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

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LAA 5
BOS 3 DET 5
@BAL 1 KCR 8
@CHW 7 TEX 1
@MIN 0 NYY 2
OAK 1 CLE 6
@SEA 2 TOR 9
@TBR 4 LAD 6
@ARI 5 WSN 15
@ATL 6 NYM 7
@CIN 5
(10) COL 11
PIT 3 FLA 3
PHI 2
(11) CHC 9
@HOU 0 MIL 7
@SFG 4 STL 9
SDP 5

Standings at end of play this day

Minute Maid Park, Attendance: 41,461

Sunday, July 20, 2008, 2:05pm
Time of Game: 2:28

Cubs

58-40

Won 1

1st

Lou Piniella

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Cubs            2  0  0   0  1  0   1  0  5    9 13  0
Astros          0  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  0    0  6  1

W: R Dempster (11-4), L: B Backe (6-10)

Astros

46-52

Lost 1

5th, 12 GB

Cecil Cooper

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
R Theriot SS                  5   1   3   2    0   0  .329  .783   11    1   3   
K Fukudome RF                 5   2   2   0    0   1  .277  .785   15    4   0   2·2B
D Lee 1B                      5   1   2   3    0   2  .304  .869   20   10   0   2B
A Ramirez 3B                  5   0   0   0    0   1  .274  .869   14    3   3   GDP
J Edmonds CF                  4   0   2   1    0   1  .238  .768   17    1   0   
M DeRosa LF                   4   1   1   0    0   1  .280  .818   17    1   0   2B
G Soto C                      4   1   0   0    0   2  .280  .866   16    7   0   
M Fontenot 2B                 4   3   3   3    0   0  .278  .904   13    0   2   HR,2B
R Dempster P                  3   0   0   0    0   0  .154  .400    6    0   1   SH
  C Marmol P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
Totals                       39   9  13   9    0   8              129   27   9

BATTING

2B: M DeRosa (16, off C Sampson); K Fukudome 2 (19, off T Byrdak, off B Backe); M Fontenot (14, off C Sampson); D Lee (27, off B Backe).

HR: M Fontenot (8, off B Backe; 5th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep RF Line).

SH: R Dempster (12, off B Backe).

TB: M Fontenot 7; K Fukudome 4; R Theriot 3; D Lee 3; J Edmonds 2; M DeRosa 2.

GIDP: A Ramirez (9).

RBI: M Fontenot 3 (24); D Lee 3 (59); R Theriot 2 (27); J Edmonds (37).

2-out RBI: R Theriot; J Edmonds.

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 6 for 10.

FIELDING

DP: 1. M Fontenot-R Theriot-D Lee.

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
K Matsui 2B                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .277  .708   15    3   2   
D Erstad CF                   4   0   0   0    0   2  .273  .707   13    5   0   
L Berkman 1B                  4   0   1   0    0   1  .342 1.076   15    7   1   
C Lee LF                      4   0   2   0    0   0  .304  .903   11    0   0   
M Tejada SS                   4   0   1   0    0   0  .282  .749   10    1   2   GDP
G Blum 3B                     4   0   1   0    0   0  .213  .601   10    1   5   
H Pence RF                    3   0   1   0    0   0  .266  .734    8    1   0   
J Towles C                    2   0   0   0    1   1  .143  .519   12    8   0   
B Backe P                     2   0   0   0    0   2  .323  .866   11    1   1   
  W Wright P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  D Newhan PH                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .280  .748    7    0   0   
  C Sampson P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .150  .340         0   0   
  T Byrdak P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .200  .400         0   0   
  C Paronto P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
Totals                       32   0   6   0    1   7              112   27  11

BATTING

TB: C Lee 2; G Blum; M Tejada; L Berkman; H Pence.

GIDP: M Tejada (12).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 1 for 4.

FIELDING

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

E: G Blum (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, W (11-4)           8     6   0   0    1   7   0   3.05   30  104-73   42·14·17   10· 8· 4· 0     76    -     1.09   0.39
C Marmol                       1     0   0   0    0   0   0   3.54    3    8-6     5· 0· 1    2· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.00   0.00
Totals                         9     6   0   0    1   7   0          33  112-79   47·14·18   12· 9· 4· 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
B Backe, L (6-10)              6.2   8   4   4    0   8   1   4.79   28   93-68   38·13·17    9·11· 0· 0     50    -     0.57  -0.12
W Wright                       0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   4.98    1    2-1     1· 0· 0    0· 1· 0· 0          1-0    0.34   0.01
C Sampson                      1.1   3   4   3    0   0   0   4.74    8   26-18   11· 0· 7    4· 4· 0· 0          0-0    0.09  -0.01
T Byrdak                       0     1   1   1    0   0   0   1.99    1    2-2     1· 0· 1    0· 1· 0· 0          1-0    0.01   0.00
C Paronto                      0.2   1   0   0    0   0   0   3.86    2    6-3     2· 0· 1    1· 1· 0· 0          2-2    0.00  -0.00
Totals                         9    13   9   8    0   8   1          40  129-92   53·13·26   14·18· 0· 0          4-2

T Byrdak faced 1 batter in the 9th inning.

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Bill Miller, 1B - Jerry Meals, 2B - Gary Darling, 3B - Paul Emmel.

Time of Game: 2:28.

Attendance: 41,461.

Weather: 73° F, Wind 0mph, In Dome.

LINEUPS

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

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 5   0  3-0  12-  2  -10%  60% H Pence         R Dempster      Single to SS (Ground Ball to Weak SS); Tejada to 3B; Blum to 2B
   t 1   1  0-0  -2-  1   10%  62% D Lee           B Backe         Double to RF (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Fukudome Scores
   b 5   1  3-0  123  6    9%  78% B Backe         R Dempster      Strikeout Looking
   b 5   0  3-0  123  3    9%  69% J Towles        R Dempster      Strikeout Swinging
   t 5   1  0-2  ---  3    9%  83% M Fontenot      B Backe         Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Brandon Backe facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  2   48%  R Theriot       Flyball: RF (Short RF Line)
          ---  3   52%  K Fukudome      Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF Line)
   R      -2-  1   62%  D Lee           Double to RF (Fly Ball to Deep CF-RF); Fukudome Scores
   O      -2-  2   58%  A Ramirez       Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
   R      -2-  2   67%  J Edmonds       Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Lee Scores
   O      1--  5   65%  M DeRosa        Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B (Weak SS)
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Ryan Dempster facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  3   68%  K Matsui        Lineout: LF (Short LF)
   O      ---  3   69%  D Erstad        Groundout: 1B unassisted (2B-1B)
   O      ---  5   70%  L Berkman       Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Ahead 2-0, Brandon Backe facing 7-8-9
   O      ---  6   68%  G Soto          Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   67%  M Fontenot      Popfly: 1B (Weak 2B)
   O      ---  1   66%  R Dempster      Popfly: 3B (Front of Home)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Ryan Dempster facing 4-5-6
          ---  2   62%  C Lee           Single to LF (Fly Ball to Short LF)
   OO     1--  1   70%  M Tejada        Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
   O      ---  5   72%  G Blum          Flyball: RF (CF-RF)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Ahead 2-0, Brandon Backe facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  4   70%  R Theriot       Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---  4   69%  K Fukudome      Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  6   68%  D Lee           Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Ryan Dempster facing 7-8-9
   O      ---  2   70%  H Pence         Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---  2   72%  J Towles        Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS)
   O      ---  5   73%  B Backe         Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 2-0, Brandon Backe facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  1   72%  A Ramirez       Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
   O      ---  5   70%  J Edmonds       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   69%  M DeRosa        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Ryan Dempster facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  3   72%  K Matsui        Groundout: 1B unassisted (2B-1B)
   O      ---  3   74%  D Erstad        Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
          ---  4   73%  L Berkman       Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF)
   O      1--  3   76%  C Lee           Foul Flyball: RF (RF Foul)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 2, Astros 0.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 2-0, Brandon Backe facing 7-8-9
   O      ---  3   74%  G Soto          Strikeout Swinging
   R      ---  3   83%  M Fontenot      Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line)
   O      ---  2   82%  R Dempster      Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---  1   83%  R Theriot       Single to RF (Fly Ball to Short CF-RF)
   O      1--  4   81%  K Fukudome      Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Ryan Dempster facing 5-6-7
          ---  3   77%  M Tejada        Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF-CF)
          1--  1   70%  G Blum          Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B); Tejada to 2B
          12-  2   60%  H Pence         Single to SS (Ground Ball to Weak SS); Tejada to 3B; Blum to 2B
   O      123  3   69%  J Towles        Strikeout Swinging
   O      123  6   78%  B Backe         Strikeout Looking
   O      123  3   87%  K Matsui        Foul Popfly: 3B (3B Foul)
                  0 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-0, Brandon Backe facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  5   86%  D Lee           Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  5   85%  A Ramirez       Strikeout Looking
          ---  4   85%  J Edmonds       Single to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF Line)
   O      1--  5   84%  M DeRosa        Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B (Weak 3B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-3, Ryan Dempster facing 2-3-4
   O      ---  3   87%  D Erstad        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   89%  L Berkman       Strikeout Swinging
          ---  4   87%  C Lee           Single to CF (Fly Ball to Short CF)
   O      1--  2   90%  M Tejada        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 3, Astros 0.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 3-0, Brandon Backe facing 7-8-9
   O      ---  3   89%  G Soto          Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
          ---  6   90%  M Fontenot      Single to SS (Ground Ball to SS-2B)
   O      1--  2   89%  R Dempster      Bunt Groundout: P-2B (Front of Home); Fontenot to 2B
   R      -2-  2   94%  R Theriot       Single to LF (Ground Ball thru Weak 3B); Fontenot Scores; Theriot to 2B/Adv on throw
                  Wesley Wright replaces Brandon Backe pitching and batting 9th
   O      -2-  2   93%  K Fukudome      Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 4, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-4, Ryan Dempster facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  2   95%  G Blum          Popfly: 3B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  4   96%  H Pence         Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
          ---  7   95%  J Towles        Walk
                  David Newhan pinch hits for Wesley Wright batting 9th
   O      1--  7   97%  D Newhan        Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 4, Astros 0.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 4-0, Chris Sampson facing 3-4-5
                  Chris Sampson replaces David Newhan pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---  6   96%  D Lee           Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  2   96%  A Ramirez       Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  6   96%  J Edmonds       Flyball: CF (Short CF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 4, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-4, Ryan Dempster facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  6   97%  K Matsui        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  4   98%  D Erstad        Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  3   99%  L Berkman       Lineout: RF (CF-RF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 4, Astros 0.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Ahead 4-0, Chris Sampson facing 6-7-8
          ---  4   99%  M DeRosa        Double to RF (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line)
          -2-  4   99%  G Soto          Reached on E5 (Ground Ball to Weak SS)
   RR     12-  1  100%  M Fontenot      Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); DeRosa Scores; Soto Scores/unER
   O      -2-  1  100%  R Dempster      Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B); Fontenot to 3B
   R      --3  2  100%  R Theriot       Single to RF (Fly Ball to Short CF-RF); Fontenot Scores
                  Tim Byrdak replaces Chris Sampson pitching and batting 9th
          1--  2  100%  K Fukudome      Double to CF (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Theriot to 3B
                  Chad Paronto replaces Tim Byrdak pitching and batting 9th
   RR     -23  2  100%  D Lee           Single to CF (Fly Ball); Theriot Scores; Fukudome Scores
   OO     1--  4  100%  A Ramirez       Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
                  5 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. Cubs 9, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-9, Carlos Marmol facing 4-5-6
                  Carlos Marmol replaces Ryan Dempster pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---  2  100%  C Lee           Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
   O      ---  4  100%  M Tejada        Groundout: SS-1B (Weak SS)
   O      ---  2  100%  G Blum          Foul Popfly: 3B (3B Foul)
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 9, Astros 0.

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