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Scores
Standings
TEX
@CAL		3
2
CLE
@DET		9
11		 
(12)
BAL
@MIL		3
6
CHW
@MIN		1
3
BOS
@NYY		2
1
KCR
@OAK		4
0
SEA
@TOR		0
3
SDP
@ATL		4
5		 
(11)
MON
@CHC		2
0
LAD
@CIN		5
6		 
(11)
SFG
@HOU		2
5
PHI
@PIT		2
6
NYM
@STL		2
4		 
(13)
Saturday, September 12, 1981, 7:35PM
, Astrodome
Attendance: 35,867, Time of Game: 2:39
Giants
2
44-46
⇐ Lost 2 ⇒
 at Astros
5
49-40
⇐ Won 2 ⇒
W: Joe Niekro (8-7)
L: Ed Whitson (5-8)
S: Dave Smith (7)
 
                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Giants          0  0  0   0  0  1   0  1  0    2  7  1
Astros          0  0  1   3  0  1   0  0  X    5  9  1

San Francisco Giants

Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OPS WPA aLI WPA+ WPA- RE24 PO A
Joe Morgan 2B 5 0 2 0 0 0 .238 .747 -0.018 0.54 0.028 -0.047 -0.0 2 1
Max Venable CF 4 0 1 0 1 0 .250 .650 0.107 1.02 0.157 -0.050 0.5 3 0 SB
Jack Clark RF 4 1 1 1 1 1 .255 .786 -0.052 0.92 0.060 -0.113 -0.1 3 0 HR
Darrell Evans 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 .244 .742 -0.130 1.00 0.000 -0.130 -1.1 0 1
Larry Herndon LF 3 1 1 0 1 1 .282 .723 0.009 1.17 0.043 -0.034 0.1 0 0 SB
Dave Bergman 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 .267 .754 -0.077 1.06 0.023 -0.100 -0.4 9 1
Milt May C 3 0 1 1 1 1 .307 .744 0.052 0.66 0.075 -0.024 1.1 5 0
Johnnie LeMaster SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 .259 .606 -0.099 1.12 0.000 -0.099 -1.1 1 4
Ed Whitson P 1 0 0 0 0 1 .103 .291 -0.016 0.69 0.000 -0.016 -0.1 1 1
   Gary Lavelle P 0 0 0 0 1 0 .375 .944 0.007 0.22 0.007 0.000 0.1 0 1
   Enos Cabell PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 .245 .569 -0.015 0.63 0.000 -0.015 -0.3
   Mike Rowland P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 0 1
   Jim Wohlford PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200 .541 -0.035 1.43 0.000 -0.035 -0.4
   Al Holland P 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 .452 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 0 0
Team Totals 34 2 7 2 5 7 .206 .602 -0.267 0.92 0.393 -0.663 -1.7 24 10
HR: J Clark (15, off J Niekro; 6th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to LF).
TB: J Clark 4; J Morgan 2; D Bergman; M Venable; M May; L Herndon.
RBI: M May (26); J Clark (48).
Team LOB: 10.
With RISP: 2 for 9.
Fielding
E: M May (6).
Baserunning
SB: L Herndon (13, 2nd base off J Niekro/A Ashby); M Venable (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
Tony Scott CF 4 0 1 1 0 1 .257 .640 -0.014 0.64 0.028 -0.042 0.1 0 0
Phil Garner 2B 2 1 1 0 2 0 .243 .622 0.065 0.63 0.075 -0.010 0.3 2 4 2·SB,IW
Terry Puhl RF 4 0 1 1 0 0 .252 .679 0.085 0.89 0.135 -0.050 -0.1 3 0 3B
Jose Cruz LF 4 0 0 0 0 2 .265 .741 -0.071 0.68 0.000 -0.071 -1.0 2 0
Cesar Cedeno 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 .281 .706 -0.045 0.47 0.000 -0.045 -0.7 8 0
Art Howe 3B 2 1 0 0 1 0 .315 .815 0.005 0.42 0.022 -0.017 0.0 1 0
   Kiko Garcia 3B 1 0 1 0 0 0 .294 .705 -0.001 0.08 0.001 -0.002 -0.1 0 1
Alan Ashby C 4 2 3 1 0 0 .286 .747 0.125 0.45 0.127 -0.002 1.8 7 0 HR,2B
Craig Reynolds SS 3 1 1 0 1 1 .246 .652 -0.014 0.63 0.010 -0.024 0.2 4 2 IW
Joe Niekro P 2 0 1 2 0 0 .209 .477 0.098 1.14 0.123 -0.025 1.3 0 1 SH
   Dave Smith P 1 0 0 0 0 1 .167 .333 -0.001 0.04 0.000 -0.001 -0.1 0 0
Team Totals 31 5 9 5 4 5 .290 .855 0.232 0.61 0.521 -0.289 1.7 27 8
2B: A Ashby (12, off E Whitson).
3B: T Puhl (4, off E Whitson).
HR: A Ashby (3, off G Lavelle; 6th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to LF).
SH: J Niekro (10, off G Lavelle).
IBB: P Garner (2, by G Lavelle); C Reynolds (2, by E Whitson).
TB: A Ashby 7; T Puhl 3; J Niekro; C Reynolds; K Garcia; T Scott; P Garner.
RBI: J Niekro 2 (6); T Scott (34); A Ashby (28); T Puhl (23).
2-out RBI: T Puhl.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 3 for 10.
Fielding
E: A Ashby (9).
Baserunning
SB: P Garner 2 (6, 2nd base off E Whitson/M May 2).
Pickoffs: K Garcia (1st base by M Rowland).

San Francisco Giants

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Ed Whitson, L (5-8) 3.1 6 4 4 3 1 0 4.07 19 30 -0.241 1.00 -3.2
Gary Lavelle 2.2 2 1 1 1 2 1 3.74 11 2 0 0.001 0.20 0.6
Mike Rowland 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.93 3 0 0 0.004 0.07 0.4
Al Holland 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.31 3 0 0 0.004 0.05 0.4
Team Totals 8 9 5 5 4 5 1 5.62 36 30 2 0 -0.232 0.92 -1.7

Houston Astros

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Joe Niekro, W (8-7) 6.2 4 1 1 5 4 1 2.91 29 61 0.189 0.93 1.2
Dave Smith, S (7) 2.1 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.02 10 3 0 0.079 0.89 0.5
Team Totals 9 7 2 2 5 7 1 2.00 39 61 3 0 0.268 0.61 1.7
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: E Whitson (4; C Reynolds); G Lavelle (4; P Garner).
Pickoffs: M Rowland (1; K Garcia, 1st base).

Other Info

Umpires: HP - Lanny Harris, 1B - Eric Gregg, 2B - Doug Harvey, 3B - Nick Colosi.
Time of Game: 2:39.
Attendance: 35,867.
Start Time Weather: In Dome.

Starting Lineups

San Francisco Giants         Houston Astros
1 Joe Morgan 2B 1 Tony Scott CF
2 Max Venable CF 2 Phil Garner 2B
3 Jack Clark RF 3 Terry Puhl RF
4 Darrell Evans 3B 4 Jose Cruz LF
5 Larry Herndon LF 5 Cesar Cedeno 1B
6 Dave Bergman 1B 6 Art Howe 3B
7 Milt May C 7 Alan Ashby C
8 Johnnie LeMaster SS 8 Craig Reynolds SS
9 Ed Whitson 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
b3 0-0 2 --3 R HOU T. Puhl E. Whitson 13% 68% Triple to RF; Garner Scores
b4 1-0 1 123 RR HOU J. Niekro E. Whitson 12% 91% Single to CF; Howe Scores; Ashby Scores; Reynolds to 3B
b4 1-0 1 1-- HOU A. Ashby E. Whitson 8% 78% Double to RF; Howe to 3B
t4 0-1 1 --3 O SFG D. Evans J. Niekro 8% 65% Flyball: 2B
t4 0-1 0 1-- SFG J. Clark J. Niekro -8% 51% Venable Steals 2B; Venable to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)

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, Giants Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
t1 0-0 0 --- O SFG J. Morgan J. Niekro 2% 52% Groundout: SS-1B
t1 0-0 1 --- O SFG M. Venable J. Niekro 1% 53% Flyball: 1B
t1 0-0 2 --- SFG J. Clark J. Niekro -1% 52% Walk
t1 0-0 2 1-- O SFG D. Evans J. Niekro 2% 54% Flyball: SS
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 0.
Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Giants' Ed Whitson facing 1-2-3
b1 0-0 0 --- O HOU T. Scott E. Whitson -2% 52% Groundout: 2B-1B
b1 0-0 1 --- HOU P. Garner E. Whitson 2% 55% Walk
b1 0-0 1 1-- HOU T. Puhl E. Whitson 2% 57% Garner Steals 2B
b1 0-0 1 -2- O HOU T. Puhl E. Whitson -3% 53% Flyball: CF
b1 0-0 2 -2- O HOU J. Cruz E. Whitson -3% 50% Strikeout Looking
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 0.
Top of the 2nd, Giants Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
t2 0-0 0 --- O SFG L. Herndon J. Niekro 2% 52% Strikeout
t2 0-0 1 --- O SFG D. Bergman J. Niekro 1% 54% Groundout: 1B unassisted
t2 0-0 2 --- O SFG M. May J. Niekro 1% 55% Flyball: SS
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 0.
Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Giants' Ed Whitson facing 5-6-7
b2 0-0 0 --- O HOU C. Cedeno E. Whitson -2% 52% Groundout: SS-1B
b2 0-0 1 --- O HOU A. Howe E. Whitson -1% 51% Flyball: RF
b2 0-0 2 --- HOU A. Ashby E. Whitson 1% 52% Single to CF
b2 0-0 2 1-- O HOU C. Reynolds E. Whitson -2% 50% Flyball: CF
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 0.
Top of the 3rd, Giants Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
t3 0-0 0 --- O SFG J. LeMaster J. Niekro 2% 52% Lineout: 3B
t3 0-0 1 --- O SFG E. Whitson J. Niekro 2% 54% Strikeout
t3 0-0 2 --- O SFG J. Morgan J. Niekro 1% 55% Groundout: P-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 0.
Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Giants' Ed Whitson facing 9-1-2
b3 0-0 0 --- O HOU J. Niekro E. Whitson -2% 53% Groundout: SS-1B
b3 0-0 1 --- O HOU T. Scott E. Whitson -2% 51% Groundout: 1B-P
b3 0-0 2 --- HOU P. Garner E. Whitson 1% 52% Single to SS
b3 0-0 2 1-- HOU T. Puhl E. Whitson 2% 54% Garner Steals 2B; Garner to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
b3 0-0 2 --3 R HOU T. Puhl E. Whitson 13% 68% Triple to RF; Garner Scores
b3 1-0 2 --3 O HOU J. Cruz E. Whitson -3% 64% Groundout: SS-1B
1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 1.
Top of the 4th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
t4 0-1 0 --- SFG M. Venable J. Niekro -5% 59% Walk
t4 0-1 0 1-- SFG J. Clark J. Niekro -8% 51% Venable Steals 2B; Venable to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
t4 0-1 0 --3 O SFG J. Clark J. Niekro 6% 58% Flyball: RF
t4 0-1 1 --3 O SFG D. Evans J. Niekro 8% 65% Flyball: 2B
t4 0-1 2 --3 SFG L. Herndon J. Niekro -2% 64% Walk
t4 0-1 2 1-3 SFG D. Bergman J. Niekro -2% 62% Herndon Steals 2B
t4 0-1 2 -23 O SFG D. Bergman J. Niekro 8% 70% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 1.
Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Giants' Ed Whitson facing 5-6-7
b4 1-0 0 --- O HOU C. Cedeno E. Whitson -2% 68% Groundout: P-1B
b4 1-0 1 --- HOU A. Howe E. Whitson 2% 70% Walk
b4 1-0 1 1-- HOU A. Ashby E. Whitson 8% 78% Double to RF; Howe to 3B
b4 1-0 1 -23 HOU C. Reynolds E. Whitson 0% 79% Intentional Walk
b4 1-0 1 123 RR HOU J. Niekro E. Whitson 12% 91% Single to CF; Howe Scores; Ashby Scores; Reynolds to 3B
b4 3-0 1 1-3 R HOU T. Scott E. Whitson 3% 94% Single to P; Reynolds Scores; Niekro to 2B
Gary Lavelle replaces Ed Whitson pitching and batting 9th
b4 4-0 1 12- O HOU P. Garner G. Lavelle -1% 93% Flyball: SS
b4 4-0 2 12- O HOU T. Puhl G. Lavelle -1% 92% Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 4.
Top of the 5th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-4, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 7-8-9
t5 0-4 0 --- O SFG M. May J. Niekro 1% 93% Strikeout
t5 0-4 1 --- O SFG J. LeMaster J. Niekro 1% 94% Groundout: SS-1B
t5 0-4 2 --- SFG G. Lavelle J. Niekro -1% 94% Walk
t5 0-4 2 1-- SFG J. Morgan J. Niekro -2% 92% Single to CF; Lavelle to 3B
t5 0-4 2 1-3 O SFG M. Venable J. Niekro 3% 95% Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 4.
Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-0, Giants' Gary Lavelle facing 4-5-6
b5 4-0 0 --- O HOU J. Cruz G. Lavelle -0% 94% Strikeout
b5 4-0 1 --- O HOU C. Cedeno G. Lavelle -0% 94% Flyball: RF
b5 4-0 2 --- O HOU A. Howe G. Lavelle -0% 94% Flyball: 1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Astros 4.
Top of the 6th, Giants Batting, Behind 0-4, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
Kiko Garcia replaces Art Howe playing 3B batting 6th
t6 0-4 0 --- R SFG J. Clark J. Niekro -5% 89% Home Run
t6 1-4 0 --- O SFG D. Evans J. Niekro 2% 91% Flyball: LF
t6 1-4 1 --- O SFG L. Herndon J. Niekro 1% 92% Flyball: 2B
t6 1-4 2 --- O SFG D. Bergman J. Niekro 1% 93% Groundout: 2B-1B
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 1, Astros 4.
Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-1, Giants' Gary Lavelle facing 7-8-9
b6 4-1 0 --- R HOU A. Ashby G. Lavelle 3% 96% Home Run
b6 5-1 0 --- HOU C. Reynolds G. Lavelle 0% 97% Single to CF
b6 5-1 0 1-- O HOU J. Niekro G. Lavelle -0% 97% Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Reynolds to 2B
b6 5-1 1 -2- O HOU T. Scott G. Lavelle -0% 96% Strikeout
b6 5-1 2 -2- HOU P. Garner G. Lavelle 0% 96% Intentional Walk
b6 5-1 2 12- O HOU T. Puhl G. Lavelle -1% 96% Flyball: RF
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Giants 1, Astros 5.
Top of the 7th, Giants Batting, Behind 1-5, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 7-8-9
t7 1-5 0 --- SFG M. May J. Niekro -2% 93% Walk
t7 1-5 0 1-- O SFG J. LeMaster J. Niekro 2% 95% Flyball: LF
Enos Cabell pinch hits for Gary Lavelle (P) batting 9th
t7 1-5 1 1-- O SFG E. Cabell J. Niekro 1% 97% Strikeout
t7 1-5 2 1-- SFG J. Morgan J. Niekro -1% 96% Single to CF; May to 2B
t7 1-5 2 12- SFG M. Venable J. Niekro -3% 93% Single to CF; May to 3B; Morgan to 2B
Dave Smith replaces Joe Niekro pitching and batting 9th
t7 1-5 2 123 O SFG J. Clark D. Smith 5% 98% Strikeout
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Giants 1, Astros 5.
Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 5-1, Giants' Mike Rowland facing 4-5-6
Mike Rowland replaces Enos Cabell (PH) pitching and batting 9th
b7 5-1 0 --- O HOU J. Cruz M. Rowland -0% 98% Foul Flyball: 1B
b7 5-1 1 --- O HOU C. Cedeno M. Rowland -0% 98% Groundout: 3B-1B
b7 5-1 2 --- HOU K. Garcia M. Rowland 0% 98% Single to 3B
b7 5-1 2 1-- O HOU A. Ashby M. Rowland -0% 97% Garcia Picked off 1B (P-1B)
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 1, Astros 5.
Top of the 8th, Giants Batting, Behind 1-5, Astros' Dave Smith facing 4-5-6
t8 1-5 0 --- O SFG D. Evans D. Smith 1% 98% Strikeout
t8 1-5 1 --- SFG L. Herndon D. Smith -1% 97% Single to CF
t8 1-5 1 1-- SFG D. Bergman D. Smith -2% 95% Single to RF; Herndon to 2B
t8 1-5 1 12- R SFG M. May D. Smith -5% 90% Single to RF; Herndon Scores; Bergman to 2B
t8 2-5 1 12- O SFG J. LeMaster D. Smith 5% 94% Strikeout
Jim Wohlford pinch hits for Mike Rowland (P) batting 9th
t8 2-5 2 12- O SFG J. Wohlford D. Smith 4% 98% Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Giants 2, Astros 5.
Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 5-2, Giants' Al Holland facing 7-8-9
Al Holland replaces Jim Wohlford (PH) pitching and batting 9th
b8 5-2 0 --- O HOU A. Ashby A. Holland -0% 98% Flyball: CF
b8 5-2 1 --- O HOU C. Reynolds A. Holland -0% 98% Strikeout
b8 5-2 2 --- O HOU D. Smith A. Holland -0% 97% Strikeout
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Astros 5.
Top of the 9th, Giants Batting, Behind 2-5, Astros' Dave Smith facing 1-2-3
t9 2-5 0 --- O SFG J. Morgan D. Smith 1% 99% Flyball: RF
t9 2-5 1 --- O SFG M. Venable D. Smith 1% 100% Flyball: RF
t9 2-5 2 --- O SFG J. Clark D. Smith 0% 100% Groundout: 3B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Astros 5.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU198109120
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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.

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.

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