October 3, 1997 National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 3 at Astrodome Box Score and Play by Play

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1997 National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 3
1997 postseason: WS: FLA-CLE / ALCS: CLE-BAL / NLCS: FLA-ATL / Div. Series: CLE-NYY / BAL-SEA / FLA-SFG / ATL-HOU

Game 1
ATL  2
HOU  1
Game 2
ATL 13
HOU  3
Game 3
ATL  4
@HOU  1

Astrodome, Attendance: 53,688

Friday, October 3, 1997, 3:09
Time of Game: 2:35

Braves

Bobby Cox

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

W: J Smoltz (1-0), L: S Reynolds (0-1)

Astros

Larry Dierker

BATTING

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
K Lofton CF                   5   0   1   0    0   0  .154  .445   19    2   0   CS
K Lockhart 2B                 3   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000   11    1   3   
  T Graffanino 2B             1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .400    4    1   0   
C Jones 3B                    4   1   3   1    0   0  .500 1.458   10    1   1   HR
F McGriff 1B                  2   1   0   0    2   1  .222  .639   17    7   0   
R Klesko LF                   3   1   1   0    0   0  .250 1.000    6    1   0   2B,GDP
  D Bautista LF               1   0   0   0    0   0  .333  .666    1    0   0   
J Lopez C                     4   1   1   0    0   1  .286 1.015   18   11   0   2B
M Tucker RF                   3   0   1   1    0   1  .167  .334   13    2   0   
  A Jones RF                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .167    7    1   0   
J Blauser SS                  3   0   1   1    1   0  .300 1.017   13    0   3   
J Smoltz P                    4   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000   15    0   0   
Totals                       34   4   8   3    3   7              134   27   7

BATTING

2B: J Lopez (2, off R Springer); R Klesko (1, off S Reynolds).

HR: C Jones (1, off S Reynolds; 1st inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep RF Line).

TB: C Jones 6; J Lopez 2; R Klesko 2; J Blauser; M Tucker; K Lofton.

GIDP: R Klesko (1).

RBI: M Tucker (1); J Blauser (4); C Jones (2).

2-out RBI: J Blauser; C Jones.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 2 for 12.

FIELDING

DP: 1. J Blauser-K Lockhart-F McGriff.

E: K Lockhart (1); C Jones (1).

BASERUNNING

CS: K Lofton (2, Pickoff (CS) 2nd base by S Reynolds).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
C Biggio 2B                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .083  .237   10    2   4   
D Bell RF                     4   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000   11    0   0   
J Bagwell 1B                  4   0   1   0    0   0  .083  .237   11    8   2   
L Gonzalez LF                 4   0   1   0    0   1  .333  .666   10    4   0   
B Spiers 3B                   4   0   0   0    0   2  .000  .083   19    1   1   
C Carr CF                     3   1   1   1    0   2  .250 1.400   11    2   0   HR
R Gutierrez SS                2   0   0   0    1   0  .125  .425    7    1   3   
B Ausmus C                    2   0   0   0    0   1  .400 1.000    8    8   0   GDP
  B Abreu PH                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .333  .666    4    0   0   
  T Pena C                    0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
S Reynolds P                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    4    1   1   
  R Johnson PH                1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    5    0   0   
  R Springer P                0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  T Martin P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  R Garcia P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  T Howard PH                 1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .500    3    0   0   
  M Magnante P                0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
Totals                       31   1   3   1    1  11              103   27  12

BATTING

HR: C Carr (1, off J Smoltz; 7th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep RF).

TB: C Carr 4; L Gonzalez; J Bagwell.

GIDP: B Ausmus (1).

RBI: C Carr (1).

2-out RBI: C Carr.

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 0 for 0.

FIELDING

DP: 1. R Gutierrez-C Biggio-J Bagwell.

PB: B Ausmus (1).

E: J Bagwell (2).

PITCHING

Atlanta Braves                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
J Smoltz, W (1-0)              9     3   1   1    1  11   1   1.00   32  103-76   37·16·23    8· 6· 6· 0     87    -     0.86   0.42
Totals                         9     3   1   1    1  11   1          32  103-76   37·16·23    8· 6· 6· 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
S Reynolds, L (0-1)            6     5   2   2    1   5   1   3.00   23   81-54   28·10·16    9· 4· 4· 0     58    -     0.85   0.02
R Springer                     1     2   1   1    1   1   0   5.40    6   24-14    8· 3· 3    2· 2· 0· 0          0-0    0.70  -0.06
T Martin                       0.1   1   1   0    1   0   0   0.00    3    7-3     2· 0· 1    1· 0· 1· 0          0-0    0.76  -0.02
R Garcia                       0.2   0   0   0    0   1   0   0.00    2   11-6     2· 2· 2    1· 0· 0· 0          2-1    0.89  -0.03
M Magnante                     1     0   0   0    0   0   0   4.50    3   10-7     6· 0· 1    2· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.13   0.01
Totals                         9     8   4   3    3   7   1          37  133-84   46·15·23   15· 7· 5· 0          2-1

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

PO: S Reynolds (1; K Lofton, 2nd base (CS)).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Tom Hallion, 1B - Dana DeMuth, 2B - Terry Tata, 3B - Brian Gorman.

Time of Game: 2:35.

Attendance: 53,688.

Weather: In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Atlanta Braves                Houston Astros                       
1. K Lofton             CF    1. C Biggio             2B 
2. K Lockhart           2B    2. D Bell               RF 
3. C Jones              3B    3. J Bagwell            1B 
4. F McGriff            1B    4. L Gonzalez           LF 
5. R Klesko             LF    5. B Spiers             3B 
6. J Lopez              C     6. C Carr               CF 
7. M Tucker             RF    7. R Gutierrez          SS 
8. J Blauser            SS    8. B Ausmus             C  
9. J Smoltz             P     9. S Reynolds           P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 3   1  0-2  123  1  -11%  69% R Klesko        S Reynolds      Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   t 1   2  0-0  ---  5   11%  57% C Jones         S Reynolds      Home Run (Line Drive to Deep RF Line)
   t 2   2  0-1  -2-  2   10%  70% J Blauser       S Reynolds      Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Klesko Scores; Blauser to 2B/Adv on throw
   b 5   1  2-0  1--  4    7%  79% B Ausmus        J Smoltz        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   b 7   2  3-0  ---  1   -7%  86% C Carr          J Smoltz        Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Shane Reynolds facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---  4   54%  K Lofton        Reached on E3 (Ground Ball to 2B-1B); Lofton to 1B
   O      1--  5   50%  K Lockhart      Flyball: LF (Deep LF-CF)
   O      1--      46%  C Jones         Lofton Caught Stealing (PO) 2B (P-1B)
   R      ---  5   57%  " "             Home Run (Line Drive to Deep RF Line)
   O      ---  1   56%  F McGriff       Lineout: LF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 LOB. Braves 1, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, John Smoltz facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  3   58%  C Biggio        Lineout: RF (Deep RF Line)
   O      ---  4   60%  D Bell          Popfly: 1B (P's Left)
          ---  4   59%  J Bagwell       Single to RF (Line Drive)
   O      1--  2   61%  L Gonzalez      Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 1, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Ahead 1-0, Shane Reynolds facing 5-6-7
          ---  1   67%  R Klesko        Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
   O      -2-  5   63%  J Lopez         Strikeout Swinging
   O      -2-  3   60%  M Tucker        Strikeout Swinging
   R      -2-  2   70%  J Blauser       Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Klesko Scores; Blauser to 2B/Adv on throw
   O      -2-  4   67%  J Smoltz        Strikeout Swinging
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, John Smoltz facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  3   70%  B Spiers        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---  6   71%  C Carr          Strikeout Swinging
          ---  5   70%  R Gutierrez     Walk
   O      1--  4   72%  B Ausmus        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Shane Reynolds facing 1-2-3
          ---  4   75%  K Lofton        Single to 2B (Ground Ball to SS-2B)
   O      1--  4   72%  K Lockhart      Strikeout Swinging
          1--  3   75%  C Jones         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF); Lofton to 2B
          12-  5   80%  F McGriff       Walk; Lofton to 3B; Jones to 2B
   OO     123  1   69%  R Klesko        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, John Smoltz facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  4   71%  S Reynolds      Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  2   73%  C Biggio        Lineout: LF (Deep LF)
   O      ---  4   74%  D Bell          Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Shane Reynolds facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  4   72%  J Lopez         Lineout: SS
   O      ---  7   71%  M Tucker        Flyball: LF (Deep LF)
   O      ---  4   70%  J Blauser       Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, John Smoltz facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  1   73%  J Bagwell       Lineout: CF
   O      ---  3   75%  L Gonzalez      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---  6   76%  B Spiers        Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 5th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Shane Reynolds facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  2   75%  J Smoltz        Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  4   73%  K Lofton        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  2   73%  K Lockhart      Groundout: 1B-P
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, John Smoltz facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  4   76%  C Carr          Strikeout Swinging
          ---  1   72%  R Gutierrez     Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Gutierrez to 1B
   OO     1--  4   79%  B Ausmus        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 6th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Shane Reynolds facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  1   78%  C Jones         Groundout: 2B-1B (Deep 2B)
   O      ---  6   76%  F McGriff       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  4   76%  R Klesko        Groundout: 2B-1B (SS-2B)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, John Smoltz facing 9-1-2
                  Tony Graffanino replaces Keith Lockhart playing 2B batting 2nd; Danny Bautista replaces Ryan Klesko playing LF batting 5th; Russ Johnson pinch hits for Shane Reynolds batting 9th
   O      ---  5   79%  R Johnson       Strikeout Swinging
          ---  4   75%  C Biggio        Reached on E5 (Ground Ball to SS-3B Hole); Biggio to 1B
   O      1--  2   79%  D Bell          Foul Popfly: 3B (Short LF Foul)
   O      1--  2   83%  J Bagwell       Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Braves 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 7th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Russ Springer facing 6-7-8
                  Russ Springer replaces Russ Johnson pitching and batting 9th
          ---  4   87%  J Lopez         Double to LF (Ground Ball)
   R      -2-  3   93%  M Tucker        Single to CF (Pop Fly); Lopez Scores; Tucker to 2B/Adv on throw
          -2-  6   93%  J Blauser       Walk
   O      12-  2   92%  J Smoltz        Foul Bunt Popfly: C
   O      12-  5   90%  K Lofton        Flyball: CF
   O      12-  4   88%  T Graffanino    Strikeout Swinging
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, John Smoltz facing 4-5-6
                  Andruw Jones replaces Michael Tucker playing RF batting 7th
   O      ---  3   91%  L Gonzalez      Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  7   93%  B Spiers        Strikeout Swinging
   R      ---  1   86%  C Carr          Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF)
   O      ---  1   87%  R Gutierrez     Flyball: RF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 3, Astros 1.

Top of the 8th, Braves Batting, Ahead 3-1, Tom Martin facing 3-4-5
                  Tom Martin replaces Russ Springer pitching and batting 9th
          ---  1   89%  C Jones         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF)
          1--  5   92%  F McGriff       Walk; Jones to 2B
   O      12-  1   89%  D Bautista      Bunt Groundout: 1B-3B/Forceout at 3B; McGriff to 2B; Bautista to 1B
                  Ramon Garcia replaces Tom Martin pitching and batting 9th
   O      12-  5   87%  J Lopez         Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B; McGriff to 3B; Lopez to 1B
   R      1-3      93%  A Jones         Passed Ball; McGriff Scores/unER; Lopez to 2B
   O      -2-  6   92%  " "             Strikeout Swinging
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 4, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-4, John Smoltz facing 8-9-1
                  Bobby Abreu pinch hits for Brad Ausmus batting 8th
   O      ---  4   95%  B Abreu         Strikeout Swinging
                  Thomas Howard pinch hits for Ramon Garcia batting 9th
   O      ---  3   96%  T Howard        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  1   97%  C Biggio        Lineout: 2B (2B-1B)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 4, Astros 1.

Top of the 9th, Braves Batting, Ahead 4-1, Mike Magnante facing 8-9-1
                  Mike Magnante replaces Thomas Howard pitching and batting 9th; Tony Pena replaces Bobby Abreu playing C batting 8th
   O      ---  1   97%  J Blauser       Groundout: P-1B (P's Left)
   O      ---  7   96%  J Smoltz        Groundout: 2B-1B (2B-1B)
   O      ---  2   96%  K Lofton        Flyball: LF (Short LF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 4, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-4, John Smoltz facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  1   98%  D Bell          Groundout: SS-1B (SS-2B)
   O      ---  4  100%  J Bagwell       Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---  2   99%  L Gonzalez      Single to CF (Line Drive)
   O      1--  3  100%  B Spiers        Groundout: SS-1B (SS-2B)
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 4, Astros 1.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU199710030

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.

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