August 17, 1978 Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score

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

Standings at end of play this day

Second game of doubleheader, see First game.

Three Rivers Stadium, Attendance: 8,470

Thursday, August 17, 1978
Time of Game: 2:36

Astros

56-64

Lost 2

5th, 14½ GB

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

W: B Kison (4-4), L: M Lemongello (8-11), S: K Tekulve (20)

Pirates

56-62

Won 3

4th, 7½ GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
W Howard LF                   4   0   1   0    0   1  .248  .598    0    2   0   
D Walling CF                  4   0   1   0    0   0  .227  .611    0    2   0   
  K Forsch P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .182  .364         0   0   
E Cabell 3B-1B                4   0   1   0    0   2  .287  .699    0    5   4   CS
J Cruz RF                     4   1   1   0    0   0  .297  .789    0    2   0   2B
A Howe 2B-3B                  4   1   2   0    0   2  .287  .779    0    1   2   
D Bergman 1B                  2   0   1   1    1   0  .250  .666    0    8   0   
  L Pujols C                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .135  .421    0    1   0   
J Gonzalez SS-2B              4   0   0   0    0   1  .226  .536    0    0   2   
B Bochy C                     3   0   1   0    0   1  .255  .692    0    3   1   
  J Sexton PR-SS              1   0   0   0    0   1  .153  .428    0    0   0   
M Lemongello P                1   0   0   0    0   1  .157  .394    0    0   0   
  J Sambito P                 1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .200    0    0   0   
  T Puhl PH-CF                1   0   0   0    1   0  .296  .729    0    0   0   
Totals                       34   2   8   1    2  10                    24   9

BATTING

2B: J Cruz (22, off B Kison).

TB: A Howe 2; J Cruz 2; D Bergman; W Howard; B Bochy; D Walling; E Cabell.

RBI: D Bergman (10).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 2 for 5.

FIELDING

E: A Howe (11).

BASERUNNING

CS: E Cabell (11, 3rd base by B Kison/E Ott).

Pittsburgh Pirates           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
O Moreno CF                   4   0   2   0    0   0  .233  .628    0    4   0   2·SB
D Berra SS                    3   0   0   0    1   0  .093  .242    0    1   1   
D Parker RF                   2   1   0   0    2   1  .303  .913    0    1   0   IW
E Ott C                       4   0   2   1    0   0  .252  .667    0   10   1   2B,CS
P Garner 3B                   3   1   1   0    0   1  .258  .732    0    1   2   3B,SB,HBP
M Sanguillen 1B               4   0   0   0    0   1  .258  .615    0    9   0   
R Stennett 2B                 3   1   0   0    0   0  .247  .586    0    0   1   SB
  M Mendoza 2B                1   0   0   0    0   0  .229  .615    0    0   3   
S Brye LF                     3   0   1   2    0   0  .210  .587    0    1   0   2B
B Kison P                     3   0   0   0    0   1  .059  .118    0    0   0   
  G Jackson P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .300  .800         0   0   
  K Tekulve P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .143  .286         0   0   
Totals                       30   3   6   3    3   4                    27   8

BATTING

2B: S Brye (7, off M Lemongello); E Ott (9, off M Lemongello).

3B: P Garner (7, off K Forsch).

IBB: D Parker (15, by M Lemongello).

HBP: P Garner (3, by M Lemongello).

TB: P Garner 3; E Ott 3; S Brye 2; O Moreno 2.

RBI: S Brye 2 (7); E Ott (25).

2-out RBI: E Ott.

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 3 for 9.

FIELDING

E: E Ott (9).

BASERUNNING

SB: R Stennett (2, 2nd base off M Lemongello/B Bochy); P Garner (17, 3rd base off M Lemongello/B Bochy); O Moreno 2 (50, 2nd base off M Lemongello/B Bochy 2).

CS: E Ott (1, 2nd base by J Sambito/B Bochy).

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
M Lemongello, L (8-11)         3.2   4   3   1    3   0   0   4.02   20     -       ·  ·      8· 3· 2· 3     42    -     1.14  -0.27
J Sambito                      2.1   1   0   0    0   3   0   2.74    7     -       ·  ·      1· 2· 0· 1          3-0    1.05   0.15
K Forsch                       2     1   0   0    0   1   0   3.24    7     -       ·  ·      3· 2· 0· 1          0-0    0.70   0.07
Totals                         8     6   3   1    3   4   0          34     -       ·  ·     12· 7· 2· 5          3-0

Pittsburgh Pirates            IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
B Kison, W (4-4)               6.1   7   2   2    2   7   0   3.59   27     -       ·  ·      6· 5· 0· 7     56    -     1.21   0.01
G Jackson, H (8)               0.2   0   0   0    0   0   0   2.69    2     -       ·  ·      0· 2· 0· 0          2-0    3.53   0.17
K Tekulve, S (20)              2     1   0   0    0   3   0   2.01    7     -       ·  ·      3· 0· 0· 1          0-0    1.94   0.27
Totals                         9     8   2   2    2  10   0          36     -       ·  ·      9· 7· 0· 8          2-0

Balks: M Lemongello (3).

WP: None.

IBB: M Lemongello (5; D Parker).

HBP: M Lemongello (7; P Garner).

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Dick Stello, 1B - Bruce Froemming, 2B - Eric Gregg, 3B - Bill Williams.

Time of Game: 2:36.

Attendance: 8,470.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Night.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Pittsburgh Pirates                   
1. W Howard             LF    1. O Moreno             CF 
2. D Walling            CF    2. D Berra              SS 
3. E Cabell             3B    3. D Parker             RF 
4. J Cruz               RF    4. E Ott                C  
5. A Howe               2B    5. P Garner             3B 
6. D Bergman            1B    6. M Sanguillen         1B 
7. J Gonzalez           SS    7. R Stennett           2B 
8. B Bochy              C     8. S Brye               LF 
9. M Lemongello         P     9. B Kison              P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 4   1  2-1  -23      17%  71% S Brye          M Lemongello    Double to LF; Garner Scores/unER; Stennett Scores/unER
   t 4   1  1-0  -2-     -13%  48% A Howe          B Kison         Single to RF; Cruz Scores/Adv on E2/No RBI; Howe to 2B
   t 4   1  1-1  -2-     -11%  37% D Bergman       B Kison         Single to CF; Howe Scores
   b 1   2  0-0  -2-      11%  64% E Ott           M Lemongello    Double to LF; Parker Scores
   t 7   2  3-2  1-3      10%  80% D Walling       G Jackson       Popfly: SS

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Bruce Kison facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  W Howard        Strikeout
          ---      50%  D Walling       Single to RF
   O      1--      52%  E Cabell        Flyball: CF
   O      1--      55%  J Cruz          Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Mark Lemongello facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  O Moreno        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      51%  D Berra         Lineout: 3B
          ---      52%  D Parker        Walk
          1--      53%  E Ott           Balk; Parker to 2B
   R      -2-      64%  " "             Double to LF; Parker Scores
   O      -2-      61%  P Garner        Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 1.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Bruce Kison facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      63%  A Howe          Strikeout
   O      ---      65%  D Bergman       Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      66%  J Gonzalez      Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Lemongello facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      64%  M Sanguillen    Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      63%  R Stennett      Flyball: RF
   O      ---      62%  S Brye          Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 1.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Bruce Kison facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      64%  B Bochy         Strikeout
   O      ---      66%  M Lemongello    Strikeout
          ---      65%  W Howard        Single to SS
   O      1--      67%  D Walling       Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mark Lemongello facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      65%  B Kison         Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      68%  O Moreno        Single to P/Bunt
   O      1--      65%  D Berra         Flyball: CF
          1--      66%  D Parker        Moreno Steals 2B
          -2-      67%  " "             Intentional Walk
   O      12-      63%  E Ott           Foul Flyball: 3B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 1.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 0-1, Bruce Kison facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      66%  E Cabell        Strikeout
          ---      61%  J Cruz          Double to LF
   R      -2-      48%  A Howe          Single to RF; Cruz Scores/Adv on E2/No RBI; Howe to 2B
   R      -2-      37%  D Bergman       Single to CF; Howe Scores
   O      1--      39%  J Gonzalez      Flyball: CF
   O      1--      42%  B Bochy         Flyball: RF
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Behind 1-2, Mark Lemongello facing 5-6-7
          ---      47%  P Garner        Hit By Pitch
   O      1--      42%  M Sanguillen    Lineout: LF
          1--      47%  R Stennett      Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Garner to 2B; Stennett to 1B
          12-      54%  S Brye          Garner Steals 3B; Stennett Steals 2B
   RR     -23      71%  " "             Double to LF; Garner Scores/unER; Stennett Scores/unER
   O      -2-      68%  B Kison         Groundout: 3B-1B
          -2-      69%  O Moreno        Single to SS; Brye to 3B
          1-3      70%  D Berra         Moreno Steals 2B
          -23      71%  " "             Walk
                  Joe Sambito replaces Mark Lemongello pitching and batting 9th
   O      123      65%  D Parker        Strikeout Looking
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Bruce Kison facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      68%  J Sambito       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      70%  W Howard        Flyball: LF
   O      ---      71%  D Walling       Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-2, Joe Sambito facing 4-5-6
          ---      75%  E Ott           Single to RF
   O      1--      72%  P Garner        Strikeout
   O      1--      68%  M Sanguillen    Ott Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
   O      ---      67%  " "             Foul Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Bruce Kison facing 3-4-5
          ---      61%  E Cabell        Single to CF
   O      1--      64%  J Cruz          Groundout: 3B-1B; Cabell to 2B
   O      -2-      69%  A Howe          Strikeout
          -2-      68%  D Bergman       Walk
   O      12-      75%  J Gonzalez      Cabell Caught Stealing 3B (C-3B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-2, Joe Sambito facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      73%  R Stennett      Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      71%  S Brye          Flyball: CF
   O      ---      70%  B Kison         Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Bruce Kison facing 7-8-9
                  Mario Mendoza replaces Rennie Stennett playing 2B batting 7th
   O      ---      75%  J Gonzalez      Strikeout
          ---      70%  B Bochy         Single to RF
                  Terry Puhl pinch hits for Joe Sambito batting 9th; Jimmy Sexton pinch runs for Bruce Bochy batting 8th
          1--      63%  T Puhl          Walk; Sexton to 2B
                  Grant Jackson replaces Bruce Kison pitching and batting 9th
   O      12-      70%  W Howard        Flyball: CF; Sexton to 3B
   O      1-3      80%  D Walling       Popfly: SS
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-2, Ken Forsch facing 1-2-3
                  Ken Forsch replaces Denny Walling pitching and batting 2nd; Luis Pujols replaces Dave Bergman playing C batting 6th; Enos Cabell moves to 1B; Julio Gonzalez moves to 2B; Art Howe moves to 3B; Jimmy Sexton moves to SS; Terry Puhl moves to CF
   O      ---      78%  O Moreno        Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      77%  D Berra         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      76%  D Parker        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Kent Tekulve facing 3-4-5
                  Kent Tekulve replaces Grant Jackson pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      81%  E Cabell        Strikeout
   O      ---      85%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---      82%  A Howe          Single to 3B
   O      1--      87%  L Pujols        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-2, Ken Forsch facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      86%  E Ott           Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---      91%  P Garner        Triple to RF
   O      --3      87%  M Sanguillen    Strikeout
   O      --3      85%  M Mendoza       Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 2-3, Kent Tekulve facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      92%  J Gonzalez      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      97%  J Sexton        Strikeout
   O      ---     100%  T Puhl          Groundout: 2B-1B
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Pirates 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT197808172

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