April 9, 1981 Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play

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DET 6
TOR 2 OAK 5
@MIN 1 NYY 10
TEX 3 CAL 6
@SEA 2 NYM 2
@CHC 0 LAD 2
HOU 0 MON 6
@PIT 5 SDP 4
@SFG 1
(12)

Standings at end of play this day

Dodger Stadium, Attendance: 50,511

Thursday, April 9, 1981, 1:11PM
Time of Game: 2:17

Astros

0-1

Lost 1

4th, 1 GB

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

W: F Valenzuela (1-0), L: J Niekro (0-1)

Dodgers

1-0

Won 1

1st

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl RF                     4   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    2   0   GDP
C Reynolds SS                 4   0   2   0    0   0  .500 1.000    0    1   3   
C Cedeno CF                   4   0   1   0    0   1  .250  .750    0    2   0   2B
J Cruz LF                     4   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    4   0   
A Howe 3B                     3   0   1   0    1   0  .333  .833    0    0   1   
D Roberts 1B                  4   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    7   1   
D Thon 2B                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    4   0   
L Pujols C                    3   0   1   0    0   1  .333  .666    0    3   2   
J Niekro P                    1   0   0   0    1   1  .000  .500    0    1   0   
  J Leonard PH                1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  D Smith P                   0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
Totals                       31   0   5   0    2   5                    24   7

BATTING

2B: C Cedeno (1, off F Valenzuela).

TB: C Cedeno 2; C Reynolds 2; A Howe; L Pujols.

GIDP: T Puhl (1).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 0 for 5.

Los Angeles Dodgers          AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Lopes 2B                    3   0   0   0    1   0  .000  .250    0    1   3   SB
K Landreaux CF                4   0   1   0    0   0  .250  .750    0    4   0   2B
D Baker LF                    4   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    1   0   
S Garvey 1B                   4   2   2   0    0   1  .500 1.500    0   12   1   3B
R Cey 3B                      2   0   0   1    1   0  .000  .250    0    1   1   SF
P Guerrero RF                 4   0   3   1    0   0  .750 1.750    0    0   0   2B,SB
M Scioscia C                  3   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    6   0   
B Russell SS                  3   0   2   0    0   0  .667 1.334    0    2   2   CS
F Valenzuela P                2   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   2   SH
Totals                       29   2   8   2    2   3                    27   9

BATTING

2B: K Landreaux (1, off J Niekro); P Guerrero (1, off J Niekro).

3B: S Garvey (1, off J Niekro).

SF: R Cey (1, off J Niekro).

SH: F Valenzuela (1, off J Niekro).

TB: P Guerrero 4; S Garvey 4; K Landreaux 2; B Russell 2.

RBI: R Cey (1); P Guerrero (1).

2-out RBI: P Guerrero.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 1 for 9.

FIELDING

DP: 1. S Garvey-B Russell.

BASERUNNING

SB: D Lopes (1, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols); P Guerrero (1, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols).

CS: B Russell (1, 2nd base by J Niekro/L Pujols).

PITCHING

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 Niekro, L (0-1)              7     8   2   2    1   1   0   2.57   29     -       ·  ·      6·12· 1· 8     53    -     0.92   0.01
D Smith                        1     0   0   0    1   2   0   0.00    4     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.22   0.01
Totals                         8     8   2   2    2   3   0          33     -       ·  ·      6·13· 1· 8           -

Los Angeles Dodgers           IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
F Valenzuela, W (1-0)          9     5   0   0    2   5   0   0.00   33     -       ·  ·     10· 9· 2· 5     80    -     1.16   0.52
Totals                         9     5   0   0    2   5   0          33     -       ·  ·     10· 9· 2· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: J Niekro (1).

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Bob Engel, 1B - Jerry Dale, 2B - Paul Runge, 3B - Jim Quick.

Time of Game: 2:17.

Attendance: 50,511.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Los Angeles Dodgers                  
1. T Puhl               RF    1. D Lopes              2B 
2. C Reynolds           SS    2. K Landreaux          CF 
3. C Cedeno             CF    3. D Baker              LF 
4. J Cruz               LF    4. S Garvey             1B 
5. A Howe               3B    5. R Cey                3B 
6. D Roberts            1B    6. P Guerrero           RF 
7. D Thon               2B    7. M Scioscia           C  
8. L Pujols             C     8. B Russell            SS 
9. J Niekro             P     9. F Valenzuela         P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 6   1  1-0  1--     -15%  52% C Cedeno        F Valenzuela    Double to LF; Reynolds to 3B
   t 6   1  1-0  -23      13%  66% J Cruz          F Valenzuela    Lineout: SS
   b 6   2  0-1  --3      11%  86% P Guerrero      J Niekro        Double to LF; Garvey Scores
   t 6   2  1-0  -23      10%  76% A Howe          F Valenzuela    Groundout: P-1B
   b 4   1  0-0  ---      10%  63% S Garvey        J Niekro        Triple to RF

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Fernando Valenzuela facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  T Puhl          Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      50%  C Reynolds      Single to CF
   O      1--      51%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 2B-1B; Reynolds to 2B
   O      -2-      54%  J Cruz          Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  D Lopes         Flyball: CF
          ---      57%  K Landreaux     Double to LF
   O      -2-      53%  D Baker         Flyball: 2B
   O      -2-      50%  S Garvey        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Fernando Valenzuela facing 5-6-7
          ---      46%  A Howe          Walk
   O      1--      48%  D Roberts       Flyball: CF; Howe to 2B
   O      -2-      51%  D Thon          Groundout: 2B-1B; Howe to 3B
   O      --3      55%  L Pujols        Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      53%  R Cey           Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      55%  P Guerrero      Single to RF
          1--      57%  M Scioscia      Guerrero Steals 2B
   O      -2-      53%  " "             Strikeout
   O      -2-      50%  B Russell       Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Fernando Valenzuela facing 9-1-2
          ---      46%  J Niekro        Walk
   OO     1--      54%  T Puhl          Ground Ball Double Play: 1B-SS
   O      ---      55%  C Reynolds      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      53%  F Valenzuela    Lineout: 2B
   O      ---      51%  D Lopes         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      50%  K Landreaux     Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Fernando Valenzuela facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      53%  C Cedeno        Strikeout
   O      ---      54%  J Cruz          Lineout: 1B
   O      ---      56%  A Howe          Flyball: 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Dodgers Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      53%  D Baker         Flyball: LF
          ---      63%  S Garvey        Triple to RF
   RO     --3      67%  R Cey           Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly; Garvey Scores
          ---      68%  P Guerrero      Single to LF
   O      1--      66%  M Scioscia      Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Fernando Valenzuela facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      69%  D Roberts       Flyball: CF
   O      ---      71%  D Thon          Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      69%  L Pujols        Single to 2B
   O      1--      72%  J Niekro        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 1-0, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
          ---      76%  B Russell       Single to LF
   O      1--      73%  F Valenzuela    Popfly: P
   O      1--      69%  D Lopes         Russell Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
          ---      70%  " "             Walk
          1--      71%  K Landreaux     Lopes Steals 2B
   O      -2-      68%  " "             Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Fernando Valenzuela facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      72%  T Puhl          Foul Flyball: C
          ---      68%  C Reynolds      Single to CF
          1--      52%  C Cedeno        Double to LF; Reynolds to 3B
   O      -23      66%  J Cruz          Lineout: SS
   O      -23      76%  A Howe          Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 1-0, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      74%  D Baker         Flyball: LF
          ---      76%  S Garvey        Single to LF
   O      1--      75%  R Cey           Groundout: C-1B; Garvey to 2B
          -2-      75%  P Guerrero      Wild Pitch; Garvey to 3B
   R      --3      86%  " "             Double to LF; Garvey Scores
   O      -2-      84%  M Scioscia      Flyball: 2B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 2.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Fernando Valenzuela facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      87%  D Roberts       Flyball: CF
   O      ---      89%  D Thon          Flyball: CF
   O      ---      90%  L Pujols        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 2.

Bottom of the 7th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 2-0, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
          ---      92%  B Russell       Single to LF
   O      1--      91%  F Valenzuela    Bunt Groundout: 1B-2B/Sacrifice; Russell to 2B
   O      -2-      90%  D Lopes         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      -2-      89%  K Landreaux     Foul Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 2.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Fernando Valenzuela facing 9-1-2
                  Jeffrey Leonard pinch hits for Joe Niekro batting 9th
   O      ---      92%  J Leonard       Strikeout
   O      ---      94%  T Puhl          Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      95%  C Reynolds      Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Dodgers Batting, Ahead 2-0, Dave Smith facing 3-4-5
                  Dave Smith replaces Jeffrey Leonard pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      95%  D Baker         Strikeout
   O      ---      94%  S Garvey        Strikeout
          ---      94%  R Cey           Walk
   O      1--      94%  P Guerrero      Foul Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 2.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-2, Fernando Valenzuela facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      97%  C Cedeno        Foul Flyball: 3B
   O      ---      99%  J Cruz          Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      97%  A Howe          Single to CF
   O      1--     100%  D Roberts       Strikeout
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Dodgers 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:LAN198104090

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