May 20, 2008 Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score

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BOS 2
KCR 1 CHW 4
CLE 1 DET 12
SEA 8 MIN 11
TEX 4 BAL 12
@NYY 2 TBR 3
@OAK 2 LAA 3
@TOR 1 ATL 6
NYM 1 ATL 6
NYM 2 SFG 6
@COL 5 FLA 3
ARI 2 HOU 4
CHC 2 LAD 4
CIN 1 MIL 7
@PIT 2 SDP 3
STL 2 PHI 1
@WSN 0

Standings at end of play this day

Minute Maid Park, Attendance: 33,339

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 8:05pm
Time of Game: 2:31

Cubs

28-18

Lost 1

1st

Lou Piniella

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

W: C Sampson (3-3), L: R Dempster (5-2), S: J Valverde (13)

Astros

26-21

Won 1

3rd, 2½ GB

Cecil Cooper

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
A Soriano LF                  4   0   0   0    0   3  .278  .871   14    2   0   
R Theriot SS                  4   0   0   0    0   0  .325  .809   15    1   3   
D Lee 1B                      4   1   3   0    0   0  .302  .907    9    5   1   2B
A Ramirez 3B                  4   1   2   2    0   0  .290  .933   13    0   0   HR
K Fukudome RF                 4   0   0   0    0   0  .311  .851   12    3   0   
G Soto C                      4   0   1   0    0   2  .315 1.022   15    6   0   
J Edmonds CF                  3   0   0   0    1   1  .176  .486   13    3   0   GDP
M DeRosa 2B                   4   0   2   0    0   0  .311  .863   11    3   3   
R Dempster P                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .158  .316    3    1   1   SH
  M Hoffpauir PH              0   0   0   0    1   0  .000  .500    4    0   0   
  J Ascanio P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
  M Fontenot PH               1   0   0   0    0   0  .258  .789    1    0   0   
Totals                       33   2   8   2    2   6              110   24   9

BATTING

2B: D Lee (13, off C Sampson).

HR: A Ramirez (8, off C Sampson; 4th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF).

SH: R Dempster (7, off C Sampson).

TB: A Ramirez 5; D Lee 4; M DeRosa 2; G Soto.

GIDP: J Edmonds (3).

RBI: A Ramirez 2 (31).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 1 for 7.

FIELDING

E: J Edmonds (2).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
M Bourn CF                    3   0   0   0    0   1  .196  .539   20    2   0   SH
K Matsui 2B                   4   0   1   0    0   1  .291  .775   24    1   4   
M Tejada SS                   3   1   1   0    1   0  .342  .899   17    2   4   2B
L Berkman 1B                  3   1   1   0    1   2  .388 1.243   19   12   0   
C Lee LF                      4   0   0   0    0   1  .279  .823   13    1   0   
  J Valverde P                0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
G Blum 3B                     3   1   1   0    1   0  .209  .581   20    1   5   
H Pence RF                    4   1   3   4    0   0  .293  .802    8    2   0   HR,2B
J Towles C                    3   0   0   0    0   1  .144  .568   12    4   0   
  D Brocail P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  D Erstad PH-LF              0   0   0   0    1   0  .308  .805    4    0   0   IW
C Sampson P                   2   0   0   0    0   0  .059  .118    6    0   1   
  B Ausmus C                  2   0   1   0    0   0  .217  .547    7    2   0   
Totals                       31   4   8   4    4   6              150   27  14

BATTING

2B: H Pence (11, off J Ascanio); M Tejada (15, off R Dempster).

HR: H Pence (5, off R Dempster; 4th inn, 3 on, 1 out to Deep RF).

SH: M Bourn (2, off J Ascanio).

IBB: D Erstad (1, by J Ascanio).

TB: H Pence 7; M Tejada 2; B Ausmus; G Blum; L Berkman; K Matsui.

RBI: H Pence 4 (27).

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 1 for 7.

FIELDING

DP: 1. K Matsui-M Tejada-L Berkman.

E: M Bourn (4).

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 Dempster, L (5-2)            6     6   4   4    2   5   1   2.70   26  109-66   38·12·16   10· 8· 1· 0     47    -     0.96  -0.23
J Ascanio                      2     2   0   0    2   1   0   0.00   10   41-24   13· 6· 5    2· 5· 0· 0          0-0    0.48   0.04
Totals                         8     8   4   4    4   6   1          36  150-90   51·18·21   12·13· 1· 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
C Sampson, W (3-3)             6.2   7   2   2    1   4   1   5.91   27   83-54   32· 6·16   14· 8· 0· 0     55    -     0.99   0.09
D Brocail, H (7)               1.1   1   0   0    0   1   0   3.20    5   13-12    7· 3· 2    0· 3· 1· 0          2-0    1.66   0.14
J Valverde, S (13)             1     0   0   0    1   1   0   3.75    4   13-7     2· 4· 1    2· 0· 0· 0          0-0    1.67   0.07
Totals                         9     8   2   2    2   6   1          36  109-73   41·13·19   16·11· 1· 0          2-0

Balks: None.

WP: J Valverde (2).

IBB: J Ascanio (1; D Erstad).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - CB Bucknor, 1B - Joe West, 2B - Ed Rapuano, 3B - Ed Hickox.

Time of Game: 2:31.

Attendance: 33,339.

Weather: 72° F, Wind 0mph, In Dome.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Houston Astros                       
1. A Soriano            LF    1. M Bourn              CF 
2. R Theriot            SS    2. K Matsui             2B 
3. D Lee                1B    3. M Tejada             SS 
4. A Ramirez            3B    4. L Berkman            1B 
5. K Fukudome           RF    5. C Lee                LF 
6. G Soto               C     6. G Blum               3B 
7. J Edmonds            CF    7. H Pence              RF 
8. M DeRosa             2B    8. J Towles             C  
9. R Dempster           P     9. C Sampson            P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 4   1  2-0  123  3   34%  77% H Pence         R Dempster      Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Tejada Scores; Berkman Scores; Blum Scores
   t 4   0  0-0  -2-  1  -16%  27% A Ramirez       C Sampson       Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Lee Scores
   t 7   0  4-2  1--  2   12%  88% J Edmonds       C Sampson       Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
   b 4   0  2-0  ---  2    8%  38% M Tejada        R Dempster      Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
   t 4   0  0-0  ---  4   -7%  43% D Lee           C Sampson       Double to LF (Ground Ball)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Chris Sampson facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  3   52%  A Soriano       Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  6   54%  R Theriot       Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS)
          ---  1   53%  D Lee           Single to CF (Fly Ball)
          1--  7   50%  A Ramirez       Single to CF (Fly Ball); Lee to 3B/Adv on E8
   O      1-3  3   55%  K Fukudome      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Ryan Dempster facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  5   53%  M Bourn         Strikeout Swinging
          ---  5   55%  K Matsui        Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B)
   O      1--  5   52%  M Tejada        Flyball: CF
          1--  3   55%  L Berkman       Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Matsui to 3B
   O      1-3  2   50%  C Lee           Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B (Weak SS)
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Chris Sampson facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  6   52%  G Soto          Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   54%  J Edmonds       Foul Popfly: 3B (3B Foul)
   O      ---  2   55%  M DeRosa        Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Ryan Dempster facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  4   53%  G Blum          Groundout: 1B-P (2B-1B)
   O      ---  1   51%  H Pence         Groundout: 2B-1B (2B-1B)
   O      ---  4   50%  J Towles        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Chris Sampson facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  2   52%  R Dempster      Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  3   54%  A Soriano       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  6   55%  R Theriot       Flyball: RF (CF-RF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Ryan Dempster facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  4   53%  C Sampson       Flyball: RF (Short RF)
   O      ---  6   51%  M Bourn         Popfly: 2B (Short CF)
   O      ---  6   50%  K Matsui        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Chris Sampson facing 3-4-5
          ---  4   43%  D Lee           Double to LF (Ground Ball)
   RR     -2-  1   27%  A Ramirez       Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Lee Scores
   O      ---  1   28%  K Fukudome      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---  2   30%  G Soto          Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
   O      ---  4   31%  J Edmonds       Strikeout Swinging
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Ryan Dempster facing 3-4-5
          ---  2   38%  M Tejada        Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
          -2-  6   43%  L Berkman       Walk
   O      12-  3   42%  C Lee           Flyball: CF; Tejada to 3B; Berkman to 2B/Adv on E8 (throw)
          -23  5   44%  G Blum          Walk
   RRRR   123  3   77%  H Pence         Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF); Tejada Scores; Berkman Scores; Blum Scores
   O      ---  6   76%  J Towles        Groundout: P-1B (Weak SS)
   O      ---  2   76%  C Sampson       Groundout: SS-1B (Weak 3B)
                  4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Chris Sampson facing 8-9-1
          ---  2   71%  M DeRosa        Single to LF (Ground Ball thru Weak 3B)
   O      1--  1   73%  R Dempster      Bunt Groundout: 3B-2B (Front of Home); DeRosa to 2B
   O      -2-  3   78%  A Soriano       Strikeout Swinging
   O      -2-  1   82%  R Theriot       Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-2, Ryan Dempster facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  6   80%  M Bourn         Flyball: RF (Short CF-RF)
   O      ---  5   79%  K Matsui        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  5   78%  M Tejada        Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Chris Sampson facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  3   81%  D Lee           Groundout: P-1B (Short 1B Line)
   O      ---  2   84%  A Ramirez       Popfly: SS (Weak SS-2B)
   O      ---  6   85%  K Fukudome      Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-2, Ryan Dempster facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  6   84%  L Berkman       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  7   83%  C Lee           Strikeout Swinging
          ---  5   83%  G Blum          Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B)
          1--  1   84%  H Pence         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF); Blum to 2B
   O      12-  2   82%  J Towles        Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Chris Sampson facing 6-7-8
          ---  3   76%  G Soto          Single to LF (Ground Ball thru Weak 3B)
   OO     1--  2   88%  J Edmonds       Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
          ---  2   86%  M DeRosa        Single to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF)
                  Micah Hoffpauir pinch hits for Ryan Dempster batting 9th
          1--  4   83%  M Hoffpauir     Walk; DeRosa to 2B
                  Doug Brocail replaces J.R. Towles pitching and batting 8th; Brad Ausmus replaces Chris Sampson playing C batting 9th
   O      12-  5   89%  A Soriano       Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-2, Jose Ascanio facing 9-1-2
                  Jose Ascanio replaces Micah Hoffpauir pitching and batting 9th
          ---  4   91%  B Ausmus        Single to RF (Fly Ball to Short CF-RF)
   O      1--  3   90%  M Bourn         Bunt Groundout: P-2B (Front of Home); Ausmus to 2B
   O      -2-  8   88%  K Matsui        Flyball: LF
          -2-  5   89%  M Tejada        Walk
   O      12-  4   87%  L Berkman       Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Doug Brocail facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  2   90%  R Theriot       Flyball: RF (CF-RF)
          ---  1   86%  D Lee           Single to LF (Line Drive to LF-CF)
   O      1--  3   91%  A Ramirez       Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
   O      1--  2   94%  K Fukudome      Flyball: LF (LF Line)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-2, Jose Ascanio facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  1   93%  C Lee           Flyball: CF (Deep LF-CF)
   O      ---  6   93%  G Blum          Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
          ---  3   94%  H Pence         Double to CF (Fly Ball to Deep CF)
                  Darin Erstad pinch hits for Doug Brocail batting 8th
          -2-  4   94%  D Erstad        Intentional Walk
   O      12-  3   93%  B Ausmus        Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Behind 2-4, Jose Valverde facing 6-7-8
                  Jose Valverde replaces Carlos Lee pitching and batting 5th; Darin Erstad moves to LF
   O      ---  4   97%  G Soto          Strikeout Swinging
          ---  4   92%  J Edmonds       Walk
          1--      91%  M DeRosa        Wild Pitch; Edmonds to 2B
   O      -2-  4   96%  " "             Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS)
                  Mike Fontenot pinch hits for Jose Ascanio batting 9th
   O      -2-  1  100%  M Fontenot      Groundout: 2B-1B
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 4.

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