Robinson LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 .269 .859 -0.003 0.10 0.000 -0.003 -0.2 0 0
Bill Madlock 3B 3 1 2 2 1 0 .275 .732 0.507 0.85 0.509 -0.002 2.3 0 3 HR,SB
Ed Ott C 4 0 0 0 0 1 .262 .690 -0.096 0.99 0.000 -0.096 -0.8 4 0
Rennie Stennett 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 .232 .561 -0.117 1.19 0.000 -0.117 -0.9 2 9 GDP
Bert Blyleven P 2 0 0 0 0 1 .163 .349 -0.053 1.09 0.000 -0.053 -0.4 1 0
   Kent Tekulve P 1 0 0 0 0 0 .400 .900 -0.014 0.60 0.000 -0.014 -0.1 0 0
Team Totals 32 5 7 5 2 2 .219 .671 0.318 0.89 0.948 -0.631 1.0 27 16
HR: W Stargell (17, off J Niekro; 4th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to RF); B Madlock (8, off J Niekro; 7th inn, 1 on, 2 outs to LF).
TB: B Madlock 5; W Stargell 4; D Parker 2; T Foli; O Moreno.
GIDP: R Stennett (6); W Stargell (2).
RBI: B Madlock 2 (47); T Foli (30); W Stargell (39); D Parker (54).
2-out RBI: B Madlock 2; D Parker; W Stargell; T Foli.
Team LOB: 2.
With RISP: 2 for 3.
Fielding
DP: 1. R Stennett-T Foli-W Stargell.
E: R Stennett (5).
Baserunning
SB: O Moreno (34, 2nd base off J Niekro/A Ashby); B Madlock (14, 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 CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 .284 .728 0.011 1.22 0.077 -0.066 -0.3 0 0 SH
Julio Gonzalez SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 .225 .510 0.073 1.66 0.128 -0.055 0.1 3 5
Cesar Cedeno 1B 4 1 1 0 0 0 .270 .767 -0.335 1.69 0.022 -0.357 -1.7 13 0 SB,GDP
Jose Cruz LF 2 1 1 1 2 0 .285 .788 0.195 1.15 0.218 -0.023 1.8 2 0 2B,SB
Enos Cabell 3B 4 0 1 1 0 0 .265 .645 0.050 1.09 0.120 -0.070 0.2 0 0
Denny Walling RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 .293 .865 -0.045 0.79 0.000 -0.045 -0.6 2 0
Art Howe 2B 4 1 1 0 0 1 .236 .644 -0.054 0.98 0.049 -0.103 -0.4 5 8 2B
Alan Ashby C 3 0 0 0 1 0 .225 .589 -0.086 1.31 0.009 -0.096 -0.3 2 0 IW
Joe Niekro P 3 0 2 0 0 0 .118 .269 0.041 1.28 0.086 -0.045 0.1 0 3
   Joe Sambito P 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 1.071 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 0 0
   Jeffrey Leonard PH 1 0 0 1 0 0 .276 .673 -0.030 1.18 0.000 -0.030 0.2
Team Totals 33 3 7 3 3 4 .212 .551 -0.180 1.25 0.709 -0.890 -1.0 27 16
2B: A Howe (12, off K Tekulve); J Cruz (20, off B Blyleven).
SH: T Puhl (6, off B Blyleven).
IBB: A Ashby (7, by B Blyleven).
TB: J Niekro 2; A Howe 2; J Cruz 2; T Puhl; C Cedeno; E Cabell.
GIDP: C Cedeno (10).
RBI: E Cabell (38); J Cruz (48); J Leonard (21).
2-out RBI: J Cruz.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 2 for 13.
Fielding
DP: 2. A Howe-J Gonzalez-C Cedeno 2.
Baserunning
SB: C Cedeno (24, 2nd base off B Blyleven/E Ott); J Cruz (22, 2nd base off B Blyleven/E Ott).

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Bert Blyleven, W (7-3) 6.1 6 2 2 3 4 0 3.66 28 54 -0.081 1.10 0.2
Kent Tekulve, S (13) 2.2 1 1 1 0 0 0 3.73 9 2 0 0.263 1.75 0.7
Team Totals 9 7 3 3 3 4 0 3.00 37 54 2 0 0.182 0.89 1.0

Houston Astros

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Joe Niekro, L (13-4) 7.2 6 5 5 2 1 2 3.02 29 46 -0.270 1.00 -0.8
Joe Sambito 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.00 5 1 1 -0.048 0.22 -0.3
Team Totals 9 7 5 5 2 2 2 5.00 34 46 1 1 -0.318 1.25 -1.0
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: B Blyleven (7; A Ashby).
Pickoffs: None.

Other Info

Umpires: HP - Satch Davidson, 1B - Jim Quick, 2B - Fred Brocklander, 3B - Paul Pryor.
Time of Game: 2:44.
Attendance: 22,956.
Field Condition: Unknown.
Start Time Weather: Unknown.

Starting Lineups

Pittsburgh Pirates         Houston Astros
1 Omar Moreno CF 1 Terry Puhl CF
2 Tim Foli SS 2 Julio Gonzalez SS
3 Dave Parker RF 3 Cesar Cedeno 1B
4 Willie Stargell 1B 4 Jose Cruz LF
5 John Milner LF 5 Enos Cabell 3B
6 Bill Madlock 3B 6 Denny Walling RF
7 Ed Ott C 7 Art Howe 2B
8 Rennie Stennett 2B 8 Alan Ashby C
9 Bert Blyleven 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
t7 1-2 2 1-- RR PIT B. Madlock J. Niekro 43% 67% Home Run; Milner Scores
b7 2-3 1 123 OO HOU C. Cedeno K. Tekulve 31% 76% Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
t7 1-2 0 1-- OO PIT W. Stargell J. Niekro -14% 22% Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
t4 0-1 2 --- R PIT W. Stargell J. Niekro 14% 46% Home Run
b7 2-3 1 12- HOU J. Gonzalez K. Tekulve -13% 45% Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Niekro to 3B; Puhl to 2B; Gonzalez to 1B

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, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
t1 0-0 0 --- O PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro -2% 48% Groundout: 2B-1B
t1 0-0 1 --- O PIT T. Foli J. Niekro -1% 46% Flyball: RF
t1 0-0 2 --- O PIT D. Parker J. Niekro -1% 45% Flyball: LF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Astros 0.
Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 1-2-3
b1 0-0 0 --- O HOU T. Puhl B. Blyleven 2% 48% Strikeout
b1 0-0 1 --- O HOU J. Gonzalez B. Blyleven 1% 49% Groundout: 2B-P
b1 0-0 2 --- HOU C. Cedeno B. Blyleven -1% 48% Single to LF
b1 0-0 2 1-- HOU J. Cruz B. Blyleven -1% 47% Cedeno Steals 2B
b1 0-0 2 -2- R HOU J. Cruz B. Blyleven -11% 36% Double to LF; Cedeno Scores
b1 1-0 2 -2- O HOU E. Cabell B. Blyleven 3% 39% Flyball: RF
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Pirates 0, Astros 1.
Top of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 4-5-6
t2 0-1 0 --- O PIT W. Stargell J. Niekro -2% 36% Groundout: 1B unassisted
t2 0-1 1 --- O PIT J. Milner J. Niekro -2% 35% Flyball: 2B
t2 0-1 2 --- PIT B. Madlock J. Niekro 1% 36% Walk
t2 0-1 2 1-- PIT E. Ott J. Niekro 1% 37% Madlock Steals 2B
t2 0-1 2 -2- O PIT E. Ott J. Niekro -3% 34% Flyball: LF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Pirates 0, Astros 1.
Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 6-7-8
b2 1-0 0 --- O HOU D. Walling B. Blyleven 2% 35% Strikeout Looking
b2 1-0 1 --- O HOU A. Howe B. Blyleven 1% 37% Flyball: SS
b2 1-0 2 --- O HOU A. Ashby B. Blyleven 1% 38% Lineout: CF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Astros 1.
Top of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
t3 0-1 0 --- O PIT R. Stennett J. Niekro -3% 35% Groundout: SS-1B
t3 0-1 1 --- O PIT B. Blyleven J. Niekro -2% 33% Strikeout
t3 0-1 2 --- O PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro -1% 32% Groundout: P-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Astros 1.
Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 9-1-2
b3 1-0 0 --- HOU J. Niekro B. Blyleven -3% 29% Single to LF
b3 1-0 0 1-- O HOU T. Puhl B. Blyleven 1% 30% Bunt Groundout: 1B-2B/Sacrifice; Niekro to 2B
b3 1-0 1 -2- O HOU J. Gonzalez B. Blyleven 3% 33% Groundout: 2B-1B; Niekro to 3B
b3 1-0 2 --3 O HOU C. Cedeno B. Blyleven 3% 36% Flyball: LF
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Pirates 0, Astros 1.
Top of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
t4 0-1 0 --- O PIT T. Foli J. Niekro -3% 34% Groundout: P-1B
t4 0-1 1 --- O PIT D. Parker J. Niekro -2% 32% Groundout: 2B-1B
t4 0-1 2 --- R PIT W. Stargell J. Niekro 14% 46% Home Run
t4 1-1 2 --- O PIT J. Milner J. Niekro -1% 44% Groundout: 2B-1B
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 1, Astros 1.
Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 1-1, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 4-5-6
b4 1-1 0 --- HOU J. Cruz B. Blyleven -4% 40% Walk
b4 1-1 0 1-- HOU E. Cabell B. Blyleven -3% 37% Cruz Steals 2B
b4 1-1 0 -2- R HOU E. Cabell B. Blyleven -12% 25% Single to RF; Cruz Scores; Cabell to 2B/Adv on throw to Hm
b4 2-1 0 -2- O HOU D. Walling B. Blyleven 1% 25% Groundout: 2B-1B; Cabell to 3B
b4 2-1 1 --3 O HOU A. Howe B. Blyleven 6% 31% Strikeout
b4 2-1 2 --3 HOU A. Ashby B. Blyleven -1% 30% Intentional Walk
b4 2-1 2 1-3 O HOU J. Niekro B. Blyleven 4% 35% Groundout: 3B-1B
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Pirates 1, Astros 2.
Top of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
t5 1-2 0 --- PIT B. Madlock J. Niekro 5% 40% Single to 3B
t5 1-2 0 1-- O PIT E. Ott J. Niekro -5% 35% Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
t5 1-2 1 1-- OO PIT R. Stennett J. Niekro -7% 28% Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 1, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-1, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 1-2-3
b5 2-1 0 --- O HOU T. Puhl B. Blyleven 2% 30% Flyball: LF
b5 2-1 1 --- O HOU J. Gonzalez B. Blyleven 1% 31% Strikeout
b5 2-1 2 --- O HOU C. Cedeno B. Blyleven 1% 32% Flyball: LF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 1, Astros 2.
Top of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
t6 1-2 0 --- O PIT B. Blyleven J. Niekro -4% 29% Flyball: RF
t6 1-2 1 --- O PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro -2% 26% Groundout: 2B-1B
t6 1-2 2 --- O PIT T. Foli J. Niekro -2% 25% Flyball: 2B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 1, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-1, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 4-5-6
b6 2-1 0 --- HOU J. Cruz B. Blyleven -3% 22% Walk
b6 2-1 0 1-- O HOU E. Cabell B. Blyleven 3% 24% Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
b6 2-1 1 1-- O HOU D. Walling B. Blyleven 1% 26% Groundout: 2B-1B; Cabell to 2B
b6 2-1 2 -2- O HOU A. Howe B. Blyleven 3% 29% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Pirates 1, Astros 2.
Top of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
t7 1-2 0 --- PIT D. Parker J. Niekro 7% 36% Single to RF
t7 1-2 0 1-- OO PIT W. Stargell J. Niekro -14% 22% Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
t7 1-2 2 --- PIT J. Milner J. Niekro 2% 24% Walk
t7 1-2 2 1-- RR PIT B. Madlock J. Niekro 43% 67% Home Run; Milner Scores
t7 3-2 2 --- O PIT E. Ott J. Niekro -1% 66% Flyball: 2B
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 3, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Pirates' Bert Blyleven facing 8-9-1
b7 2-3 0 --- O HOU A. Ashby B. Blyleven 5% 71% Flyball: CF
b7 2-3 1 --- HOU J. Niekro B. Blyleven -5% 66% Single to LF
b7 2-3 1 1-- HOU T. Puhl B. Blyleven -8% 58% Single to 3B; Niekro to 2B
Kent Tekulve replaces Bert Blyleven pitching and batting 9th
b7 2-3 1 12- HOU J. Gonzalez K. Tekulve -13% 45% Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Niekro to 3B; Puhl to 2B; Gonzalez to 1B
b7 2-3 1 123 OO HOU C. Cedeno K. Tekulve 31% 76% Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Pirates 3, Astros 2.
Top of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-2, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
t8 3-2 0 --- O PIT R. Stennett J. Niekro -2% 74% Groundout: SS-1B
t8 3-2 1 --- O PIT K. Tekulve J. Niekro -1% 73% Groundout: P-SS-1B
t8 3-2 2 --- PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro 1% 74% Single to CF
t8 3-2 2 1-- PIT T. Foli J. Niekro 1% 75% Moreno Steals 2B
t8 3-2 2 -2- R PIT T. Foli J. Niekro 12% 87% Single to LF; Moreno Scores; Foli to 2B/Adv on throw to Hm
Joe Sambito replaces Joe Niekro pitching and batting 9th
t8 4-2 2 -2- R PIT D. Parker J. Sambito 6% 93% Single to LF; Foli Scores
t8 5-2 2 1-- O PIT W. Stargell J. Sambito -1% 93% Groundout: 2B-1B
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Pirates 5, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-5, Pirates' Kent Tekulve facing 4-5-6
Bill Robinson replaces John Milner playing LF batting 5th
b8 2-5 0 --- O HOU J. Cruz K. Tekulve 2% 95% Groundout: 2B-1B
b8 2-5 1 --- O HOU E. Cabell K. Tekulve 1% 97% Groundout: 3B-1B
b8 2-5 2 --- O HOU D. Walling K. Tekulve 1% 97% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 5, Astros 2.
Top of the 9th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 5-2, Astros' Joe Sambito facing 5-6-7
t9 5-2 0 --- O PIT B. Robinson J. Sambito -0% 97% Flyball: 2B
t9 5-2 1 --- O PIT B. Madlock J. Sambito -0% 97% Flyball: 2B
t9 5-2 2 --- O PIT E. Ott J. Sambito -0% 97% Strikeout
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 5, Astros 2.
Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-5, Pirates' Kent Tekulve facing 7-8-9
b9 2-5 0 --- HOU A. Howe K. Tekulve -5% 92% Double to LF
b9 2-5 0 -2- O HOU A. Ashby K. Tekulve 4% 96% Groundout: 2B-1B; Howe to 3B
Jeffrey Leonard pinch hits for Joe Sambito (P) batting 9th
b9 2-5 1 --3 RO HOU J. Leonard K. Tekulve 3% 99% Groundout: SS-1B; Howe Scores
b9 3-5 2 --- O HOU T. Puhl K. Tekulve 1% 100% Groundout: 3B-1B
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Pirates 5, Astros 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197907120
BackToBaseball.com Game Playback

Play-by-Play Explanation

  • Score- The score from the perspective of the batting team.
  • 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.
  • Pit- 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.
  • R/O- 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.
  • 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.
  • Pitcher- The pitcher on the mound when this play occurred.
  • 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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