August 2, 1998 Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score

View a short video showing advanced box score features / click orange/red text for additional info

BOS 8
@ANA 7 BAL 9
@KCR 2 TOR 6
@MIN 4 OAK 7
CLE 5 SEA 6
NYY 3 DET 3
@TBD 2 TEX 12
CHW 3 ATL 4
STL 3 COL 6
@CHC 3 CIN 5
@FLA 1 MIL 7
ARI 2 SDP 4
@MON 1 NYM 9
LAD 3 SFG 15
@PHI 3 HOU 6
@PIT 2

Standings at end of play this day

Three Rivers Stadium, Attendance: 21,201

Sunday, August 2, 1998, 1:35
Time of Game: 2:35

Astros

67-44

Won 3

1st

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

W: R Johnson (10-10), L: J Christiansen (1-2), S: S Elarton (2)

Pirates

50-61

Lost 3

5th, 17 GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
C Biggio 2B                   5   1   1   0    0   1  .317  .877   15    0   1   SB
B Spiers 3B                   3   1   2   0    0   0  .272  .751   12    2   1   2·2B
  S Berry PH-3B               2   1   1   0    0   0  .289  .817    5    0   1   
D Bell RF                     4   0   1   0    1   1  .327  .869   24    2   0   
J Bagwell 1B                  3   0   1   2    1   0  .269  .927   19    4   1   SF
M Alou LF                     5   1   0   0    0   1  .303  .965   13    1   0   
C Everett CF                  3   1   1   1    1   0  .321  .899   15    1   0   IW
R Gutierrez SS                3   1   1   2    1   0  .273  .705   12    3   0   2B
B Ausmus C                    3   0   1   0    1   1  .260  .710   16   13   1   IW
R Johnson P                   3   0   0   0    0   1  .100  .200   10    0   0   
  T Eusebio PH                1   0   1   1    0   0  .285  .701    2    0   0   2B
  S Elarton P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         1   1   
Totals                       35   6  10   6    5   5              143   27   6

BATTING

2B: B Spiers 2 (23, 2 off T Van Poppel); T Eusebio (4, off J Christiansen); R Gutierrez (16, off J Christiansen).

SF: J Bagwell (4, off J McCurry).

IBB: B Ausmus (9, by J Christiansen); C Everett (2, by T Van Poppel).

TB: B Spiers 4; R Gutierrez 2; T Eusebio 2; C Everett; C Biggio; B Ausmus; J Bagwell; S Berry; D Bell.

RBI: R Gutierrez 2 (32); J Bagwell 2 (70); C Everett (60); T Eusebio (27).

2-out RBI: R Gutierrez 2; C Everett; T Eusebio.

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 4 for 15.

BASERUNNING

SB: C Biggio (34, 2nd base off J McCurry/J Kendall).

Pittsburgh Pirates           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
K Polcovich 2B                2   0   0   1    1   1  .196  .521   13    2   3   SF
J Kendall C                   4   0   1   0    0   0  .336  .866   10    6   0   SB
M Martinez CF                 4   0   0   0    0   2  .275  .804   18    4   0   
K Young 1B                    4   0   0   0    0   2  .288  .848   22    6   0   
J Guillen RF                  4   0   1   0    0   2  .288  .752   19    5   0   
M Smith LF                    3   1   1   0    0   1  .214  .593   13    2   0   
  T Ward LF                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .259  .743    3    0   1   
A Ramirez 3B                  4   1   2   1    0   2  .235  .668   15    0   1   HR
L Collier SS                  2   0   0   0    0   1  .247  .646   13    2   5   HBP
  A Martin PH                 1   0   0   0    0   1  .235  .648    6    0   0   
T Van Poppel P                2   0   1   0    0   1  .222  .522    7    0   0   
  K Osik PH                   1   0   0   0    0   1  .203  .524    4    0   0   
  J Christiansen P            0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000         0   0   
  J McCurry P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
Totals                       32   2   6   2    1  14              143   27  10

BATTING

HR: A Ramirez (6, off R Johnson; 5th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF Line).

SF: K Polcovich (2, off R Johnson).

HBP: L Collier (4, by R Johnson).

TB: A Ramirez 5; M Smith; J Kendall; J Guillen; T Van Poppel.

RBI: A Ramirez (21); K Polcovich (10).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 0 for 5.

FIELDING

E: J Guillen (9).

BASERUNNING

SB: J Kendall (15, 2nd base off R Johnson/B Ausmus).

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
R Johnson, W (10-10)           7     6   2   2    1  12   1   4.26   29  116-86   49·15·22    5· 5· 5· 0     68    -     1.37   0.06
S Elarton, S (2)               2     0   0   0    0   2   0   3.26    6   27-17    7· 6· 4    3· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.51   0.07
Totals                         9     6   2   2    1  14   1          35  143-103  56·21·26    8· 6· 5· 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
T Van Poppel                   7     5   1   1    2   5   0   6.28   28  101-62   31·12·19    6·12· 3· 0     66    -     1.29   0.31
J Christiansen, BS (3), L (1-2)
                            1     4   4   4    2   0   0   2.31    8   27-11   10· 1· 0    2· 2· 2· 0          0-0    2.84  -0.65
J McCurry                      1     1   1   1    1   0   0   3.38    5   14-7     5· 1· 1    2· 1· 1· 0          0-0    0.21  -0.01
Totals                         9    10   6   6    5   5   0          41  142-80   46·14·20   10·15· 6· 0           -

Balks: T Van Poppel (2).

WP: None.

IBB: T Van Poppel (1; C Everett); J Christiansen (5; B Ausmus).

HBP: R Johnson (12; L Collier).

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Larry Poncino, 1B - Gary Darling, 2B - Brian Gibbons, 3B - Steve Rippley.

Time of Game: 2:35.

Attendance: 21,201.

Field Condition: Dry.

Weather: 78° F, Wind 2mph out to Rightfield, Sunny, No Precipitation.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                Pittsburgh Pirates                   
1. C Biggio             2B    1. K Polcovich          2B 
2. B Spiers             3B    2. J Kendall            C  
3. D Bell               RF    3. M Martinez           CF 
4. J Bagwell            1B    4. K Young              1B 
5. M Alou               LF    5. J Guillen            RF 
6. C Everett            CF    6. M Smith              LF 
7. R Gutierrez          SS    7. A Ramirez            3B 
8. B Ausmus             C     8. L Collier            SS 
9. R Johnson            P     9. T Van Poppel         P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 8   2  2-2  12-  5   37%  85% R Gutierrez     J Christiansen  Double to RF (Line Drive to Short RF Line); Alou Scores; Everett Scores
   t 8   2  2-1  1-3  2   23%  48% C Everett       J Christiansen  Single to 2B (Pop Fly to Deep SS-2B); Berry Scores; Alou to 2B
   b 5   0  1-0  ---  3  -15%  43% A Ramirez       R Johnson       Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF Line)
   b 7   0  1-1  12-  3  -10%  18% L Collier       R Johnson       Hit By Pitch; Smith to 3B; Ramirez to 2B
   t 8   1  2-1  12-  1   -9%  26% M Alou          J Christiansen  Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B; Berry to 3B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Todd Van Poppel facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---  3   48%  C Biggio        Lineout: RF (Short CF-RF)
          ---  4   54%  B Spiers        Double to RF (Line Drive to Short RF Line); Spiers to 3B/Adv on E9
   O      --3  5   49%  D Bell          Strikeout Swinging
   O      --3  6   45%  J Bagwell       Flyball: RF (Short RF)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Randy Johnson facing 1-2-3
   O      ---  3   47%  K Polcovich     Flyball: LF (Deep LF-CF)
   O      ---  3   49%  J Kendall       Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak SS)
   O      ---  4   50%  M Martinez      Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Todd Van Poppel facing 5-6-7
   O      ---  2   48%  M Alou          Flyball: RF
   O      ---  6   46%  C Everett       Flyball: LF (Deep LF)
   O      ---  1   45%  R Gutierrez     Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Randy Johnson facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  7   47%  K Young         Strikeout Looking
          ---  1   45%  J Guillen       Single to CF (Line Drive)
   O      1--  3   48%  M Smith         Flyball: RF (Short RF)
   O      1--  6   50%  A Ramirez       Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Todd Van Poppel facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  6   47%  B Ausmus        Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  3   46%  R Johnson       Popfly: 1B (Weak 2B)
   O      ---  5   44%  C Biggio        Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Randy Johnson facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  2   47%  L Collier       Lineout: SS
          ---  1   44%  T Van Poppel    Single to CF (Ground Ball)
          1--  5   40%  K Polcovich     Walk; Van Poppel to 2B
   O      12-  4   45%  J Kendall       Flyball: CF
   O      12-  7   50%  M Martinez      Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B (SS-2B)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Todd Van Poppel facing 2-3-4
          ---  2   57%  B Spiers        Double to RF (Fly Ball to Deep RF Line)
   O      -2-  4   56%  D Bell          Flyball: CF (Deep CF-RF); Spiers to 3B
   R      --3  4   62%  J Bagwell       Single to CF (Line Drive); Spiers Scores
   O      1--  5   59%  M Alou          Strikeout Swinging
   O      1--  3   57%  C Everett       Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Randy Johnson facing 4-5-6
   O      ---  5   60%  K Young         Lineout: 3B (SS-3B Hole)
   O      --- 11   62%  J Guillen       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  5   64%  M Smith         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Todd Van Poppel facing 7-8-9
          ---  4   67%  R Gutierrez     Walk
          1--  5   73%  B Ausmus        Single to CF (Pop Fly); Gutierrez to 2B
   O      12-  4   68%  R Johnson       Strikeout (missed bunt)
   O      12-  1   64%  C Biggio        Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B (SS-2B); Gutierrez to 3B
   O      1-3  6   58%  B Spiers        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Randy Johnson facing 7-8-9
   R      ---  3   43%  A Ramirez       Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF Line)
   O      ---  8   46%  L Collier       Strikeout Swinging
   O      ---  6   48%  T Van Poppel    Strikeout Looking
   O      ---  3   50%  K Polcovich     Strikeout Swinging
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 1.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Tied 1-1, Todd Van Poppel facing 3-4-5
          ---  4   55%  D Bell          Single to 3B (Ground Ball)
          1--      59%  J Bagwell       Balk; Bell to 2B
   O      -2-  3   53%  " "             Flyball: CF
   O      -2-  3   48%  M Alou          Flyball: LF (Deep LF)
          -2-  4   49%  C Everett       Intentional Walk
   O      12-  2   42%  R Gutierrez     Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Tied 1-1, Randy Johnson facing 2-3-4
          ---  1   37%  J Kendall       Single to 2B (Ground Ball to 2B-1B)
   O      1--  3   42%  M Martinez      Strikeout Swinging
   O      1--  4   45%  K Young         Strikeout Swinging, Kendall Steals 2B
   O      -2-  3   50%  J Guillen       Strikeout Swinging
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 1.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Tied 1-1, Todd Van Poppel facing 8-9-1
   O      ---  1   46%  B Ausmus        Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
   O      ---  3   43%  R Johnson       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---  2   41%  C Biggio        Groundout: 3B-1B (Weak 3B)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 1.

Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Tied 1-1, Randy Johnson facing 6-7-8
          ---  5   35%  M Smith         Single to LF (Line Drive to Short LF-CF)
          1--  2   27%  A Ramirez       Single to CF (Ground Ball thru SS-2B); Smith to 2B
          12-  3   18%  L Collier       Hit By Pitch; Smith to 3B; Ramirez to 2B
                  Keith Osik pinch hits for Todd Van Poppel batting 9th
   O      123  4   26%  K Osik          Strikeout Swinging
   RO     123  2   22%  K Polcovich     Flyball: RF/Sacrifice Fly; Smith Scores
   O      12-  2   26%  J Kendall       Popfly: 3B (Weak 3B)
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Pirates 2.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Jason Christiansen facing 2-3-4
                  Jason Christiansen replaces Keith Osik pitching and batting 9th; Turner Ward replaces Mark Smith playing LF batting 6th; Sean Berry pinch hits for Bill Spiers batting 2nd
          ---  2   34%  S Berry         Single to 3B (Line Drive to Short LF)
   O      1--  6   30%  D Bell          Groundout: SS-1B; Berry to 2B
          -2-  5   35%  J Bagwell       Walk
   O      12-  1   26%  M Alou          Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B; Berry to 3B
   R      1-3  2   48%  C Everett       Single to 2B (Pop Fly to Deep SS-2B); Berry Scores; Alou to 2B
   RR     12-  5   85%  R Gutierrez     Double to RF (Line Drive to Short RF Line); Alou Scores; Everett Scores
          -2-  4   86%  B Ausmus        Intentional Walk
                  Tony Eusebio pinch hits for Randy Johnson batting 9th
   RO     12-  2   91%  T Eusebio       Double to LF (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF); Gutierrez Scores; Ausmus out at Hm/LF-SS-C
                  4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 5, Pirates 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Behind 2-5, Scott Elarton facing 3-4-5
                  Scott Elarton replaces Tony Eusebio pitching and batting 9th; Sean Berry moves to 3B
   O      ---  4   94%  M Martinez      Groundout: 1B-P (2B-1B)
   O      ---  6   96%  K Young         Groundout: 3B-1B (SS-3B Hole)
   O      ---  4   97%  J Guillen       Groundout: P-1B (P's Left)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Pirates 2.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Ahead 5-2, Jeff McCurry facing 1-2-3
                  Jeff McCurry replaces Jason Christiansen pitching and batting 9th
          ---  4   97%  C Biggio        Single to RF (Line Drive to Short CF-RF)
          1--      98%  S Berry         Biggio Steals 2B
   O      -2-  2   97%  " "             Groundout: 1B unassisted (2B-1B); Biggio to 3B
          --3  5   98%  D Bell          Walk
   RO     1-3  1   98%  J Bagwell       Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly (Deep LF-CF); Biggio Scores
   O      1--  2   98%  M Alou          Groundout: SS-2B/Forceout at 2B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 6, Pirates 2.

Bottom of the 9th, Pirates Batting, Behind 2-6, Scott Elarton facing 6-7-8
   O      ---  3   99%  T Ward          Popfly: SS
   O      ---  4  100%  A Ramirez       Strikeout Swinging
                  Al Martin pinch hits for Lou Collier batting 8th
   O      ---  6  100%  A Martin        Strikeout Swinging
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 6, Pirates 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT199808020

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.


Quick Index: Play Index \| Players \| Teams \| Leagues \| Managers \| Leaders \| Awards \| Postseason \| Box Scores \| Minors \| Draft SportingNews.com \| Stat of the Day \| SR Blog \| Tutorial Videos \| All-Star \| Travel \| Bullpen Wiki \| Random
You Are Here > Baseball-Reference.com > Boxes > 1998 > PIT \| HOU > Aug 2, 1998, Astros at Pirates Box Score and Play by Play

Baseball-Reference.com-- Baseball's History: 1871-Now

BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation