September 1, 1981 New York Mets at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play

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BAL 1
SEA 0 CAL 3
@BOS 2 DET 2
@CHW 1 KCR 3
MIL 1 NYY 11
@MIN 6 TOR 9
@TEX 3 PHI 3
@ATL 0 MON 4
@CIN 3 HOU 3
NYM 2 LAD 3
PIT 2
(14) SDP 3
CHC 2 SFG 4
STL 2

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 16,339

Tuesday, September 1, 1981, 7:35PM
Time of Game: 2:39

Mets

28-45

Lost 3

5th, 16 GB

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

W: J Sambito (4-5), L: M Marshall (2-1)

Winning Run scored with 2 outs

Astros

42-37

Won 6

3rd, 7 GB

BATTING

New York Mets                AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
M Wilson CF                   4   0   1   0    0   1  .290  .743    0    2   0   
F Taveras SS                  4   0   0   0    0   1  .237  .563    0    1   4   
H Brooks 3B                   2   1   0   0    2   2  .302  .743    0    1   5   
D Kingman 1B                  4   0   0   0    0   1  .219  .814    0   12   0   
L Mazzilli LF                 3   1   1   1    1   0  .223  .695    0    4   0   2B,SB
M Jorgensen RF                4   0   0   0    0   0  .233  .705    0    0   0   SB
A Trevino C                   3   0   1   0    1   0  .271  .616    0    1   0   
D Flynn 2B                    2   0   0   0    0   0  .218  .541    0    3   3   
  R Staub PH                  1   0   1   1    0   0  .311  .809    0    0   0   
  R Gardenhire PR-2B          1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    1   0   
P Falcone P                   1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    1   1   
  R Hodges PH                 1   0   1   0    0   0  .308  .802    0    0   0   
  T Leach P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .500         0   0   
  M Cubbage PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .220  .586    0    0   0   
  M Marshall P                0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
Totals                       31   2   5   2    4   6                    26  13

BATTING

2B: L Mazzilli (10, off J Niekro).

TB: L Mazzilli 2; A Trevino; M Wilson; R Staub; R Hodges.

RBI: R Staub (12); L Mazzilli (23).

2-out RBI: R Staub.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 1 for 5.

FIELDING

DP: 2. H Brooks-D Kingman; H Brooks-D Flynn-D Kingman.

E: P Falcone (1); H Brooks (17).

BASERUNNING

SB: M Jorgensen (4, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols); L Mazzilli (14, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Scott CF                    3   0   0   0    0   0  .253  .635    0    2   0   SH
K Garcia SS                   4   0   1   0    0   0  .263  .643    0    1   5   
C Cedeno 1B                   3   1   1   0    0   0  .280  .699    0   12   1   2B,SH,GDP
J Cruz LF                     4   0   0   0    0   1  .277  .764    0    1   0   
A Howe 3B                     3   1   1   1    1   0  .313  .811    0    0   2   2B
G Woods RF                    3   0   2   0    0   0  .209  .563    0    1   0   SB
  D Walling PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .248  .749    0    0   0   
L Pujols C                    3   0   0   1    0   0  .212  .566    0    7   0   
  A Ashby PH                  1   0   1   0    0   0  .262  .687    0    0   0   2B
  S Loucks PR                 0   1   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
D Thon 2B                     2   0   1   0    0   0  .225  .609    0    2   2   GDP
  P Garner PH-2B              2   0   0   0    0   0  .251  .646    0    0   0   
J Niekro P                    1   0   1   0    0   0  .179  .399    0    0   2   SH
  D Smith P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .200  .400         1   0   
  T Puhl PH                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .268  .715    0    0   0   
  J Sambito P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  H Spilman PH                0   0   0   0    0   0  .231  .558    0    0   0   
Totals                       31   3   8   2    1   1                    27  12

BATTING

2B: A Howe (19, off P Falcone); C Cedeno (15, off P Falcone); A Ashby (11, off M Marshall).

SH: J Niekro (8, off P Falcone); C Cedeno (2, off M Marshall); T Scott (5, off P Falcone).

TB: A Howe 2; A Ashby 2; C Cedeno 2; G Woods 2; J Niekro; K Garcia; D Thon.

GIDP: C Cedeno (4); D Thon (3).

RBI: L Pujols (11); A Howe (26).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 2 for 13.

FIELDING

DP: 1. K Garcia-C Cedeno.

PB: L Pujols (4).

BASERUNNING

SB: G Woods (2, 2nd base off P Falcone/A Trevino).

PITCHING

New York Mets                 IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
P Falcone                      5     6   2   2    0   0   0   2.90   21     -       ·  ·     10· 5· 0· 6     47    -     1.05  -0.06
T Leach                        1     0   0   0    1   0   0   1.06    4     -       ·  ·      1· 2· 0· 0          0-0    0.56   0.02
M Marshall, L (2-1)            2.2   2   1   1    0   1   0   3.38   10     -       ·  ·      5· 2· 0· 2          0-0    2.30  -0.21
Totals                         8.2   8   3   3    1   1   0          35     -       ·  ·     16· 9· 0· 8           -

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                       6.1   3   2   2    2   5   0   2.99   23     -       ·  ·      9· 3· 1· 3     62    -     1.06   0.14
D Smith, BS (3)                0.2   1   0   0    1   0   0   3.32    4     -       ·  ·      1· 1· 0· 1          1-1    2.79  -0.10
J Sambito, W (4-5)             2     1   0   0    1   1   0   1.85    8     -       ·  ·      3· 2· 0· 1          0-0    1.78   0.21
Totals                         9     5   2   2    4   6   0          35     -       ·  ·     13· 6· 1· 5          1-1

Balks: None.

WP: M Marshall (1).

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Charlie Williams, 1B - Paul Pryor, 2B - Dave Pallone, 3B - Fred Brocklander.

Time of Game: 2:39.

Attendance: 16,339.

Weather: 72° F, In Dome.

LINEUPS

   New York Mets                 Houston Astros                       
1. M Wilson             CF    1. T Scott              CF 
2. F Taveras            SS    2. K Garcia             SS 
3. H Brooks             3B    3. C Cedeno             1B 
4. D Kingman            1B    4. J Cruz               LF 
5. L Mazzilli           LF    5. A Howe               3B 
6. M Jorgensen          RF    6. G Woods              RF 
7. A Trevino            C     7. L Pujols             C  
8. D Flynn              2B    8. D Thon               2B 
9. P Falcone            P     9. J Niekro             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 9   2  2-2  --3      38% 100% H Spilman       M Marshall      Wild Pitch; Loucks Scores
   t 7   2  2-1  1-3     -21%  51% R Staub         D Smith         Single to LF; Mazzilli Scores; Trevino to 2B
   t 7   1  2-0  1--     -16%  68% L Mazzilli      J Niekro        Double to CF; Brooks Scores
   b 9   1  2-2  ---      12%  68% A Ashby         M Marshall      Double to CF
   b 4   1  0-0  --3      10%  72% A Howe          P Falcone       Double to CF; Cedeno Scores

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Mets Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---      46%  M Wilson        Single to RF
   OO     1--      53%  F Taveras       Line Drive Double Play: SS-1B
   O      ---      54%  H Brooks        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pete Falcone facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  T Scott         Flyball: LF
   O      ---      51%  K Garcia        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      50%  C Cedeno        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Mets Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  D Kingman       Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---      50%  L Mazzilli      Walk
          1--      48%  M Jorgensen     Mazzilli Steals 2B
   O      -2-      52%  " "             Fielder's Choice P; Mazzilli out at 3B/P-3B-2B
          1--      51%  A Trevino       Jorgensen Steals 2B
          -2-      51%  " "             Passed Ball; Jorgensen to 3B
   O      --3      55%  " "             Groundout: 1B unassisted/Interference called
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pete Falcone facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  J Cruz          Flyball: SS
   O      ---      51%  A Howe          Flyball: CF
          ---      52%  G Woods         Single to CF
          1--      53%  L Pujols        Woods Steals 2B
   O      -2-      50%  " "             Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Mets Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      52%  D Flynn         Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      54%  P Falcone       Strikeout
   O      ---      55%  M Wilson        Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pete Falcone facing 8-9-1
          ---      59%  D Thon          Single to CF
   O      1--      58%  J Niekro        Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Thon to 2B
   O      -2-      54%  T Scott         Flyball: LF
   O      -2-      50%  K Garcia        Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Mets Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      53%  F Taveras       Strikeout
   O      ---      54%  H Brooks        Strikeout
   O      ---      56%  D Kingman       Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pete Falcone facing 3-4-5
          ---      64%  C Cedeno        Double to LF
   O      -2-      63%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B; Cedeno to 3B
   R      --3      72%  A Howe          Double to CF; Cedeno Scores
          -2-      77%  G Woods         Single to 2B; Howe to 3B
   R      1-3      83%  L Pujols        Reached on E5 (Ground Ball); Howe Scores; Woods to 2B; Pujols to 1B
   OO     12-      78%  D Thon          Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-2B-1B
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 5th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      81%  L Mazzilli      Flyball: RF
   O      ---      83%  M Jorgensen     Flyball: CF
   O      ---      84%  A Trevino       Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Pete Falcone facing 9-1-2
          ---      86%  J Niekro        Single to LF
          1--      88%  T Scott         Reached on E1/Sacrifice Bunt; Niekro to 2B
   O      12-      86%  K Garcia        Flyball: P
   OO     12-      81%  C Cedeno        Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 6th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      84%  D Flynn         Groundout: SS-1B
                  Ron Hodges pinch hits for Pete Falcone batting 9th
          ---      80%  R Hodges        Single to LF
   O      1--      84%  M Wilson        Strikeout
   O      1--      87%  F Taveras       Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Terry Leach facing 4-5-6
                  Terry Leach replaces Ron Hodges pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      86%  J Cruz          Flyball: LF
          ---      87%  A Howe          Walk
   O      1--      86%  G Woods         Flyball: LF
   O      1--      85%  L Pujols        Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 7th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
          ---      79%  H Brooks        Walk
   O      1--      84%  D Kingman       Foul Flyball: C
   R      1--      68%  L Mazzilli      Double to CF; Brooks Scores
                  Dave Smith replaces Joe Niekro pitching and batting 9th
   O      -2-      74%  M Jorgensen     Groundout: 1B-P; Mazzilli to 3B
          --3      71%  A Trevino       Walk
                  Rusty Staub pinch hits for Doug Flynn batting 8th
   R      1-3      51%  R Staub         Single to LF; Mazzilli Scores; Trevino to 2B
                  Mike Cubbage pinch hits for Terry Leach batting 9th; Ron Gardenhire pinch runs for Rusty Staub batting 8th
   O      12-      58%  M Cubbage       Flyball: CF
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Mets 2, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Tied 2-2, Mike Marshall facing 8-9-1
                  Mike Marshall replaces Mike Cubbage pitching and batting 9th; Ron Gardenhire moves to 2B; Phil Garner pinch hits for Dickie Thon batting 8th
   O      ---      54%  P Garner        Groundout: SS-1B
                  Terry Puhl pinch hits for Dave Smith batting 9th
   O      ---      52%  T Puhl          Flyball: 2B
   O      ---      50%  T Scott         Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Astros 2.

Top of the 8th, Mets Batting, Tied 2-2, Joe Sambito facing 1-2-3
                  Joe Sambito replaces Terry Puhl pitching and batting 9th; Phil Garner moves to 2B
   O      ---      54%  M Wilson        Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      57%  F Taveras       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      55%  H Brooks        Walk
   O      1--      60%  D Kingman       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 2, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Tied 2-2, Mike Marshall facing 2-3-4
          ---      66%  K Garcia        Single to LF
   O      1--      65%  C Cedeno        Bunt Groundout: 1B unassisted/Sacrifice; Garcia to 2B
   O      -2-      58%  J Cruz          Strikeout Looking
   O      -2-      50%  A Howe          Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 2, Astros 2.

Top of the 9th, Mets Batting, Tied 2-2, Joe Sambito facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      55%  L Mazzilli      Flyball: LF
   O      ---      59%  M Jorgensen     Foul Flyball: 1B
          ---      56%  A Trevino       Single to CF
   O      1--      62%  R Gardenhire    Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 2, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Tied 2-2, Mike Marshall facing 6-7-8
                  Denny Walling pinch hits for Gary Woods batting 6th
   O      ---      57%  D Walling       Groundout: SS-1B
                  Alan Ashby pinch hits for Luis Pujols batting 7th
          ---      68%  A Ashby         Double to CF
                  Scott Loucks pinch runs for Alan Ashby batting 7th
   O      -2-      62%  P Garner        Groundout: SS-1B; Loucks to 3B
                  Harry Spilman pinch hits for Joe Sambito batting 9th
   R      --3     100%  H Spilman       Wild Pitch; Loucks Scores
        1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Astros 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU198109010

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