August 31, 1988 Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score

View a short video showing advanced box score features / click orange/red text for additional info

CAL 7
BAL 5 DET 9
@CHW 3 KCR 1
CLE 0 MIL 4
TOR 2 OAK 7
BOS 2 NYY 4
@SEA 1 MIN 10
@TEX 1 STL 6
@ATL 4 CIN 4
PIT 1 CHC 3
@HOU 1 MON 4
LAD 3 SDP 6
@NYM 3 SFG 3
@PHI 2
(11)

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 14,200

Wednesday, August 31, 1988, 1:35
Time of Game: 2:21

Cubs

66-65

Won 1

4th, 11½ GB

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

W: R Sutcliffe (11-11), L: J Deshaies (9-11)

Astros

71-62

Lost 1

2nd, 6½ GB

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
S Dunston SS                  4   0   0   0    0   2  .252  .632   15    0   4   
R Sandberg 2B                 4   0   0   0    0   1  .262  .740   20    2   1   
M Grace 1B                    4   0   1   0    0   1  .297  .771   14   11   0   
A Dawson RF                   4   0   1   0    0   1  .307  .863   10    1   1   GDP
V Law 3B                      4   1   1   0    0   1  .294  .752   10    1   2   2B
R Palmeiro LF                 3   1   1   0    0   0  .305  .766    6    3   0   2B,SB
D Berryhill C                 3   0   0   1    0   1  .271  .726   17    6   0   
D Jackson CF                  3   0   0   0    0   1  .242  .669    9    3   0   
R Sutcliffe P                 3   1   2   2    0   1  .164  .482    8    0   2   HR,2B
Totals                       32   3   6   3    0   9              109   27  10

BATTING

2B: R Sutcliffe (4, off L Andersen); R Palmeiro (34, off J Deshaies); V Law (21, off J Deshaies).

HR: R Sutcliffe (1, off J Deshaies; 5th inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep RF).

TB: R Sutcliffe 6; V Law 2; R Palmeiro 2; A Dawson; M Grace.

GIDP: A Dawson (11).

RBI: R Sutcliffe 2 (3); D Berryhill (28).

2-out RBI: R Sutcliffe 2.

Team LOB: 2.

With RISP: 1 for 8.

FIELDING

E: R Sutcliffe (3).

BASERUNNING

SB: R Palmeiro (11, 3rd base off J Deshaies/A Ashby).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
B Hatcher CF                  4   0   0   0    0   1  .266  .675   12    2   0   
B Doran 2B                    4   0   1   0    0   0  .260  .698    9    2   4   
T Puhl LF                     4   0   0   0    0   0  .317  .825   12    3   0   
G Davis 1B                    4   0   1   0    0   0  .278  .843   14    9   1   2B
B Bell 3B                     4   0   1   0    0   0  .235  .619   16    1   2   
K Bass RF                     3   0   0   0    1   0  .261  .714   17    0   0   SB
A Ashby C                     3   0   1   0    0   2  .258  .758   18   10   0   
  A Trevino PR-C              0   1   0   0    0   0  .254  .711         0   0   
R Ramirez SS                  3   0   1   0    0   0  .263  .644   12    0   3   
J Deshaies P                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .039  .114    4    0   0   
  C Reynolds PH               1   0   0   0    0   1  .250  .602    4    0   0   
  L Andersen P                0   0   0   0    0   0  .400  .800         0   0   
  D Walling PH                1   0   1   1    0   0  .244  .645    2    0   0   2B
  D Smith P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
Totals                       32   1   6   1    1   5              120   27  10

BATTING

2B: D Walling (10, off R Sutcliffe); G Davis (19, off R Sutcliffe).

TB: D Walling 2; G Davis 2; A Ashby; R Ramirez; B Bell; B Doran.

RBI: D Walling (20).

Team LOB: 5.

With RISP: 2 for 8.

FIELDING

DP: 1. B Doran-G Davis.

BASERUNNING

SB: K Bass (26, 2nd base off R Sutcliffe/D Berryhill).

PO: T Puhl (1st base by R Sutcliffe).

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
R Sutcliffe, W (11-11)         9     6   1   1    1   5   0   3.63   33  117-77   46· 6·25   11· 9· 7· 0     75    -     1.11   0.42
Totals                         9     6   1   1    1   5   0          33  117-77   46· 6·25   11· 9· 7· 0           -

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 Deshaies, L (9-11)           6     5   3   3    0   7   1   3.01   22   80-53   29·11·13    7· 4· 4· 0     57    -     0.90  -0.12
L Andersen                     2     1   0   0    0   2   0   2.57    7   20-15    9· 5· 1    2· 3· 0· 0          0-0    0.36   0.03
D Smith                        1     0   0   0    0   0   0   2.40    3    4-3     3· 0· 0    3· 0· 0· 0          0-0    0.27   0.01
Totals                         9     6   3   3    0   9   1          32  104-71   41·16·14   12· 7· 4· 0           -

Balks: L Andersen (2).

WP: None.

IBB: None.

PO: R Sutcliffe (3; T Puhl, 1st base).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Bob Davidson, 1B - Frank Pulli, 2B - Doug Harvey, 3B - Jerry Crawford.

Time of Game: 2:21.

Attendance: 14,200.

Weather: 70° F, In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Houston Astros                       
1. S Dunston            SS    1. B Hatcher            CF 
2. R Sandberg           2B    2. B Doran              2B 
3. M Grace              1B    3. T Puhl               LF 
4. A Dawson             RF    4. G Davis              1B 
5. V Law                3B    5. B Bell               3B 
6. R Palmeiro           LF    6. K Bass               RF 
7. D Berryhill          C     7. A Ashby              C  
8. D Jackson            CF    8. R Ramirez            SS 
9. R Sutcliffe          P     9. J Deshaies           P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 5   2  0-1  --3  1   20%  85% R Sutcliffe     J Deshaies      Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Palmeiro Scores
   t 2   0  0-0  1--  4   12%  66% V Law           J Deshaies      Double to LF (Line Drive to LF Line); Dawson to 3B
   b 8   1  3-0  -2-  2   -8%  84% D Walling       R Sutcliffe     Double to RF (Ground Ball); Trevino Scores
   t 4   0  0-1  1--  2   -7%  61% A Dawson        J Deshaies      Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-1B
   t 5   0  0-1  ---  3    7%  73% R Palmeiro      J Deshaies      Double to RF (Line Drive to CF-RF)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Jim Deshaies facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  4   48%  S Dunston       Flyball: CF (LF-CF)
   O      ---  5   47%  R Sandberg      Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  5   46%  M Grace         Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Rick Sutcliffe facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  2   48%  B Hatcher       Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---  2   45%  B Doran         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF-CF)
   O      1--  2   48%  T Puhl          Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B; Puhl to 1B
          1--      47%  G Davis         Puhl Picked off 1B, safe on E1; Puhl to 2B
   O      -2-  2   50%  " "             Popfly: 1B (Deep 1B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Jim Deshaies facing 4-5-6
          ---  2   54%  A Dawson        Single to P (Ground Ball to Short 3B Line)
          1--  4   66%  V Law           Double to LF (Line Drive to LF Line); Dawson to 3B
   O      -23  2   60%  R Palmeiro      Fielder's Choice 1B; Dawson out at 3B/1B-3B; Law to 3B; Palmeiro to 2B
   RO     -23  3   61%  D Berryhill     Groundout: 2B-1B; Law Scores; Palmeiro to 3B
   O      --3  2   58%  D Jackson       Popfly: 2B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Rick Sutcliffe facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  4   60%  B Bell          Flyball: RF
          ---  8   57%  K Bass          Walk
          1--      55%  A Ashby         Bass Steals 2B
   O      -2-  5   59%  " "             Strikeout Swinging
   O      -2-  6   63%  R Ramirez       Single to RF (Line Drive); Bass out at Hm/RF-C
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Ahead 1-0, Jim Deshaies facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  5   61%  R Sutcliffe     Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  5   60%  S Dunston       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  7   59%  R Sandberg      Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Rick Sutcliffe facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  4   61%  J Deshaies      Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  5   63%  B Hatcher       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  3   64%  B Doran         Lineout: CF (LF-CF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 1-0, Jim Deshaies facing 3-4-5
          ---  3   68%  M Grace         Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B)
   OO     1--  2   61%  A Dawson        Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-1B
   O      ---  2   60%  V Law           Lineout: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Rick Sutcliffe facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  3   63%  T Puhl          Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---  4   65%  G Davis         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  4   66%  B Bell          Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 0.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 1-0, Jim Deshaies facing 6-7-8
          ---  3   73%  R Palmeiro      Double to RF (Line Drive to CF-RF)
          -2-      77%  D Berryhill     Palmeiro Steals 3B
   O      --3  6   72%  " "             Strikeout Swinging
   O      --3  4   65%  D Jackson       Strikeout Looking
   RR     --3  1   85%  R Sutcliffe     Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Palmeiro Scores
   O      ---  1   85%  S Dunston       Groundout: 3B-1B
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Rick Sutcliffe facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  1   87%  K Bass          Flyball: CF
   O      ---  5   88%  A Ashby         Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  3   89%  R Ramirez       Popfly: 2B (Short CF-RF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-0, Jim Deshaies facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  5   88%  R Sandberg      Foul Flyball: C
   O      ---  5   88%  M Grace         Lineout: LF
   O      ---  4   87%  A Dawson        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Rick Sutcliffe facing 9-1-2
                  Craig Reynolds pinch hits for Jim Deshaies batting 9th
   O      ---  4   89%  C Reynolds      Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  2   91%  B Hatcher       Popfly: 3B (SS-3B Hole)
   O      ---  3   92%  B Doran         Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-0, Larry Andersen facing 5-6-7
                  Larry Andersen replaces Craig Reynolds pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---  3   91%  V Law           Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  1   91%  R Palmeiro      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---  4   90%  D Berryhill     Flyball: LF (LF-CF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Rick Sutcliffe facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  5   92%  T Puhl          Lineout: 1B
          ---  4   88%  G Davis         Double to LF (Line Drive to LF Line)
   O      -2-  4   92%  B Bell          Groundout: P-1B
   O      -2-  3   95%  K Bass          Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-0, Larry Andersen facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  3   94%  D Jackson       Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---  2   95%  R Sutcliffe     Double to LF (Pop Fly to LF Line)
          -2-      96%  S Dunston       Balk; Sutcliffe to 3B
   O      --3  4   94%  " "             Strikeout Swinging
   O      --3  3   93%  R Sandberg      Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Rick Sutcliffe facing 7-8-9
          ---  5   89%  A Ashby         Single to RF (Line Drive to CF-RF)
   O      1--  3   92%  R Ramirez       Groundout: 3B-1B; Ashby to 2B
                  Denny Walling pinch hits for Larry Andersen batting 9th; Alex Trevino pinch runs for Alan Ashby batting 7th
   R      -2-  2   84%  D Walling       Double to RF (Ground Ball); Trevino Scores
   O      -2-  3   89%  B Hatcher       Strikeout Swinging
   O      -2-  1   94%  B Doran         Groundout: P-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 1.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-1, Dave Smith facing 3-4-5
                  Dave Smith replaces Denny Walling pitching and batting 9th; Alex Trevino moves to C
   O      ---  1   93%  M Grace         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  2   93%  A Dawson        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  1   93%  V Law           Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Rick Sutcliffe facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  2   97%  T Puhl          Flyball: LF
   O      ---  4   99%  G Davis         Lineout: LF
          ---  4   96%  B Bell          Single to RF (Fly Ball to RF Line)
   O      1--  5  100%  K Bass          Flyball: LF
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 1.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU198808310

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.


Quick Index: Play Index \| Players \| Teams \| Leagues \| Managers \| Leaders \| Awards \| Postseason \| Box Scores \| Minors \| Draft SportingNews.com \| Stat of the Day \| SR Blog \| Tutorial Videos \| All-Star \| Travel \| Bullpen Wiki \| Random
You Are Here > Baseball-Reference.com > Boxes > 1988 > HOU \| CHC > Aug 31, 1988, Cubs at Astros Box Score and Play by Play

Baseball-Reference.com-- Baseball's History: 1871-Now

BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation