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Scores
Standings
BAL
@CAL		0
1		 
(14)
CHW
@CLE		1
10
TEX
@KCR		1
2
DET
@MIL		1
2
TOR
@MIN		6
2
BOS
@OAK		4
2
NYY
@SEA		4
5
CIN
@CHC		1
2
SDP
@MON		5
4
LAD
@NYM		5
4
SFG
@PHI		3
5
HOU
@PIT		6
7
HOU
@PIT		1
3
ATL
@STL		4
6
Sunday, August 20, 1978, 4:25PM
, Three Rivers Stadium
Attendance: 21,851, Time of Game: 2:27
Second game of doubleheader, see First game.
Astros
1
56-68
⇐ Lost 6 ⇒
 at Pirates
3
60-62
⇐ Won 7 ⇒
W: Jerry Reuss (1-2)
L: Joe Niekro (10-10)
 
                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Astros          0  0  1   0  0  0   0  0  0    1  9  1
Pirates         0  0  0   2  0  1   0  0  X    3  9  1

Houston Astros

Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OPS WPA aLI WPA+ WPA- RE24 PO A
Terry Puhl CF 4 1 0 0 0 1 .294 .722 -0.025 0.91 0.041 -0.066 -0.2 2 0
Julio Gonzalez 2B 4 0 2 0 0 1 .239 .559 0.049 1.15 0.099 -0.050 0.5 1 4
Enos Cabell 1B 4 0 2 0 0 0 .290 .704 -0.043 1.30 0.055 -0.098 -0.4 9 1 GDP
Art Howe 3B 4 0 2 1 0 0 .290 .778 0.017 1.59 0.098 -0.081 0.4 0 4
Jesus Alou LF 4 0 2 0 0 0 .339 .786 0.023 1.44 0.098 -0.075 0.3 0 0
Jose Cruz RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 .295 .788 -0.245 1.69 0.000 -0.245 -2.3 2 0
Jimmy Sexton SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 .170 .452 -0.051 1.00 0.030 -0.081 -0.3 2 0 SB
Luis Pujols C 4 0 0 0 0 0 .127 .397 -0.077 0.90 0.000 -0.077 -0.7 8 1
Joe Niekro P 2 0 0 0 0 1 .191 .426 -0.049 0.92 0.000 -0.049 -0.4 0 1
   Rafael Landestoy PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 .247 .583 -0.021 0.88 0.000 -0.021 -0.1
   Joe Sambito P 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .200 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000 0.0 0 1
Team Totals 35 1 9 1 0 4 .257 .514 -0.422 1.21 0.421 -0.843 -3.2 24 12
TB: J Gonzalez 2; A Howe 2; E Cabell 2; J Alou 2; J Sexton.
GIDP: E Cabell (10).
RBI: A Howe (50).
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 2 for 6.
Fielding
E: L Pujols (6).
Baserunning
SB: J Sexton (11, 3rd base off J Reuss/D Dyer).

Pittsburgh Pirates

Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OPS WPA aLI WPA+ WPA- RE24 PO A
Frank Taveras SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 .276 .666 -0.080 0.83 0.000 -0.080 -0.9 2 4
Omar Moreno CF 3 0 0 0 1 1 .231 .630 -0.005 0.73 0.040 -0.045 -0.1 1 0 SB
Dave Parker RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 .305 .910 -0.086 0.74 0.005 -0.091 -0.8 1 0 CS
John Milner 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 .290 .766 -0.060 0.80 0.016 -0.077 -0.1 10 0 2B
Ed Ott LF 4 2 3 2 0 1 .253 .691 0.315 0.58 0.326 -0.011 2.2 2 0 2·HR,2B
Phil Garner 2B 3 1 2 0 1 0 .265 .742 0.136 0.89 0.181 -0.044 1.4 5 3 2·SB,IW
Dale Berra 3B 3 0 1 0 1 2 .161 .452 -0.007 0.91 0.039 -0.046 -0.3 1 3 SB,IW
Duffy Dyer C 3 0 0 0 1 0 .222 .596 -0.093 0.98 0.010 -0.104 -0.9 4 0 SB
Jerry Reuss P 4 0 1 0 0 2 .176 .412 -0.043 0.92 0.032 -0.075 -1.2 1 2
Team Totals 32 3 9 2 4 7 .281 .892 0.077 0.82 0.649 -0.573 -0.7 27 12
2B: J Milner (14, off J Sambito); E Ott (10, off J Niekro).
HR: E Ott 2 (8, 2 off J Niekro; 4th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to RF; 6th inn, 0 on, 1 out to RF).
IBB: D Berra (2, by J Niekro); P Garner (8, by J Sambito).
TB: E Ott 10; P Garner 2; J Milner 2; D Parker; D Berra; J Reuss.
RBI: E Ott 2 (27).
2-out RBI: E Ott.
Team LOB: 9.
With RISP: 0 for 11.
Fielding
DP: 2. J Reuss-D Berra; P Garner-F Taveras-J Milner.
E: F Taveras (28).
Baserunning
SB: D Dyer (2, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols); D Berra (2, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols); P Garner 2 (20, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols, Home off J Niekro/L Pujols); O Moreno (52, 2nd base off J Niekro/L Pujols).
CS: D Parker (6, 2nd base by J Sambito POCS).

Houston Astros

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Joe Niekro, L (10-10) 6 7 3 3 2 2 2 4.20 27 46 -0.111 0.97 -0.2
Joe Sambito 2 2 0 0 2 5 0 2.66 9 0 0 0.034 0.35 0.9
Team Totals 8 9 3 3 4 7 2 3.38 36 46 0 0 -0.077 1.21 0.7

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BF GSc IR IS WPA aLI RE24
Jerry Reuss, W (1-2) 9 9 1 0 0 4 0 5.84 35 71 0.423 1.21 3.2
Team Totals 9 9 1 0 0 4 0 0.00 35 71 0.423 0.82 3.2
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: J Niekro (1; D Berra); J Sambito (6; P Garner).
Pickoffs: J Sambito (1; D Parker, 2nd base (CS)).

Other Info

Umpires: HP - Dick Stello, 1B - Bruce Froemming, 2B - Eric Gregg, 3B - Bill Williams.
Time of Game: 2:27.
Attendance: 21,851.
Field Condition: Unknown.
Start Time Weather: Unknown.

Starting Lineups

Houston Astros         Pittsburgh Pirates
1 Terry Puhl CF 1 Frank Taveras SS
2 Julio Gonzalez 2B 2 Omar Moreno CF
3 Enos Cabell 1B 3 Dave Parker RF
4 Art Howe 3B 4 John Milner 1B
5 Jesus Alou LF 5 Ed Ott LF
6 Jose Cruz RF 6 Phil Garner 2B
7 Jimmy Sexton SS 7 Dale Berra 3B
8 Luis Pujols C 8 Duffy Dyer C
9 Joe Niekro P 9 Jerry Reuss P

Win Probability Chart

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Top 5 Plays

View Pitches · wWE and wWPA Explanation
Inn Score Out RoB Pit(cnt) R/O @Bat Batter Pitcher wWPA wWE Play Description
b4 0-1 2 --- R PIT E. Ott J. Niekro 15% 51% Home Run
t3 1-0 1 123 OO HOU J. Cruz J. Reuss 14% 43% Line Drive Double Play: P-3B
b4 1-1 2 1-3 R PIT D. Dyer J. Niekro 12% 68% Garner Steals Hm; Berra Steals 2B
b6 2-1 1 --- R PIT E. Ott J. Niekro 11% 84% Home Run
t3 0-0 1 1-3 R HOU A. Howe J. Reuss -8% 34% Single to 2B; Puhl Scores/unER; Gonzalez to 2B

Play By Play

View Pitches · Box Score Explanation · wWE and wWPA Explanation
Inn Score Out RoB Pit(cnt) R/O @Bat Batter Pitcher wWPA wWE Play Description
Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 1-2-3
t1 0-0 0 --- O HOU T. Puhl J. Reuss 2% 52% Groundout: P-1B
t1 0-0 1 --- O HOU J. Gonzalez J. Reuss 1% 54% Flyball: 2B
t1 0-0 2 --- HOU E. Cabell J. Reuss -1% 52% Single to RF
t1 0-0 2 1-- HOU A. Howe J. Reuss -2% 50% Single to 3B; Cabell to 2B
t1 0-0 2 12- O HOU J. Alou J. Reuss 4% 55% Groundout: 1B unassisted
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.
Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 1-2-3
b1 0-0 0 --- O PIT F. Taveras J. Niekro -2% 52% Flyball: CF
b1 0-0 1 --- PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro 2% 55% Walk
b1 0-0 1 1-- PIT D. Parker J. Niekro 2% 57% Moreno Steals 2B
b1 0-0 1 -2- O PIT D. Parker J. Niekro -3% 54% Groundout: 2B-1B; Moreno to 3B
b1 0-0 2 --3 O PIT J. Milner J. Niekro -4% 50% Flyball: RF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.
Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 6-7-8
t2 0-0 0 --- O HOU J. Cruz J. Reuss 2% 52% Flyball: LF
t2 0-0 1 --- HOU J. Sexton J. Reuss -3% 50% Single to CF
t2 0-0 1 1-- O HOU L. Pujols J. Reuss 2% 52% Groundout: 2B-1B; Sexton to 2B
t2 0-0 2 -2- HOU J. Niekro J. Reuss -0% 51% Sexton Steals 3B
t2 0-0 2 --3 O HOU J. Niekro J. Reuss 4% 55% Strikeout
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.
Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 5-6-7
b2 0-0 0 --- PIT E. Ott J. Niekro 6% 61% Double to RF
b2 0-0 0 -2- O PIT P. Garner J. Niekro -4% 57% Groundout: 3B-1B
b2 0-0 1 -2- O PIT D. Berra J. Niekro -4% 53% Strikeout
b2 0-0 2 -2- O PIT D. Dyer J. Niekro -3% 50% Groundout: 3B-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.
Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 1-2-3
t3 0-0 0 --- HOU T. Puhl J. Reuss -4% 46% Reached on E6 (Ground Ball); Puhl to 1B
t3 0-0 0 1-- HOU J. Gonzalez J. Reuss -6% 40% Single to RF; Puhl to 2B
t3 0-0 0 12- O HOU E. Cabell J. Reuss 3% 42% Flyball: RF; Puhl to 3B
t3 0-0 1 1-3 R HOU A. Howe J. Reuss -8% 34% Single to 2B; Puhl Scores/unER; Gonzalez to 2B
t3 1-0 1 12- HOU J. Alou J. Reuss -6% 29% Single to RF; Gonzalez to 3B; Howe to 2B
t3 1-0 1 123 OO HOU J. Cruz J. Reuss 14% 43% Line Drive Double Play: P-3B
1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.
Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
b3 0-1 0 --- O PIT J. Reuss J. Niekro -3% 40% Groundout: 2B-1B
b3 0-1 1 --- O PIT F. Taveras J. Niekro -2% 38% Groundout: 3B-1B
b3 0-1 2 --- O PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro -1% 37% Popfly: SS
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.
Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 7-8-9
t4 1-0 0 --- O HOU J. Sexton J. Reuss 2% 39% Popfly: SS
t4 1-0 1 --- O HOU L. Pujols J. Reuss 2% 41% Groundout: SS-1B
t4 1-0 2 --- O HOU J. Niekro J. Reuss 1% 42% Flyball: LF
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.
Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 3-4-5
b4 0-1 0 --- O PIT D. Parker J. Niekro -3% 39% Groundout: 1B unassisted
b4 0-1 1 --- O PIT J. Milner J. Niekro -2% 37% Groundout: 2B-1B
b4 0-1 2 --- R PIT E. Ott J. Niekro 15% 51% Home Run
b4 1-1 2 --- PIT P. Garner J. Niekro 1% 53% Single to LF
b4 1-1 2 1-- PIT D. Berra J. Niekro 3% 56% Single to CF; Garner to 3B
b4 1-1 2 1-3 R PIT D. Dyer J. Niekro 12% 68% Garner Steals Hm; Berra Steals 2B
b4 2-1 2 -2- O PIT D. Dyer J. Niekro -3% 65% Foul Flyball: C
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 2.
Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 1-2-3
t5 1-2 0 --- O HOU T. Puhl J. Reuss 3% 68% Strikeout
t5 1-2 1 --- HOU J. Gonzalez J. Reuss -4% 64% Single to LF
t5 1-2 1 1-- OO HOU E. Cabell J. Reuss 7% 72% Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 2.
Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 2-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 9-1-2
b5 2-1 0 --- PIT J. Reuss J. Niekro 3% 75% Single to CF
b5 2-1 0 1-- O PIT F. Taveras J. Niekro -3% 72% Flyball: CF
b5 2-1 1 1-- O PIT O. Moreno J. Niekro -3% 69% Flyball: RF
b5 2-1 2 1-- O PIT D. Parker J. Niekro -2% 67% Popfly: 2B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 2.
Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 4-5-6
t6 1-2 0 --- O HOU A. Howe J. Reuss 4% 71% Popfly: 2B
t6 1-2 1 --- HOU J. Alou J. Reuss -4% 67% Single to CF
t6 1-2 1 1-- O HOU J. Cruz J. Reuss 5% 71% Strikeout
t6 1-2 2 1-- O HOU J. Sexton J. Reuss 4% 75% Groundout: 2B-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 2.
Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 2-1, Astros' Joe Niekro facing 4-5-6
b6 2-1 0 --- O PIT J. Milner J. Niekro -2% 73% Groundout: 2B-1B
b6 2-1 1 --- R PIT E. Ott J. Niekro 11% 84% Home Run
b6 3-1 1 --- PIT P. Garner J. Niekro 1% 86% Single to LF
b6 3-1 1 1-- PIT D. Berra J. Niekro 3% 89% Garner Steals 2B; Garner to 3B/Adv on E2 (throw to 2B)
b6 3-1 1 --3 PIT D. Berra J. Niekro 1% 89% Intentional Walk
b6 3-1 1 1-3 O PIT D. Dyer J. Niekro -4% 86% Fielder's Choice P; Garner out at Hm/P-C-3B-1B; Berra to 3B; Dyer to 1B
b6 3-1 2 1-3 PIT J. Reuss J. Niekro 0% 86% Dyer Steals 2B
b6 3-1 2 -23 O PIT J. Reuss J. Niekro -3% 83% Strikeout
1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 3.
Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 8-9-1
t7 1-3 0 --- O HOU L. Pujols J. Reuss 3% 86% Groundout: 3B-1B
Rafael Landestoy pinch hits for Joe Niekro (P) batting 9th
t7 1-3 1 --- O HOU R. Landestoy J. Reuss 2% 88% Foul Flyball: 2B
t7 1-3 2 --- O HOU T. Puhl J. Reuss 1% 89% Popfly: 2B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 3.
Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-1, Astros' Joe Sambito facing 1-2-3
Joe Sambito replaces Rafael Landestoy (PH) pitching and batting 9th
b7 3-1 0 --- O PIT F. Taveras J. Sambito -1% 89% Strikeout
b7 3-1 1 --- O PIT O. Moreno J. Sambito -1% 88% Strikeout
b7 3-1 2 --- PIT D. Parker J. Sambito 1% 88% Single to CF
b7 3-1 2 1-- O PIT J. Milner J. Sambito -1% 87% Parker Caught Stealing (PO) 2B (P-1B-SS)
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 3.
Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 2-3-4
t8 1-3 0 --- O HOU J. Gonzalez J. Reuss 3% 91% Strikeout
t8 1-3 1 --- HOU E. Cabell J. Reuss -4% 87% Single to LF
t8 1-3 1 1-- O HOU A. Howe J. Reuss 4% 91% Groundout: 3B-2B/Forceout at 2B
t8 1-3 2 1-- O HOU J. Alou J. Reuss 3% 94% Groundout: SS-1B
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 3.
Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 3-1, Astros' Joe Sambito facing 4-5-6
b8 3-1 0 --- PIT J. Milner J. Sambito 2% 96% Double to RF
b8 3-1 0 -2- O PIT E. Ott J. Sambito -1% 95% Strikeout
b8 3-1 1 -2- PIT P. Garner J. Sambito 0% 95% Intentional Walk
b8 3-1 1 12- O PIT D. Berra J. Sambito -1% 94% Strikeout
b8 3-1 2 12- PIT D. Dyer J. Sambito 1% 95% Walk; Milner to 3B; Garner to 2B
b8 3-1 2 123 O PIT J. Reuss J. Sambito -2% 93% Strikeout
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 3.
Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-3, Pirates' Jerry Reuss facing 6-7-8
t9 1-3 0 --- O HOU J. Cruz J. Reuss 4% 97% Flyball: CF
t9 1-3 1 --- O HOU J. Sexton J. Reuss 2% 99% Groundout: SS-1B
t9 1-3 2 --- O HOU L. Pujols J. Reuss 1% 100% Groundout: 3B-1B
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 3.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT197808202
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Play-by-Play Explanation

  • Score- The score from the perspective of the batting team.
  • 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.
  • Pit- 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.
  • R/O- 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.
  • 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.
  • Pitcher- The pitcher on the mound when this play occurred.
  • wWPA- Winning Team's Win Probability Added. The amount that this play increased or decreased the eventual winning team's probability of winning the game. More About Win Probability Added
  • wWE- Winning Team's Win Expectancy. The probability of the eventual winning team winning the game prior to this play given two average teams playing each other. More About Win Probability Added
  • 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.

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