September 4, 1977 Houston Astros at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play

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BAL 7
@CHW 5 CAL 7
@CLE 3 OAK 7
@DET 5 KCR 6
MIL 2 NYY 4
@MIN 0 BOS 8
@TEX 4 SEA 7
@TOR 2 LAD 8
PIT 2 HOU 7
@MON 1 ATL 7
@NYM 5 CIN 5
@PHI 2 CHC 2
@SDP 1 STL 8
@SFG 2

Standings at end of play this day

Stade Olympique, Attendance: 22,293

Sunday, September 4, 1977
Time of Game: 2:17

Astros

66-70

Won 1

3rd, 17 GB

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

W: J Niekro (11-5), L: J Brown (9-12)

Expos

61-74

Lost 1

5th, 22½ GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
T Puhl LF                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .296  .781    0    0   0   HBP
  W Howard LF                 1   0   1   0    0   0  .261  .612    0    1   0   2B
E Cabell 3B-1B                4   0   0   0    1   0  .277  .751    0    4   1   CS
C Cedeno CF                   4   1   1   0    1   0  .240  .716    0    3   0   2B,2·SB
J Cruz RF                     4   1   0   0    1   0  .297  .831    0    3   0   SB
J Ferguson C                  2   2   0   0    3   0  .254  .812    0    4   1   
B Watson 1B                   3   2   2   5    0   0  .282  .818    0    7   1   HR,2B
  R Metzger PH-SS             2   0   0   0    0   0  .179  .518    0    1   1   
A Howe 2B-3B                  4   1   1   0    1   0  .258  .748    0    1   4   
J Gonzalez SS-2B              2   0   0   1    1   1  .254  .620    0    1   3   SF
J Niekro P                    4   0   2   1    0   1  .135  .314    0    2   2   
Totals                       33   7   7   7    8   2                    27  13

BATTING

2B: B Watson (31, off D Schatzeder); W Howard (5, off B Atkinson); C Cedeno (28, off S Alcala).

HR: B Watson (15, off J Brown; 1st inn, 3 on, 2 outs).

SF: J Gonzalez (2, off D Schatzeder).

HBP: T Puhl (1, by S Alcala).

TB: B Watson 6; J Niekro 2; W Howard 2; C Cedeno 2; A Howe.

RBI: B Watson 5 (85); J Gonzalez (27); J Niekro (1).

2-out RBI: B Watson 4; J Niekro.

Team LOB: 9.

With RISP: 2 for 11.

FIELDING

DP: 3. J Gonzalez-A Howe-B Watson; J Ferguson-J Gonzalez-B Watson; J Niekro-B Watson.

BASERUNNING

SB: C Cedeno 2 (48, 3rd base off S Alcala/G Carter, 2nd base off D Schatzeder/G Carter); J Cruz (40, 2nd base off J Brown/G Carter).

CS: E Cabell (18, 2nd base by J Brown/G Carter).

Montreal Expos               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Cash 2B                     4   1   3   0    0   0  .290  .721    0    3   3   2B
W Cromartie LF                4   0   0   0    0   1  .281  .719    0    4   0   GDP
A Dawson CF                   3   0   0   0    0   0  .279  .785    0    2   0   
T Perez 1B                    3   0   1   1    0   1  .287  .820    0   12   1   
G Carter C                    3   0   0   0    0   0  .276  .840    0    2   1   
D Unser RF                    3   0   1   0    0   0  .263  .795    0    0   0   
L Parrish 3B                  3   0   0   0    0   0  .249  .712    0    1   4   GDP
C Speier SS                   3   0   0   0    0   0  .230  .656    0    2   4   
J Brown P                     0   0   0   0    0   0  .130  .275         0   0   
  D Schatzeder P              0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
  P Mackanin PH               1   0   0   0    0   1  .216  .553    0    0   0   
  S Alcala P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .074  .259         1   0   
  S Mejias PH                 1   0   0   0    0   1  .244  .672    0    0   0   
  B Atkinson P                0   0   0   0    0   0  .200  .400         0   1   
  P Frias PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .218  .454    0    0   0   
Totals                       29   1   5   1    0   4                    27  15

BATTING

2B: D Cash (34, off J Niekro).

TB: D Cash 4; T Perez; D Unser.

GIDP: W Cromartie (14); L Parrish (10).

RBI: T Perez (77).

2-out RBI: T Perez.

Team LOB: 1.

With RISP: 1 for 3.

FIELDING

E: L Parrish (17).

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, W (11-5)             9     5   1   1    0   4   0   2.91   29     -       ·  ·     10· 9· 1· 5     77    -     0.47   0.12
Totals                         9     5   1   1    0   4   0          29     -       ·  ·     10· 9· 1· 5           -

Montreal Expos                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
J Brown, L (9-12)              0.2   1   4   4    5   0   1   4.52    7     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 0· 1     29    -     1.19  -0.33
D Schatzeder                   2.1   2   2   2    2   0   0   7.71   12     -       ·  ·      4· 4· 0· 2          1-0    0.56  -0.06
S Alcala                       3     3   1   1    0   1   0   4.94   13     -       ·  ·      4· 4· 0· 3          0-0    0.25  -0.00
B Atkinson                     3     1   0   0    1   1   0   3.53   11     -       ·  ·      7· 1· 0· 1          0-0    0.04   0.00
Totals                         9     7   7   7    8   2   1          43     -       ·  ·     15·10· 0· 7          1-0

Balks: None.

WP: J Niekro (5); J Brown (2); D Schatzeder (1); S Alcala (6).

IBB: None.

HBP: S Alcala (3; T Puhl).

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Harry Wendelstedt, 1B - Tom Gorman, 2B - Joe West, 3B - Terry Tata.

Time of Game: 2:17.

Attendance: 22,293.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Montreal Expos                       
1. T Puhl               LF    1. D Cash               2B 
2. E Cabell             3B    2. W Cromartie          LF 
3. C Cedeno             CF    3. A Dawson             CF 
4. J Cruz               RF    4. T Perez              1B 
5. J Ferguson           C     5. G Carter             C  
6. B Watson             1B    6. D Unser              RF 
7. A Howe               2B    7. L Parrish            3B 
8. J Gonzalez           SS    8. C Speier             SS 
9. J Niekro             P     9. J Brown              P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 1   2  0-0  123      30%  82% B Watson        J Brown         Home Run; Cedeno Scores; Cruz Scores; Ferguson Scores
   b 2   0  4-1  1--       7%  80% L Parrish       J Niekro        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   t 3   0  1-4  1--       7%  90% B Watson        D Schatzeder    Double; Ferguson Scores
   b 1   2  4-0  --3      -6%  77% T Perez         J Niekro        Single; Cash Scores
   b 1   0  4-0  ---      -5%  77% D Cash          J Niekro        Double

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Jackie Brown facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      48%  T Puhl          Popfly: SS
          ---      50%  E Cabell        Walk
   O      1--      46%  C Cedeno        Cabell Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
          ---      47%  " "             Walk
          1--      49%  J Cruz          Walk; Cedeno to 2B
          12-      50%  J Ferguson      Wild Pitch; Cedeno to 3B
          1-3      51%  " "             Cruz Steals 2B
          -23      52%  " "             Walk
   RRRR   123      82%  B Watson        Home Run; Cedeno Scores; Cruz Scores; Ferguson Scores
          ---      83%  A Howe          Walk
                  Dan Schatzeder replaces Jackie Brown pitching and batting 9th
          1--      84%  J Gonzalez      Walk; Howe to 2B
          12-      84%  J Niekro        Wild Pitch; Howe to 3B; Gonzalez to 2B
   O      -23      82%  " "             Flyball: CF
                  4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 4, Expos 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Expos Batting, Behind 0-4, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      77%  D Cash          Double
   O      -2-      80%  W Cromartie     Flyball: CF
   O      -2-      83%  A Dawson        Flyball: RF
          -2-      83%  T Perez         Wild Pitch; Cash to 3B
   R      --3      77%  " "             Single; Cash Scores
   O      1--      79%  G Carter        Flyball: CF
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Expos 1.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-1, Dan Schatzeder facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      78%  T Puhl          Flyball: CF
   O      ---      77%  E Cabell        Popfly: SS
          ---      77%  C Cedeno        Reached on E5 (Ground Ball)
          1--      78%  J Cruz          Cedeno Steals 2B
   O      -2-      76%  " "             Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 4, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Expos Batting, Behind 1-4, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
          ---      72%  D Unser         Single
   OO     1--      80%  L Parrish       Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   O      ---      81%  C Speier        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Expos 1.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 4-1, Dan Schatzeder facing 5-6-7
          ---      83%  J Ferguson      Walk
   R      1--      90%  B Watson        Double; Ferguson Scores
   O      -2-      89%  A Howe          Groundout: 2B-1B; Watson to 3B
   RO     --3      90%  J Gonzalez      Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly; Watson Scores
          ---      91%  J Niekro        Single
   O      1--      90%  T Puhl          Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 6, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Expos Batting, Behind 1-6, Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
                  Pete Mackanin pinch hits for Dan Schatzeder batting 9th
   O      ---      92%  P Mackanin      Strikeout
          ---      90%  D Cash          Single
   OO     1--      93%  W Cromartie     Line Drive Double Play: P-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 6, Expos 1.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 6-1, Santo Alcala facing 2-3-4
                  Santo Alcala replaces Pete Mackanin pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      92%  E Cabell        Flyball: LF
          ---      93%  C Cedeno        Double
          -2-      94%  J Cruz          Cedeno Steals 3B
   O      --3      93%  " "             Popfly: 2B
   O      --3      92%  J Ferguson      Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 6, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 4th, Expos Batting, Behind 1-6, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      93%  A Dawson        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      94%  T Perez         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      94%  G Carter        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 6, Expos 1.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 6-1, Santo Alcala facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      94%  B Watson        Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      94%  A Howe          Single
          1--      95%  J Gonzalez      Wild Pitch; Howe to 2B
   O      -2-      94%  " "             Strikeout
   R      -2-      96%  J Niekro        Single; Howe Scores
          1--      97%  T Puhl          Hit By Pitch; Niekro to 2B
   O      12-      96%  E Cabell        Popfly: 1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Expos Batting, Behind 1-7, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      97%  D Unser         Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---      97%  L Parrish       Popfly: 3B
   O      ---      98%  C Speier        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 7-1, Santo Alcala facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      97%  C Cedeno        Flyball: LF
   O      ---      97%  J Cruz          Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      97%  J Ferguson      Groundout: 1B-P
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Expos Batting, Behind 1-7, Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
                  Sam Mejias pinch hits for Santo Alcala batting 9th
   O      ---      98%  S Mejias        Strikeout
          ---      97%  D Cash          Single
   OO     1--      99%  W Cromartie     Ground Ball Double Play: C-SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 7-1, Bill Atkinson facing 6-7-8
                  Bill Atkinson replaces Sam Mejias pitching and batting 9th; Roger Metzger pinch hits for Bob Watson batting 6th
   O      ---      98%  R Metzger       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      98%  A Howe          Flyball: LF
   O      ---      98%  J Gonzalez      Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 7th, Expos Batting, Behind 1-7, Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
                  Enos Cabell moves to 1B; Julio Gonzalez moves to 2B; Art Howe moves to 3B; Roger Metzger moves to SS; Wilbur Howard replaces Terry Puhl playing LF batting 1st
   O      ---      99%  A Dawson        Popfly: SS
   O      ---      99%  T Perez         Strikeout
   O      ---      99%  G Carter        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 7-1, Bill Atkinson facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      99%  J Niekro        Strikeout
          ---      99%  W Howard        Double
   O      -2-      99%  E Cabell        Fielder's Choice P; Howard out at 3B/P-SS-3B; Cabell to 1B
   O      1--      99%  C Cedeno        Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 8th, Expos Batting, Behind 1-7, Joe Niekro facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      99%  D Unser         Flyball: LF
   O      ---     100%  L Parrish       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---     100%  C Speier        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Ahead 7-1, Bill Atkinson facing 4-5-6
   O      ---     100%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---     100%  J Ferguson      Walk
   O      1--     100%  R Metzger       Groundout: 2B-1B; Ferguson to 2B
   O      -2-     100%  A Howe          Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Bottom of the 9th, Expos Batting, Behind 1-7, Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
                  Pepe Frias pinch hits for Bill Atkinson batting 9th
   O      ---     100%  P Frias         Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---     100%  D Cash          Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---     100%  W Cromartie     Strikeout
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 7, Expos 1.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:MON197709040

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