September 26, 1998 Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score

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BAL 5
@BOS 2 CHW 13
@KCR 5 CLE 9
@MIN 5 NYY 3
TBD 1 OAK 4
ANA 3 SEA 5
TEX 2 TOR 5
DET 4
(13) ARI 3
SDP 2 ATL 4
NYM 0 CIN 6
PIT 2 SFG 8
@COL 4 FLA 4
PHI 3
(10) FLA 1
PHI 0
(13) CHC 3
@HOU 2 MIL 6
@LAD 1 MON 7
@STL 6

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 51,950

Saturday, September 26, 1998, 7:05
Time of Game: 2:50

Cubs

89-72

Won 1

2nd, 12 GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Cubs            0  0  0   0  0  0   1  2  0    3 11  1
Astros          1  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  1    2  7  0

W: M Clark (9-14), L: J Powell (7-7), S: R Beck (50)

Astros

101-60

Lost 1

1st

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
L Johnson CF                  5   0   2   0    0   1  .285  .699   23    3   0   
M Morandini 2B                5   0   1   0    0   2  .297  .769   16    1   2   
S Sosa RF                     4   1   2   0    0   1  .306 1.026   17    1   0   
M Grace 1B                    4   1   1   0    0   2  .308  .869   12    6   1   
G Hill LF                     4   0   1   0    0   2  .311  .902   17    3   0   
  R Beck P                    0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         1   0   
G Gaetti 3B                   4   1   2   2    0   1  .282  .853    8    4   4   2·2B
T Houston C                   3   0   0   0    0   2  .259  .696   12    5   1   
  S Servais PH-C              1   0   0   0    0   0  .224  .635    4    1   0   
J Blauser SS                  2   0   0   0    0   0  .219  .641    8    1   1   
  O Merced PH                 0   0   0   1    0   0  .279  .749    7    0   0   SF
  J Hernandez SS-LF           1   0   0   0    0   0  .254  .784    4    0   0   
M Clark P                     3   0   2   0    0   1  .065  .205    6    1   0   2·2B
  M Alexander PH-SS           1   0   0   0    0   0  .227  .608    4    0   0   
Totals                       37   3  11   3    0  12              138   27   9

BATTING

2B: M Clark 2 (2, 2 off S Reynolds); G Gaetti 2 (34, off J Powell, off S Reynolds).

SF: O Merced (3, off S Reynolds).

TB: G Gaetti 4; M Clark 4; S Sosa 2; L Johnson 2; M Morandini; G Hill; M Grace.

RBI: G Gaetti 2 (68); O Merced (40).

2-out RBI: G Gaetti 2.

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 1 for 8.

FIELDING

E: G Gaetti (5).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
C Biggio 2B                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .328  .912   12    1   1   
B Spiers 3B                   4   1   1   0    0   1  .274  .753   15    0   1   
D Bell RF                     4   0   1   0    0   1  .315  .858   10    2   0   
J Bagwell 1B                  4   1   3   2    0   0  .302  .978   17    9   0   HR
M Alou LF                     4   0   1   0    0   1  .312  .983   10    1   0   2B
C Everett CF                  3   0   0   0    1   0  .294  .833   14    2   0   
T Eusebio C                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .253  .633   14   12   0   
T Bogar SS                    3   0   0   0    0   0  .154  .420   13    0   4   
  D Clark PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .208  .552    1    0   0   
S Reynolds P                  2   0   1   0    0   0  .159  .395    6    0   1   2B
  M Meluskey PH               1   0   0   0    0   1  .250  .708    5    0   0   
  M Magnante P                0   0   0   0    0   0 1.000 2.000         0   1   
  J Powell P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  T Miller P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .333 1.000         0   1   
Totals                       34   2   7   2    1   6              117   27   9

BATTING

2B: S Reynolds (4, off M Clark); M Alou (34, off R Beck).

HR: J Bagwell (34, off R Beck; 9th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF Line).

TB: J Bagwell 6; S Reynolds 2; M Alou 2; B Spiers; D Bell.

RBI: J Bagwell 2 (110).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 1 for 10.

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
M Clark, W (9-14)              8     5   1   1    1   5   0   4.84   30  104-70   45·12·13    9·11· 4· 0     72    -     1.01   0.35
R Beck, S (50)                 1     2   1   1    0   1   1   3.04    5   13-10    6· 1· 3    2· 1· 1· 0          0-0    4.34   0.09
Totals                         9     7   2   2    1   6   1          35  117-80   51·13·16   11·12· 5· 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                     7     7   1   1    0  11   0   3.51   28  100-71   34·17·20    8· 6· 3· 0     70    -     1.26   0.26
M Magnante                     0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   4.88    1    1-1     1· 0· 0    1· 0· 0· 0          0-0    1.87   0.05
J Powell, L (7-7)              0.1   3   2   2    0   1   0   3.33    4   12-10    6· 2· 2    2· 1· 0· 0          0-0    2.78  -0.41
T Miller                       1.1   1   0   0    0   0   0   3.04    5   23-10    8· 1· 1    1· 4· 0· 0          1-0    0.39   0.04
Totals                         9    11   3   3    0  12   0          38  136-92   49·20·23   12·11· 3· 0          1-0

Balks: None.

WP: S Reynolds (5).

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Eric Gregg, 1B - Mark Hirschbeck, 2B - Jeff Kellogg, 3B - Bruce Froemming.

Time of Game: 2:50.

Attendance: 51,950.

Weather: 72° F, Wind 0mph, In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Houston Astros                       
1. L Johnson            CF    1. C Biggio             2B 
2. M Morandini          2B    2. B Spiers             3B 
3. S Sosa               RF    3. D Bell               RF 
4. M Grace              1B    4. J Bagwell            1B 
5. G Hill               LF    5. M Alou               LF 
6. G Gaetti             3B    6. C Everett            CF 
7. T Houston            C     7. T Eusebio            C  
8. J Blauser            SS    8. T Bogar              SS 
9. M Clark              P     9. S Reynolds           P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 8   2  1-1  12-  2   37%  86% G Gaetti        J Powell        Double to CF (Fly Ball); Sosa Scores; Grace Scores
   b 9   1  3-2  --3  4   25%  84% T Eusebio       R Beck          Strikeout Swinging
   b 9   0  3-2  ---  2  -24%  56% M Alou          R Beck          Double to RF (Line Drive to Deep 1B)
   b 9   2  3-2  --3  1   16% 100% D Clark         R Beck          Groundout: P unassisted (Weak 2B-1B)
   b 1   1  0-0  12-  7  -12%  30% J Bagwell       M Clark         Single to CF (Line Drive to Deep SS-2B); Spiers Scores; Bell to 3B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Shane Reynolds facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  5   48%  L Johnson       Strikeout Swinging
          ---  3   50%  M Morandini     Single to 2B (Ground Ball to SS-2B)
   O      1--  2   47%  S Sosa          Foul Popfly: 1B
   O      1--  6   45%  M Grace         Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Mark Clark facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  1   47%  C Biggio        Flyball: LF
          ---  4   45%  B Spiers        Single to LF (Line Drive to Deep SS)
          1--  1   42%  D Bell          Single to RF (Line Drive to 2B-1B); Spiers to 2B
   R      12-  7   30%  J Bagwell       Single to CF (Line Drive to Deep SS-2B); Spiers Scores; Bell to 3B
   O      1-3  1   35%  M Alou          Fielder's Choice 3B; Bell out at Hm/3B-C-3B; Bagwell to 3B
          1-3  5   33%  C Everett       Walk; Alou to 2B
   O      123  2   40%  T Eusebio       Groundout: 3B unassisted
                  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Shane Reynolds facing 5-6-7
          ---  5   43%  G Hill          Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF-CF)
   O      1--  3   40%  G Gaetti        Strikeout Swinging
   O      1--  3   37%  T Houston       Strikeout Swinging
   O      1--  1   34%  J Blauser       Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B (Weak SS)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Clark facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  1   36%  T Bogar         Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  5   38%  S Reynolds      Flyball: RF
   O      ---  4   39%  C Biggio        Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Shane Reynolds facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  3   36%  M Clark         Strikeout Swinging
          ---  3   39%  L Johnson       Single to 2B (Fly Ball to Deep 2B-1B)
   O      1--  4   36%  M Morandini     Strikeout Looking
          1--  3   38%  S Sosa          Single to SS (Line Drive to Deep SS-2B); Johnson to 2B
   O      12-  2   33%  M Grace         Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS-2B)
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Clark facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  5   35%  B Spiers        Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  2   37%  D Bell          Groundout: SS-1B (Weak 3B)
          ---  2   34%  J Bagwell       Single to 3B (Ground Ball to Weak 3B); Bagwell to 2B/Adv on E5 (throw)
   O      -2-  4   38%  M Alou          Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Shane Reynolds facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  3   35%  G Hill          Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---  2   33%  G Gaetti        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  4   31%  T Houston       Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Clark facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  5   33%  C Everett       Groundout: 2B-1B (P's Left)
   O      ---  3   35%  T Eusebio       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---  6   36%  T Bogar         Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Shane Reynolds facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  7   33%  J Blauser       Flyball: RF (Deep CF-RF)
          ---  1   39%  M Clark         Double to RF (Line Drive to Short RF)
   O      -2-  5   34%  L Johnson       Groundout: SS-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      -2-  3   29%  M Morandini     Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Clark facing 9-1-2
          ---  1   23%  S Reynolds      Double to CF (Fly Ball)
   O      -2-  4   27%  C Biggio        Strikeout Swinging
   O      -2-  4   30%  B Spiers        Groundout: 1B-P; Reynolds to 3B
   O      --3  6   34%  D Bell          Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Shane Reynolds facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  6   30%  S Sosa          Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   28%  M Grace         Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  6   26%  G Hill          Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Clark facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  5   28%  J Bagwell       Flyball: LF
   O      ---  3   29%  M Alou          Popfly: SS (Deep SS-2B)
   O      ---  1   30%  C Everett       Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Shane Reynolds facing 6-7-8
          ---  1   42%  G Gaetti        Double to 3B (Ground Ball to Weak 3B)
          -2-      48%  T Houston       Wild Pitch; Gaetti to 3B
   O      --3  3   39%  " "             Groundout: P-1B
                  Orlando Merced pinch hits for Jeff Blauser batting 8th
   RO     --3  7   43%  O Merced        Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Gaetti Scores
          ---  2   47%  M Clark         Double to LF (Fly Ball to Short LF)
   O      -2-  4   41%  L Johnson       Flyball: CF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Tied 1-1, Mark Clark facing 7-8-9
                  Jose Hernandez replaces Orlando Merced playing SS batting 8th
   O      ---  5   45%  T Eusebio       Lineout: 3B (SS-3B Hole)
   O      ---  6   48%  T Bogar         Flyball: CF
                  Mitch Meluskey pinch hits for Shane Reynolds batting 9th
   O      ---  5   50%  M Meluskey      Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Astros 1.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Tied 1-1, Mike Magnante facing 2-3-4
                  Mike Magnante replaces Mitch Meluskey pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---  1   45%  M Morandini     Groundout: P-1B
                  Jay Powell replaces Mike Magnante pitching and batting 9th
          ---  6   50%  S Sosa          Single to SS (Ground Ball to Weak SS)
          1--  1   57%  M Grace         Single to 1B (Ground Ball to 2B-1B); Sosa to 2B
   O      12-  3   48%  G Hill          Strikeout Looking
   RR     12-  2   86%  G Gaetti        Double to CF (Fly Ball); Sosa Scores; Grace Scores
                  Trever Miller replaces Jay Powell pitching and batting 9th; Scott Servais pinch hits for Tyler Houston batting 7th
   O      -2-  4   84%  S Servais       Flyball: 3B-1B (Short 3B Line)
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Mark Clark facing 1-2-3
                  Scott Servais moves to C
   O      ---  3   88%  C Biggio        Popfly: 2B
   O      ---  2   91%  B Spiers        Flyball: LF
   O      ---  1   93%  D Bell          Foul Flyball: 3B (3B Foul)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 1.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-1, Trever Miller facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  4   92%  J Hernandez     Flyball: RF
                  Manny Alexander pinch hits for Mark Clark batting 9th
   O      ---  4   91%  M Alexander     Flyball: LF
          ---  6   92%  L Johnson       Single to 2B (Fly Ball to Deep 2B)
   O      1--  5   91%  M Morandini     Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Rod Beck facing 4-5-6
                  Rod Beck replaces Glenallen Hill pitching and batting 5th; Manny Alexander moves to SS; Jose Hernandez moves to LF
   R      ---  3   80%  J Bagwell       Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF Line)
          ---  2   56%  M Alou          Double to RF (Line Drive to Deep 1B)
   O      -2-  3   59%  C Everett       Groundout: 2B-1B; Alou to 3B
   O      --3  4   84%  T Eusebio       Strikeout Swinging
                  Dave Clark pinch hits for Tim Bogar batting 8th
   O      --3  1  100%  D Clark         Groundout: P unassisted (Weak 2B-1B)
        1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU199809260

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.

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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