August 31, 1979 New York Mets at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play

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

Standings at end of play this day

Astrodome, Attendance: 19,883

Friday, August 31, 1979
Time of Game: 1:54

Mets

52-78

Lost 8

6th, 25 GB

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

W: K Forsch (9-6), L: C Swan (12-11), S: J Sambito (18)

Astros

76-58

Won 1

2nd, ½ GB

BATTING

New York Mets                AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
J Youngblood LF               4   0   0   0    0   0  .287  .828    0    2   0   
F Taveras SS                  4   0   1   0    0   0  .262  .633    0    3   4   
L Mazzilli CF                 4   0   1   0    0   1  .302  .858    0    1   0   
R Hebner 3B-1B                2   0   0   0    1   1  .255  .703    0    4   1   
J Stearns C                   3   0   0   0    0   0  .245  .688    0    2   1   
E Kranepool 1B                2   0   0   0    0   0  .248  .628    0    6   2   
  E Maddox PH-3B              1   0   0   0    0   0  .276  .681    0    0   0   
D Norman RF                   3   0   0   0    0   0  .180  .512    0    3   0   
D Flynn 2B                    3   0   1   0    0   0  .250  .612    0    1   3   
C Swan P                      2   0   0   0    0   2  .132  .365    0    2   1   
  A Trevino PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .288  .729    0    0   0   GDP
  A Hassler P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .050         0   0   
Totals                       29   0   3   0    1   4                    24  12

BATTING

TB: D Flynn; F Taveras; L Mazzilli.

GIDP: A Trevino (5).

Team LOB: 3.

With RISP: 0 for 2.

FIELDING

E: D Norman 2 (2).

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
C Cedeno 1B                   3   0   1   0    1   0  .270  .751    0    8   0   CS
C Reynolds SS                 3   0   0   1    0   1  .270  .634    0    3   2   SF
T Puhl CF                     4   0   0   0    0   0  .285  .730    0    5   0   
J Cruz LF                     3   0   0   0    0   0  .289  .799    0    3   0   
E Cabell 3B                   3   0   1   0    0   0  .267  .652    0    0   1   2B
J Leonard RF                  3   1   1   0    0   0  .300  .731    0    1   0   2B
B Bochy C                     3   0   0   0    0   1  .217  .540    0    4   0   
R Landestoy 2B                3   0   0   0    0   0  .201  .519    0    3   4   
K Forsch P                    0   1   0   0    1   0  .178  .445    0    0   1   
  D Heep PH                   1   0   0   0    0   0  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  R Niemann P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .133  .321         0   0   
  J Alou PH                   1   0   0   0    0   1  .206  .554    0    0   0   
  J Sambito P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .286  .974         0   0   
Totals                       27   2   3   1    2   3                    27   8

BATTING

2B: J Leonard (12, off C Swan); E Cabell (18, off C Swan).

SF: C Reynolds (3, off C Swan).

TB: E Cabell 2; J Leonard 2; C Cedeno.

RBI: C Reynolds (36).

Team LOB: 4.

With RISP: 0 for 8.

FIELDING

DP: 1. E Cabell-R Landestoy-C Cedeno.

BASERUNNING

CS: C Cedeno (11, 2nd base by C Swan/J Stearns).

PITCHING

New York Mets                 IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
C Swan, L (12-11)              7     3   2   0    2   1   0   3.18   26     -       ·  ·     10·10· 0· 3     66    -     0.70   0.00
A Hassler                      1     0   0   0    0   2   0   4.72    4     -       ·  ·      1· 1· 0· 0          0-0    0.26   0.01
Totals                         8     3   2   0    2   3   0          30     -       ·  ·     11·11· 0· 3           -

Houston Astros                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
K Forsch, W (9-6)              5     1   0   0    0   2   0   3.23   16     -       ·  ·      6· 7· 0· 1     67    -     0.77   0.26
R Niemann, H (2)               3     2   0   0    1   1   0   3.47   11     -       ·  ·      2· 5· 0· 2          0-0    1.54   0.19
J Sambito, S (18)              1     0   0   0    0   1   0   1.43    3     -       ·  ·      0· 2· 0· 0          0-0    1.04   0.06
Totals                         9     3   0   0    1   4   0          30     -       ·  ·      8·14· 0· 3           -

Balks: None.

WP: C Swan (2); A Hassler 2 (8).

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Lee Weyer, 1B - Dutch Rennert, 2B - Harry Wendelstedt, 3B - Ed Montague.

Time of Game: 1:54.

Attendance: 19,883.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   New York Mets                 Houston Astros                       
1. J Youngblood         LF    1. C Cedeno             1B 
2. F Taveras            SS    2. C Reynolds           SS 
3. L Mazzilli           CF    3. T Puhl               CF 
4. R Hebner             3B    4. J Cruz               LF 
5. J Stearns            C     5. E Cabell             3B 
6. E Kranepool          1B    6. J Leonard            RF 
7. D Norman             RF    7. B Bochy              C  
8. D Flynn              2B    8. R Landestoy          2B 
9. C Swan               P     9. K Forsch             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 2   2  0-0  -2-      12%  65% B Bochy         C Swan          Reached on E9 (Fly Ball); Leonard Scores/No RBI/unER; Bochy to 2B
   b 3   0  0-1  1--       8%  79% C Cedeno        C Swan          Single to RF; Forsch to 3B/Adv on E9
   t 8   1  2-0  1--       8%  95% A Trevino       R Niemann       Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-2B-1B
   t 7   1  2-0  12-       7%  84% J Stearns       R Niemann       Flyball: LF
   t 7   1  2-0  1--      -6%  77% R Hebner        R Niemann       Walk; Mazzilli to 2B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Mets Batting, Tied 0-0, Ken Forsch facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  J Youngblood    Flyball: LF
          ---      50%  F Taveras       Single to LF
   O      1--      52%  L Mazzilli      Groundout: 2B-SS/Forceout at 2B
   O      1--      55%  R Hebner        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Craig Swan facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  C Cedeno        Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      51%  C Reynolds      Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      50%  T Puhl          Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Top of the 2nd, Mets Batting, Tied 0-0, Ken Forsch facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      52%  J Stearns       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      54%  E Kranepool     Popfly: 2B
   O      ---      55%  D Norman        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Craig Swan facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      53%  J Cruz          Flyball: LF
   O      ---      51%  E Cabell        Foul Flyball: 2B
          ---      53%  J Leonard       Double to CF
   R      -2-      65%  B Bochy         Reached on E9 (Fly Ball); Leonard Scores/No RBI/unER; Bochy to 2B
   O      -2-      62%  R Landestoy     Flyball: LF
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 1.

Top of the 3rd, Mets Batting, Behind 0-1, Ken Forsch facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      65%  D Flynn         Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      67%  C Swan          Strikeout
   O      ---      68%  J Youngblood    Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 1.

Bottom of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Craig Swan facing 9-1-2
          ---      71%  K Forsch        Walk
          1--      79%  C Cedeno        Single to RF; Forsch to 3B/Adv on E9
   RO     1-3      78%  C Reynolds      Flyball: RF/Sacrifice Fly; Forsch Scores/unER
          1--      79%  T Puhl          Wild Pitch; Cedeno to 2B
   O      -2-      77%  " "             Flyball: SS
   O      -2-      75%  J Cruz          Groundout: 1B-P
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 4th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Ken Forsch facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      77%  F Taveras       Flyball: CF
   O      ---      79%  L Mazzilli      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      80%  R Hebner        Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 4th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Craig Swan facing 5-6-7
          ---      84%  E Cabell        Double to LF
   O      -2-      82%  J Leonard       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      -2-      79%  B Bochy         Strikeout
   O      -2-      77%  R Landestoy     Groundout: 1B-P
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 5th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Ken Forsch facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      80%  J Stearns       Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      82%  E Kranepool     Groundout: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      83%  D Norman        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 5th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Craig Swan facing 9-1-2
                  Danny Heep pinch hits for Ken Forsch batting 9th
   O      ---      82%  D Heep          Popfly: 3B
          ---      83%  C Cedeno        Walk
   O      1--      81%  C Reynolds      Cedeno Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
   O      ---      80%  " "             Popfly: SS
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 6th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Randy Niemann facing 8-9-1
                  Randy Niemann replaces Danny Heep pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      83%  D Flynn         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      85%  C Swan          Strikeout
   O      ---      86%  J Youngblood    Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 6th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Craig Swan facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      85%  T Puhl          Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      84%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      84%  E Cabell        Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 7th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Randy Niemann facing 2-3-4
   O      ---      87%  F Taveras       Flyball: SS
          ---      83%  L Mazzilli      Single to LF
          1--      77%  R Hebner        Walk; Mazzilli to 2B
   O      12-      84%  J Stearns       Flyball: LF
                  Elliott Maddox pinch hits for Ed Kranepool batting 6th
   O      12-      90%  E Maddox        Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 7th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Craig Swan facing 6-7-8
                  Richie Hebner moves to 1B; Elliott Maddox moves to 3B
   O      ---      89%  J Leonard       Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      88%  B Bochy         Flyball: CF
   O      ---      88%  R Landestoy     Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 8th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Randy Niemann facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      91%  D Norman        Popfly: 1B
          ---      87%  D Flynn         Single to CF
                  Alex Trevino pinch hits for Craig Swan batting 9th
   OO     1--      95%  A Trevino       Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 2-0, Andy Hassler facing 9-1-2
                  Andy Hassler replaces Alex Trevino pitching and batting 9th; Jesus Alou pinch hits for Randy Niemann batting 9th
   O      ---      94%  J Alou          Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      94%  C Cedeno        Flyball: RF
          ---      94%  C Reynolds      Strikeout, Wild Pitch; Reynolds to 1B
          1--      94%  T Puhl          Wild Pitch; Reynolds to 2B
   O      -2-      94%  " "             Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Top of the 9th, Mets Batting, Behind 0-2, Joe Sambito facing 1-2-3
                  Joe Sambito replaces Jesus Alou pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      97%  J Youngblood    Popfly: SS
   O      ---      99%  F Taveras       Popfly: 2B
   O      ---     100%  L Mazzilli      Strikeout
        0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Mets 0, Astros 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:HOU197908310

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