October 5, 1979 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 3 at Three Rivers Stadium Box Score and Play by Play

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1979 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 3
1979 postseason: WS: PIT-BAL / ALCS: BAL-CAL / NLCS: PIT-CIN

Game 1
PIT  5
@CIN  2
(11) Game 2
PIT  3
@CIN  2
(10) Game 3
PIT  7
CIN  1

Three Rivers Stadium, Attendance: 42,240

Friday, October 5, 1979, 4:04PM
Time of Game: 2:45

Reds

John McNamara

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

W: B Blyleven (1-0), L: M LaCoss (0-1)

Pirates

Chuck Tanner

BATTING

Cincinnati Reds              AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Collins RF                  4   0   2   0    0   0  .357  .786   15    3   0   
J Morgan 2B                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .214   12    3   1   
D Concepcion SS               4   0   2   0    0   2  .429  .929   19    1   0   
G Foster LF                   4   0   0   0    0   2  .200  .929   17    1   0   
J Bench C                     4   1   1   1    0   0  .250 1.024   14    5   1   HR
D Driessen 1B                 4   0   0   0    0   1  .083  .237   12    6   0   
R Knight 3B                   4   0   2   0    0   0  .286  .643    9    0   2   2B
C Geronimo CF                 4   0   1   0    0   2  .143  .286   17    5   0   
M LaCoss P                    0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
  F Norman P                  1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    4    0   0   
  C Leibrandt P               0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  R Auerbach PH               1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    2    0   0   
  M Soto P                    0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  H Spilman PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    1    0   0   
  D Tomlin P                  0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   1   
  T Hume P                    0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
Totals                       35   1   8   1    0   9              122   24   6

BATTING

2B: R Knight (1, off B Blyleven).

HR: J Bench (1, off B Blyleven; 6th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep LF).

TB: J Bench 4; R Knight 3; D Collins 2; D Concepcion 2; C Geronimo.

RBI: J Bench (1).

Team LOB: 7.

With RISP: 1 for 3.

FIELDING

E: C Geronimo (1).

Pittsburgh Pirates           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
O Moreno CF                   2   1   0   0    2   0  .250  .774   22    1   0   SB,SH
T Foli SS                     4   0   0   1    0   0  .333  .703   14    0   2   SF
D Parker RF                   3   1   1   1    1   1  .333  .733   21    3   0   SB,SF
W Stargell 1B                 4   1   2   3    0   1  .455 1.753   22    9   1   HR,2B
J Milner LF                   2   0   0   0    1   0  .000  .182   12    0   0   
  B Robinson LF               1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    1    0   0   
B Madlock 3B                  2   1   1   1    2   0  .250  .857   11    0   3   HR,IW
E Ott C                       4   0   0   0    0   0  .231  .462   13    9   0   
P Garner 2B                   4   2   2   0    0   0  .417 1.295   13    4   1   3B
B Blyleven P                  3   1   1   0    0   1  .333  .666   10    1   1   SH
Totals                       29   7   7   6    6   3              139   27   8

BATTING

2B: W Stargell (2, off F Norman).

3B: P Garner (1, off M LaCoss).

HR: W Stargell (2, off F Norman; 3rd inn, 0 on, 0 outs to RF); B Madlock (1, off F Norman; 3rd inn, 0 on, 1 out to LF).

SF: T Foli (2, off M LaCoss); D Parker (1, off M LaCoss).

SH: B Blyleven (1, off D Tomlin); O Moreno (1, off F Norman).

IBB: B Madlock (1, by D Tomlin).

TB: W Stargell 6; P Garner 4; B Madlock 4; D Parker; B Blyleven.

RBI: W Stargell 3 (6); B Madlock (2); D Parker (2); T Foli (3).

2-out RBI: W Stargell 2.

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 1 for 12.

BASERUNNING

SB: D Parker (1, 2nd base off D Tomlin/J Bench); O Moreno (1, 2nd base off M LaCoss/J Bench).

PITCHING

Cincinnati Reds               IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
M LaCoss, L (0-1)              1.2   1   2   2    4   0   0  10.80   11   42-18   15· 2· 1    2· 3· 1· 1     41    -     1.22  -0.13
F Norman                       2     4   4   4    1   1   2  18.00   11   35-22   17· 2· 3    3· 3· 2· 1          1-0    0.42  -0.15
C Leibrandt                    0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   0.00    1    4-3     2· 0· 1    0· 1· 0· 0          1-0    0.17   0.00
M Soto                         2     0   0   0    0   1   0   0.00    6   24-15   11· 3· 1    0· 5· 0· 0          0-0    0.08   0.01
D Tomlin                       1.2   2   1   0    1   1   0   0.00    8   25-14   10· 3· 1    5· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.07   0.00
T Hume                         0.1   0   0   0    0   0   0   6.75    2    3-3     2· 1· 0    1· 1· 0· 0          1-1    0.03  -0.00
Totals                         8     7   7   6    6   3   2          39  133-75   57·11· 7   11·14· 3· 2          3-1

Pittsburgh Pirates            IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
B Blyleven, W (1-0)            9     8   1   1    0   9   1   1.00   35  122-82   41·16·25   14· 6· 2· 4     76    -     0.53   0.24
Totals                         9     8   1   1    0   9   1          35  122-82   41·16·25   14· 6· 2· 4           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: D Tomlin (2; B Madlock).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Jerry Dale, 1B - Frank Pulli, 2B - Dick Stello, 3B - Jim Quick.

Time of Game: 2:45.

Attendance: 42,240.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Cincinnati Reds               Pittsburgh Pirates                   
1. D Collins            RF    1. O Moreno             CF 
2. J Morgan             2B    2. T Foli               SS 
3. D Concepcion         SS    3. D Parker             RF 
4. G Foster             LF    4. W Stargell           1B 
5. J Bench              C     5. J Milner             LF 
6. D Driessen           1B    6. B Madlock            3B 
7. R Knight             3B    7. E Ott                C  
8. C Geronimo           CF    8. P Garner             2B 
9. M LaCoss             P     9. B Blyleven           P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 2   0  0-1  ---  3    8%  74% P Garner        M LaCoss        Triple to RF
   b 3   0  0-2  ---  4    7%  84% W Stargell      F Norman        Home Run
   b 1   0  0-0  -2-  3    6%  67% T Foli          M LaCoss        Fielder's Choice SS; Moreno to 3B
   b 1   2  0-1  123  3   -6%  60% E Ott           M LaCoss        Flyball: RF
   b 3   1  0-3  ---  1    6%  89% B Madlock       F Norman        Home Run (Line Drive)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Reds Batting, Tied 0-0, Bert Blyleven facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  5   52%  D Collins       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---  4   54%  J Morgan        Foul Popfly: 1B
          ---  5   53%  D Concepcion    Single to LF (Ground Ball)
   O      1--  5   55%  G Foster        Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Mike LaCoss facing 1-2-3
          ---  8   58%  O Moreno        Walk
          1--      61%  T Foli          Moreno Steals 2B
          -2-  3   67%  " "             Fielder's Choice SS; Moreno to 3B
   RO     1-3  6   65%  D Parker        Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly; Moreno Scores
   O      1--  4   62%  W Stargell      Lineout: CF
          1--  4   64%  J Milner        Walk; Foli to 2B
          12-  4   66%  B Madlock       Walk; Foli to 3B; Milner to 2B
   O      123  3   60%  E Ott           Flyball: RF
                  1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 1.

Top of the 2nd, Reds Batting, Behind 0-1, Bert Blyleven facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  4   63%  J Bench         Flyball: CF
   O      ---  1   65%  D Driessen      Lineout: 2B
          ---  2   62%  R Knight        Double to LF
   O      -2-  4   66%  C Geronimo      Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Ahead 1-0, Mike LaCoss facing 8-9-1
          ---  3   74%  P Garner        Triple to RF
   O      --3  1   70%  B Blyleven      Groundout: P-1B
          --3  4   71%  O Moreno        Walk
   RO     1-3  2   73%  T Foli          Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly; Garner Scores
                  Fred Norman replaces Mike LaCoss pitching and batting 9th
   O      1--  6   71%  D Parker        Strikeout Swinging
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 2.

Top of the 3rd, Reds Batting, Behind 0-2, Bert Blyleven facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  4   74%  F Norman        Strikeout Swinging
          ---  2   71%  D Collins       Single to LF (Ground Ball)
   O      1--  2   73%  J Morgan        Groundout: 1B unassisted; Collins to 2B
          -2-  4   71%  D Concepcion    Single to SS; Collins to 3B
   O      1-3  5   76%  G Foster        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 2.

Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Ahead 2-0, Fred Norman facing 4-5-6
   R      ---  4   84%  W Stargell      Home Run
   O      ---  4   83%  J Milner        Popfly: C
   R      ---  1   89%  B Madlock       Home Run (Line Drive)
   O      ---  5   88%  E Ott           Foul Popfly: 1B
   O      ---  2   88%  P Garner        Lineout: 1B
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 4.

Top of the 4th, Reds Batting, Behind 0-4, Bert Blyleven facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  2   89%  J Bench         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---  4   90%  D Driessen      Strikeout Looking
          ---  1   90%  R Knight        Single to RF
   O      1--  3   91%  C Geronimo      Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 4.

Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 4-0, Fred Norman facing 9-1-2
          ---  1   92%  B Blyleven      Single to LF (Ground Ball)
   O      1--  3   92%  O Moreno        Bunt Groundout: C-2B/Sacrifice; Blyleven to 2B
   O      -2-  2   91%  T Foli          Flyball: RF
          -2-  5   91%  D Parker        Walk
   RR     12-  2   97%  W Stargell      Double to RF (Ground Ball); Blyleven Scores; Parker Scores
                  Charlie Leibrandt replaces Fred Norman pitching and batting 9th
   O      -2-  4   96%  J Milner        Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 6.

Top of the 5th, Reds Batting, Behind 0-6, Bert Blyleven facing 9-1-2
                  Bill Robinson replaces John Milner playing LF batting 5th; Rick Auerbach pinch hits for Charlie Leibrandt batting 9th
   O      ---  2   97%  R Auerbach      Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---  5   96%  D Collins       Single to RF (Ground Ball thru 2B-1B)
   O      1--  4   97%  J Morgan        Strikeout Swinging
   O      1--  6   98%  D Concepcion    Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 6.

Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 6-0, Mario Soto facing 6-7-8
                  Mario Soto replaces Rick Auerbach pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---  2   98%  B Madlock       Popfly: 2B
   O      ---  4   97%  E Ott           Popfly: SS
   O      ---  7   97%  P Garner        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Reds 0, Pirates 6.

Top of the 6th, Reds Batting, Behind 0-6, Bert Blyleven facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  5   98%  G Foster        Strikeout Swinging
   R      ---  7   96%  J Bench         Home Run (Deep LF)
   O      ---  3   97%  D Driessen      Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---  2   97%  R Knight        Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 6.

Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 6-1, Mario Soto facing 9-1-2
   O      ---  6   97%  B Blyleven      Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  1   97%  O Moreno        Flyball: CF
   O      ---  4   97%  T Foli          Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 6.

Top of the 7th, Reds Batting, Behind 1-6, Bert Blyleven facing 8-9-1
          ---  4   95%  C Geronimo      Single to CF (Ground Ball)
                  Harry Spilman pinch hits for Mario Soto batting 9th
   O      1--  1   97%  H Spilman       Lineout: RF
   O      1--  3   98%  D Collins       Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--  2   99%  J Morgan        Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 6.

Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 6-1, Dave Tomlin facing 3-4-5
                  Dave Tomlin replaces Harry Spilman pitching and batting 9th
          ---  3   99%  D Parker        Single to CF (Ground Ball)
          1--      99%  W Stargell      Parker Steals 2B
   O      -2-  7   99%  " "             Strikeout Swinging
   O      -2-  1   99%  B Robinson      Foul Popfly: C
          -2-  4   99%  B Madlock       Intentional Walk
   O      12-  1   98%  E Ott           Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 6.

Top of the 8th, Reds Batting, Behind 1-6, Bert Blyleven facing 3-4-5
   O      ---  4   99%  D Concepcion    Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  2   99%  G Foster        Foul Popfly: 1B
   O      ---  1   99%  J Bench         Popfly: 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 6.

Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Ahead 6-1, Dave Tomlin facing 8-9-1
          ---  1  100%  P Garner        Single to CF (Ground Ball)
   O      1--  2  100%  B Blyleven      Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Garner to 2B
   O      -2-  6   99%  O Moreno        Groundout: 3B-1B
                  Tom Hume replaces Dave Tomlin pitching and batting 9th
   R      -2-  2  100%  T Foli          Reached on E8 (Fly Ball); Garner Scores/No RBI/unER; Foli to 2B
   O      -2-  1  100%  D Parker        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 7.

Top of the 9th, Reds Batting, Behind 1-7, Bert Blyleven facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  4  100%  D Driessen      Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---  4  100%  R Knight        Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---  6  100%  C Geronimo      Strikeout Looking
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Reds 1, Pirates 7.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT197910050

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.

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