September 21, 1968 Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score

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BAL 8
@CHW 5 CLE 3
CAL 2 MIN 2
OAK 1
(6) BOS 2
@NYY 0 DET 4
@WSA 3 CIN 5
@HOU 0 LAD 3
STL 0 PHI 4
NYM 3 PIT 5
CHC 1 ATL 2
@SFG 1

Standings at end of play this day

Forbes Field, Attendance: 3,429

Saturday, September 21, 1968, 2:15PM
Time of Game: 2:27

Cubs

79-77

Lost 2

4th, 15 GB

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

W: D Ellis (6-4), L: J Niekro (14-10)

Pirates

77-77

Won 2

6th, 16 GB

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Kessinger SS                4   0   0   0    0   1  .246  .585    0    1   3   
A Spangler RF                 4   0   2   0    0   0  .269  .712    0    1   0   3B
B Williams LF                 4   0   0   0    0   0  .286  .830    0    2   0   
R Santo 3B                    3   1   1   0    1   0  .247  .764    0    0   2   
D Nen 1B                      2   0   1   1    2   0  .189  .508    0   11   0   2B
R Hundley C                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .232  .604    0    6   2   
A Phillips CF                 4   0   0   0    0   0  .242  .713    0    2   0   
J Arcia 2B                    3   0   1   0    0   0  .179  .469    0    0   0   
  J Upham PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .222  .444    0    0   0   
J Niekro P                    1   0   0   0    0   0  .100  .256    0    0   1   
  B Tiefenauer P              0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   1   
  J McMath PH                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .154  .308    0    0   0   
  J Brown P                   0   0   0   0    0   0                     1   1   
  C Jones PH                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  J Lamabe P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .200  .533         0   1   
Totals                       32   1   5   1    3   1                    24  11

BATTING

2B: D Nen (1, off D Ellis).

3B: A Spangler (3, off D Ellis).

TB: A Spangler 4; D Nen 2; J Arcia; R Santo.

RBI: D Nen (16).

2-out RBI: D Nen.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 0 for 6.

Pittsburgh Pirates           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
M Wills 3B                    4   1   2   0    0   0  .280  .646    0    2   4   
F Patek SS                    3   1   1   0    0   1  .268  .646    0    2   3   SH
M Alou CF                     4   1   2   0    0   0  .330  .758    0    2   0   2B
R Clemente RF                 2   1   0   0    2   0  .282  .815    0    3   0   2·IW
  G Kolb RF                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .226  .624         0   0   
D Clendenon 1B                4   0   1   1    0   2  .257  .710    0   10   1   
G Alley 2B                    4   1   1   2    0   1  .241  .618    0    2   4   
J Pagan LF                    3   0   1   1    0   1  .226  .637    0    2   0   CS
J May C                       3   0   1   1    0   0  .220  .563    0    2   0   
D Ellis P                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .071  .178    0    2   0   
Totals                       30   5   9   5    2   5                    27  12

BATTING

2B: M Alou (26, off J Niekro).

SH: F Patek (8, off J Brown).

IBB: R Clemente 2 (25, by J Niekro, by J Brown).

TB: M Alou 3; M Wills 2; F Patek; J Pagan; G Alley; D Clendenon; J May.

RBI: G Alley 2 (36); D Clendenon (82); J Pagan (20); J May (32).

2-out RBI: D Clendenon.

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 4 for 8.

BASERUNNING

CS: J Pagan (3, Home by B Tiefenauer/R Hundley).

PO: M Alou (1st base by R Hundley).

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
J Niekro, L (14-10)            3.1   6   4   4    1   4   0   4.31   16     -       ·  ·      4· 2· 0· 5     35    -     1.23  -0.22
B Tiefenauer                   0.2   1   0   0    0   0   0   6.08    2     -       ·  ·      1· 0· 0· 1          2-1    0.60  -0.02
J Brown                        2     2   1   1    1   0   0   4.50    9     -       ·  ·      4· 1· 1· 2          0-0    0.28  -0.01
J Lamabe                       2     0   0   0    0   1   0   4.35    6     -       ·  ·      2· 3· 0· 0          0-0    0.07   0.00
Totals                         8     9   5   5    2   5   0          33     -       ·  ·     11· 6· 1· 8          2-1

Pittsburgh Pirates            IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
D Ellis, W (6-4)               9     5   1   1    3   1   0   2.52   35     -       ·  ·     15·10· 1· 5     71    -     0.72   0.25
Totals                         9     5   1   1    3   1   0          35     -       ·  ·     15·10· 1· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: J Niekro (8; R Clemente); J Brown (1; R Clemente).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Dick Stello, 1B - Mel Steiner, 2B - Augie Donatelli, 3B - Tony Venzon.

Time of Game: 2:27.

Attendance: 3,429.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: 80° F, Sunny, No Precipitation.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Pittsburgh Pirates                   
1. D Kessinger          SS    1. M Wills              3B 
2. A Spangler           RF    2. F Patek              SS 
3. B Williams           LF    3. M Alou               CF 
4. R Santo              3B    4. R Clemente           RF 
5. D Nen                1B    5. D Clendenon          1B 
6. R Hundley            C     6. G Alley              2B 
7. A Phillips           CF    7. J Pagan              LF 
8. J Arcia              2B    8. J May                C  
9. J Niekro             P     9. D Ellis              P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 4   1  0-0  123      18%  86% G Alley         J Niekro        Single to CF; Patek Scores; Alou Scores; Clemente to 3B
   b 4   0  0-0  1--      14%  74% M Alou          J Niekro        Double to RF; Patek to 3B
   b 4   0  0-0  123      -8%  68% D Clendenon     J Niekro        Strikeout
   b 1   1  0-0  12-      -5%  53% R Clemente      J Niekro        Alou Picked off 1B (C-1B)
   b 4   1  0-3  12-       5%  96% J May           B Tiefenauer    Single to RF; Alley Scores; Pagan to 3B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Dock Ellis facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  D Kessinger     Strikeout
          ---      50%  A Spangler      Single to LF
   O      1--      52%  B Williams      Groundout: SS unassisted/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--      54%  R Santo         Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
          ---      58%  M Wills         Single to CF
   O      1--      55%  F Patek         Strikeout (foul bunt)
          1--      58%  M Alou          Single to 3B; Wills to 2B
   O      12-      53%  R Clemente      Alou Picked off 1B (C-1B)
   O      -2-      50%  " "             Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Dock Ellis facing 5-6-7
          ---      46%  D Nen           Walk
   O      1--      50%  R Hundley       Lineout: RF
   O      1--      52%  A Phillips      Flyball: RF
   O      1--      55%  J Arcia         Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      52%  D Clendenon     Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      51%  G Alley         Flyball: CF
   O      ---      50%  J Pagan         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Dock Ellis facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      52%  J Niekro        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      54%  D Kessinger     Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---      51%  A Spangler      Triple to RF
   O      --3      55%  B Williams      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      53%  J May           Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      51%  D Ellis         Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      50%  M Wills         Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Dock Ellis facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  R Santo         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      54%  D Nen           Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      55%  R Hundley       Popfly: 3B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Joe Niekro facing 2-3-4
          ---      60%  F Patek         Single to LF
          1--      74%  M Alou          Double to RF; Patek to 3B
          -23      76%  R Clemente      Intentional Walk
   O      123      68%  D Clendenon     Strikeout
   RR     123      86%  G Alley         Single to CF; Patek Scores; Alou Scores; Clemente to 3B
   R      1-3      91%  J Pagan         Single to LF; Clemente Scores; Alley to 2B
                  Bobby Tiefenauer replaces Joe Niekro pitching and batting 9th
   R      12-      96%  J May           Single to RF; Alley Scores; Pagan to 3B
   O      1-3      93%  D Ellis         Pagan Caught Stealing Hm (C)
   O      1--      93%  " "             Groundout: P-1B
                  4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 4.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-4, Dock Ellis facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      94%  A Phillips      Flyball: CF
          ---      93%  J Arcia         Single to CF
                  Jimmy McMath pinch hits for Bobby Tiefenauer batting 9th
   O      1--      94%  J McMath        Groundout: 1B-P; Arcia to 2B
   O      -2-      95%  D Kessinger     Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 4.

Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 4-0, Jophery Brown facing 1-2-3
                  Jophery Brown replaces Jimmy McMath pitching and batting 9th
          ---      96%  M Wills         Single to CF
   O      1--      96%  F Patek         Bunt Groundout: P-1B/Sacrifice; Wills to 2B
   O      -2-      95%  M Alou          Flyball: LF
          -2-      95%  R Clemente      Intentional Walk
   R      12-      98%  D Clendenon     Single to LF; Wills Scores; Clemente to 2B
   O      12-      97%  G Alley         Groundout: C-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 0, Pirates 5.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-5, Dock Ellis facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      98%  A Spangler      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      98%  B Williams      Flyball: LF
          ---      98%  R Santo         Walk
   R      1--      95%  D Nen           Double to RF; Santo Scores
   O      -2-      97%  R Hundley       Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 5-1, Jophery Brown facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      97%  J Pagan         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      96%  J May           Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      96%  D Ellis         Lineout: P
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 1-5, Dock Ellis facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      97%  A Phillips      Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      98%  J Arcia         Groundout: 3B-1B
                  Clarence Jones pinch hits for Jophery Brown batting 9th
   O      ---      98%  C Jones         Popfly: SS
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 5-1, Jack Lamabe facing 1-2-3
                  Jack Lamabe replaces Clarence Jones pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      98%  M Wills         Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      98%  F Patek         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      98%  M Alou          Popfly: SS
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Behind 1-5, Dock Ellis facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      99%  D Kessinger     Groundout: P unassisted
   O      ---      99%  A Spangler      Foul Flyball: C
   O      ---      99%  B Williams      Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 5-1, Jack Lamabe facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      99%  R Clemente      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      99%  D Clendenon     Flyball: LF
   O      ---      99%  G Alley         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Behind 1-5, Dock Ellis facing 4-5-6
                  Gary Kolb replaces Roberto Clemente playing RF batting 4th
          ---      98%  R Santo         Single to CF
          1--      94%  D Nen           Walk; Santo to 2B
   O      12-      97%  R Hundley       Popfly: 3B
   O      12-      99%  A Phillips      Flyball: LF
                  John Upham pinch hits for Jose Arcia batting 8th
   O      12-     100%  J Upham         Groundout: SS-1B
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 1, Pirates 5.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT196809210

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