July 20, 1976 Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score

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NYY 14
@CHW 9
(8) OAK 7
@CLE 4 BAL 10
@KCR 3 MIL 6
CAL 2 DET 8
@MIN 3 BOS 4
@TEX 2 NYM 2
@CIN 1 LAD 3
STL 2 MON 4
ATL 3 PIT 9
HOU 5 HOU 4
@PIT 3 SDP 3
PHI 0 CHC 3
@SFG 2

Standings at end of play this day

Second game of doubleheader, see First game.

Three Rivers Stadium, Attendance: 11,922

Tuesday, July 20, 1976, 9:05PM
Time of Game: 2:34

Astros

48-46

Won 1

3rd, 10 GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Astros          1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  1    4  6  2
Pirates         0  0  1   0  0  2   0  0  0    3 10  1

W: K Forsch (4-2), L: D Giusti (0-1)

Pirates

49-39

Lost 1

2nd, 10½ GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
G Gross RF                    3   1   0   1    0   1  .301  .702    0    3   0   SF
R Andrews 2B                  4   0   1   0    0   1  .284  .676    0    1   2   2B
C Cedeno CF                   4   0   1   1    0   0  .299  .852    0    3   0   SB
B Watson 1B                   3   1   1   0    1   0  .277  .769    0   10   2   2B
J Cruz LF                     4   0   1   1    0   0  .307  .793    0    1   0   CS
E Cabell 3B                   4   2   2   0    0   0  .304  .706    0    0   2   3B,SB
E Herrmann C                  2   0   0   1    1   0  .219  .638    0    5   1   SF
R Metzger SS                  3   0   0   0    1   0  .244  .641    0    2   4   
B McLaughlin P                2   0   0   0    0   2  .000  .000    0    2   0   
  K Boswell PH                0   0   0   0    1   0  .289  .684    0    0   0   
  K Forsch P                  1   0   0   0    0   0  .100  .282    0    0   0   
Totals                       30   4   6   4    4   4                    27  11

BATTING

2B: B Watson (13, off R Langford); R Andrews (6, off R Langford).

3B: E Cabell (5, off D Giusti).

SF: E Herrmann (2, off D Giusti); G Gross (4, off R Hernandez).

TB: E Cabell 4; R Andrews 2; B Watson 2; J Cruz; C Cedeno.

RBI: G Gross (17); J Cruz (38); E Herrmann (25); C Cedeno (52).

Team LOB: 5.

With RISP: 1 for 5.

FIELDING

E: C Cedeno (5); J Cruz (3).

BASERUNNING

SB: E Cabell (20, 2nd base off R Langford/D Dyer); C Cedeno (31, 2nd base off R Langford/D Dyer).

CS: J Cruz (5, 2nd base by R Langford/D Dyer).

Pittsburgh Pirates           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
F Taveras SS                  4   0   1   0    0   1  .260  .608    0    0   5   CS
R Stennett 2B                 4   1   1   0    0   0  .257  .624    0    3   1   
A Oliver CF                   4   0   2   0    0   0  .353  .937    0    6   1   SB
W Stargell 1B                 4   1   2   0    0   1  .258  .806    0    7   0   2B
R Zisk LF                     4   0   1   2    0   2  .291  .807    0    3   0   
B Robinson RF                 4   0   0   0    0   0  .338  .986    0    3   0   
R Hebner 3B                   4   1   1   0    0   0  .222  .611    0    0   1   
D Dyer C                      3   0   2   0    0   0  .221  .646    0    4   1   2B
  M Sanguillen PR-C           1   0   0   0    0   0  .289  .711    0    1   0   
R Langford P                  2   0   0   0    0   1  .200  .600    0    0   0   
  R Hernandez P               0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  B Moose P                   0   0   0   0    0   0  .600 2.200         0   0   
  E Kirkpatrick PH            1   0   0   0    0   0  .258  .661    0    0   0   
  D Giusti P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  E Ott PH                    1   0   0   0    0   0  .294  .644    0    0   0   
Totals                       36   3  10   2    0   5                    27   9

BATTING

2B: W Stargell (12, off K Forsch); D Dyer (3, off B McLaughlin).

TB: W Stargell 3; D Dyer 3; A Oliver 2; R Zisk; R Stennett; R Hebner; F Taveras.

RBI: R Zisk 2 (52).

2-out RBI: R Zisk 2.

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 1 for 9.

FIELDING

E: R Stennett (13).

BASERUNNING

SB: A Oliver (4, 2nd base off B McLaughlin/E Herrmann).

CS: F Taveras (2, 2nd base by K Forsch/E Herrmann).

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
B McLaughlin                   6     6   3   1    0   4   0   1.50   24     -       ·  ·      7· 5· 2· 6     56    -     1.31  -0.18
K Forsch, W (4-2)              3     4   0   0    0   1   0   2.27   12     -       ·  ·      3· 4· 0· 4          0-0    2.32   0.36
Totals                         9    10   3   1    0   5   0          36     -       ·  ·     10· 9· 2·10           -

Pittsburgh Pirates            IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
R Langford                     6.1   5   3   2    4   4   0   5.09   27     -       ·  ·      7· 7· 0· 5     53    -     1.16  -0.17
R Hernandez, BS (2)            0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   4.50    1     -       ·  ·      0· 1· 0· 0          3-1    4.53  -0.00
B Moose                        0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   2.38    1     -       ·  ·      0· 0· 1· 0          2-0    2.89   0.07
D Giusti, L (0-1)              2     1   1   1    0   0   0   3.54    7     -       ·  ·      1· 5· 0· 1          0-0    1.42  -0.22
Totals                         9     6   4   3    4   4   0          36     -       ·  ·      8·13· 1· 6          5-1

Balks: None.

WP: B McLaughlin (1).

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Bruce Froemming, 1B - Jerry Dale, 2B - Ed Sudol, 3B - Bob Engel.

Time of Game: 2:34.

Attendance: 11,922.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Pittsburgh Pirates                   
1. G Gross              RF    1. F Taveras            SS 
2. R Andrews            2B    2. R Stennett           2B 
3. C Cedeno             CF    3. A Oliver             CF 
4. B Watson             1B    4. W Stargell           1B 
5. J Cruz               LF    5. R Zisk               LF 
6. E Cabell             3B    6. B Robinson           RF 
7. E Herrmann           C     7. R Hebner             3B 
8. R Metzger            SS    8. D Dyer               C  
9. B McLaughlin         P     9. R Langford           P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 6   2  2-1  -23     -33%  27% R Zisk          B McLaughlin    Single to RF; Stennett Scores; Stargell Scores/unER
   t 9   0  3-3  ---      29%  79% E Cabell        D Giusti        Triple to RF
   b 3   0  1-0  1--     -20%  34% D Dyer          B McLaughlin    Double to LF; Hebner Scores/Adv on E7/unER; Dyer to 3B
   b 8   1  3-3  1--     -17%  22% W Stargell      K Forsch        Double to LF; Oliver to 3B
   b 8   1  3-3  -23      17%  39% R Zisk          K Forsch        Strikeout

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Rick Langford facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---      54%  G Gross         Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Gross to 1B
   O      1--      55%  R Andrews       Double to CF; Gross to 3B; Andrews out at 2B/CF-2B
   RO     --3      57%  C Cedeno        Groundout: SS-1B; Gross Scores/unER
   O      ---      57%  B Watson        Groundout: SS-1B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Bo McLaughlin facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      59%  F Taveras       Lineout: 1B
   O      ---      60%  R Stennett      Flyball: RF
   O      ---      61%  A Oliver        Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Rick Langford facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      59%  J Cruz          Flyball: LF
   O      ---      58%  E Cabell        Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      59%  E Herrmann      Walk
   O      1--      57%  R Metzger       Flyball: 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Bo McLaughlin facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      60%  W Stargell      Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---      61%  R Zisk          Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      62%  B Robinson      Popfly: P
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Rick Langford facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      60%  B McLaughlin    Strikeout
   O      ---      59%  G Gross         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      58%  R Andrews       Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Bo McLaughlin facing 7-8-9
          ---      53%  R Hebner        Single to LF
   R      1--      34%  D Dyer          Double to LF; Hebner Scores/Adv on E7/unER; Dyer to 3B
   O      --3      39%  R Langford      Strikeout
   O      --3      46%  F Taveras       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      --3      50%  R Stennett      Groundout: SS-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 1.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 1-1, Rick Langford facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      47%  C Cedeno        Flyball: RF
          ---      53%  B Watson        Double to LF
   R      -2-      64%  J Cruz          Single to CF; Watson Scores
   O      1--      60%  E Cabell        Cruz Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
   O      ---      59%  " "             Groundout: 3B-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Bo McLaughlin facing 3-4-5
          ---      54%  A Oliver        Single to CF
          1--      50%  W Stargell      Oliver Steals 2B
          -2-      46%  " "             Wild Pitch; Oliver to 3B
   O      --3      52%  " "             Strikeout
   O      --3      60%  R Zisk          Strikeout Looking
   O      --3      65%  B Robinson      Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 1.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-1, Rick Langford facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      63%  E Herrmann      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      62%  R Metzger       Flyball: LF
   O      ---      60%  B McLaughlin    Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Bo McLaughlin facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      64%  R Hebner        Flyball: LF
   O      ---      66%  D Dyer          Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      68%  R Langford      Foul Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 1.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-1, Rick Langford facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      65%  G Gross         Strikeout
   O      ---      64%  R Andrews       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      65%  C Cedeno        Single to LF
          1--      66%  B Watson        Cedeno Steals 2B
          -2-      67%  " "             Walk
   O      12-      63%  J Cruz          Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Bo McLaughlin facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      67%  F Taveras       Strikeout Looking
          ---      62%  R Stennett      Single to RF
   O      1--      67%  A Oliver        Lineout: RF
          1--      60%  W Stargell      Single to CF; Stennett to 3B; Stargell to 2B/Adv on E8
   RR     -23      27%  R Zisk          Single to RF; Stennett Scores; Stargell Scores/unER
   O      1--      29%  B Robinson      Flyball: CF
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Rick Langford facing 6-7-8
          ---      36%  E Cabell        Single to SS
          1--      41%  E Herrmann      Cabell Steals 2B
   O      -2-      33%  " "             Flyball: LF
          -2-      37%  R Metzger       Walk
                  Ramon Hernandez replaces Rick Langford pitching and batting 9th; Ken Boswell pinch hits for Bo McLaughlin batting 9th
          12-      49%  K Boswell       Walk; Cabell to 3B; Metzger to 2B
   RO     123      49%  G Gross         Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Cabell Scores
                  Bob Moose replaces Ramon Hernandez pitching and batting 9th
   O      12-      42%  R Andrews       Lineout: CF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 3, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Tied 3-3, Ken Forsch facing 7-8-9
                  Ken Forsch replaces Ken Boswell pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      45%  R Hebner        Flyball: 2B
          ---      41%  D Dyer          Single to LF
                  Ed Kirkpatrick pinch hits for Bob Moose batting 9th; Manny Sanguillen pinch runs for Duffy Dyer batting 8th
   O      1--      46%  E Kirkpatrick   Groundout: 1B-SS/Forceout at 2B
          1--      41%  F Taveras       Single to RF; Kirkpatrick to 3B
   O      1-3      50%  R Stennett      Taveras Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 3, Pirates 3.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Tied 3-3, Dave Giusti facing 3-4-5
                  Dave Giusti replaces Ed Kirkpatrick pitching and batting 9th; Manny Sanguillen moves to C
   O      ---      46%  C Cedeno        Flyball: CF
   O      ---      42%  B Watson        Foul Flyball: C
   O      ---      40%  J Cruz          Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 3, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Tied 3-3, Ken Forsch facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      44%  R Stennett      Flyball: CF
          ---      40%  A Oliver        Single to CF
          1--      22%  W Stargell      Double to LF; Oliver to 3B
   O      -23      39%  R Zisk          Strikeout
   O      -23      50%  B Robinson      Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 3, Pirates 3.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Tied 3-3, Dave Giusti facing 6-7-8
          ---      79%  E Cabell        Triple to RF
   RO     --3      84%  E Herrmann      Flyball: RF/Sacrifice Fly; Cabell Scores
   O      ---      83%  R Metzger       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      82%  K Forsch        Flyball: RF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 9th, Pirates Batting, Behind 3-4, Ken Forsch facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      90%  R Hebner        Flyball: RF
   O      ---      96%  M Sanguillen    Groundout: SS-1B
                  Ed Ott pinch hits for Dave Giusti batting 9th
   O      ---     100%  E Ott           Groundout: SS-1B
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 4, Pirates 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT197607202

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