August 9, 1976 Houston Astros at St. Louis Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score

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CLE 4
CHW 2 TEX 8
@DET 1 KCR 8
NYY 2 MON 2
SFG 1 PIT 2
LAD 0 HOU 13
@STL 4

Standings at end of play this day

Busch Stadium, Attendance: 12,395

Monday, August 9, 1976, 7:34PM
Time of Game: 2:28

Astros

57-58

Won 1

3rd, 17½ GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Astros          1  0  0   0  0  1   4  7  0   13 14  1
Cardinals       0  2  0   0  0  0   0  2  0    4  7  4

W: D Larson (2-3), L: B Forsch (5-7)

Cardinals

46-62

Lost 2

5th, 26½ GB

BATTING

Houston Astros               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
G Gross RF                    5   1   2   2    0   1  .299  .717    0    1   0   
J Davanon 2B                  4   2   2   1    1   1  .345  .976    0    1   5   
  R Andrews 2B                0   0   0   0    0   0  .269  .650         1   1   
C Cedeno CF                   5   4   4   5    0   0  .293  .825    0    1   0   HR,3B,2B
B Watson 1B                   4   0   1   1    1   1  .300  .819    0   12   2   
J Cruz LF                     4   0   0   1    1   0  .315  .801    0    6   0   SB
K Boswell 3B                  5   1   1   0    0   0  .269  .630    0    0   2   
E Herrmann C                  5   2   2   0    0   1  .217  .613    0    2   0   
R Metzger SS                  4   1   0   0    1   0  .220  .594    0    1   3   GDP
D Larson P                    5   2   2   1    0   0  .143  .343    0    2   1   
Totals                       41  13  14  11    4   4                    27  14

BATTING

2B: C Cedeno (20, off B Forsch).

3B: C Cedeno (3, off B Forsch).

HR: C Cedeno (16, off B Forsch; 6th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to LF).

TB: C Cedeno 10; E Herrmann 2; J Davanon 2; D Larson 2; G Gross 2; K Boswell; B Watson.

GIDP: R Metzger (8).

RBI: C Cedeno 5 (61); G Gross 2 (22); J Davanon (18); J Cruz (43); B Watson (63); D Larson (1).

2-out RBI: C Cedeno 3; B Watson.

Team LOB: 5.

With RISP: 7 for 12.

FIELDING

DP: 2. K Boswell-R Andrews-B Watson; J Davanon-R Metzger-B Watson.

PB: E Herrmann (10).

E: J Davanon (5).

BASERUNNING

SB: J Cruz (18, 2nd base off B Forsch/T Simmons).

PO: G Gross (2nd base by B Forsch).

St.Louis Cardinals           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
J Mumphrey CF                 4   1   1   0    1   0  .256  .649    0    3   0   
G Templeton SS                4   1   1   0    0   0  .250  .500    0    2   2   
L Brock LF                    4   0   0   0    0   0  .278  .673    0    1   0   
T Simmons C                   2   0   0   1    1   0  .273  .731    0    4   0   SF
W Crawford RF                 3   1   1   0    0   0  .325  .851    0    0   0   GDP
  J Ferguson RF               0   0   0   0    1   0  .231  .718    0    0   0   
K Hernandez 1B                4   1   2   0    0   0  .247  .685    0   11   2   2B
  J Curtis P                  0   0   0   0    0   0  .207  .499         0   0   
D Kessinger 2B                3   0   1   2    1   0  .243  .642    0    1   7   2B
H Cruz 3B                     4   0   0   0    0   2  .205  .575    0    1   0   GDP
B Forsch P                    2   0   0   0    0   0  .152  .409    0    2   2   
  M Wallace P                 0   0   0   0    0   0  .333  .666         0   0   
  E Solomon P                 0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
  R Fairly PH-1B              2   0   1   0    0   0  .268  .706    0    2   0   
Totals                       32   4   7   3    4   2                    27  13

BATTING

2B: K Hernandez (10, off D Larson); D Kessinger (18, off D Larson).

SF: T Simmons (5, off D Larson).

TB: K Hernandez 3; D Kessinger 2; W Crawford; J Mumphrey; R Fairly; G Templeton.

GIDP: W Crawford (8); H Cruz (9).

RBI: D Kessinger 2 (30); T Simmons (51).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 1 for 9.

FIELDING

DP: 1. G Templeton-R Fairly.

E: J Ferguson (10); K Hernandez (5); G Templeton (1); B Forsch (3).

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
D Larson, W (2-3)              9     7   4   2    4   2   0   1.96   37     -       ·  ·     15· 8· 1· 7     59    -     0.69   0.09
Totals                         9     7   4   2    4   2   0          37     -       ·  ·     15· 8· 1· 7           -

St.Louis Cardinals            IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
B Forsch, L (5-7)              7     9   7   2    3   4   1   3.78   33     -       ·  ·     11· 5· 1· 9     42    -     1.26  -0.39
M Wallace                      0     2   4   3    1   0   0   3.47    4     -       ·  ·      1· 0· 0· 2          1-1    0.21  -0.02
E Solomon                      1     2   2   1    0   0   0   3.77    5     -       ·  ·      1· 2· 0· 2          2-2    0.01  -0.00
J Curtis                       1     1   0   0    0   0   0   4.30    3     -       ·  ·      2· 0· 0· 1          0-0    0.00   0.00
Totals                         9    14  13   6    4   4   1          45     -       ·  ·     15· 7· 1·14          3-3

B Forsch faced 1 batter in the 8th inning.
M Wallace faced 4 batters in the 8th inning.

Balks: None.

WP: B Forsch (6).

IBB: None.

PO: B Forsch (3; G Gross, 2nd base).

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Bruce Froemming, 1B - Jerry Dale, 2B - (none), 3B - Bob Engel.

Time of Game: 2:28.

Attendance: 12,395.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Unknown.

LINEUPS

   Houston Astros                St.Louis Cardinals                   
1. G Gross              RF    1. J Mumphrey           CF 
2. J Davanon            2B    2. G Templeton          SS 
3. C Cedeno             CF    3. L Brock              LF 
4. B Watson             1B    4. T Simmons            C  
5. J Cruz               LF    5. W Crawford           RF 
6. K Boswell            3B    6. K Hernandez          1B 
7. E Herrmann           C     7. D Kessinger          2B 
8. R Metzger            SS    8. H Cruz               3B 
9. D Larson             P     9. B Forsch             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 7   2  2-2  123      37%  90% C Cedeno        B Forsch        Double to LF; Herrmann Scores/unER; Larson Scores/unER; Davanon Scores/unER
   b 2   1  1-0  12-     -21%  32% D Kessinger     D Larson        Double to LF; Crawford Scores; Hernandez Scores
   t 6   0  2-1  ---      18%  50% C Cedeno        B Forsch        Home Run
   t 1   2  0-0  ---      11%  57% C Cedeno        B Forsch        Triple to RF; Cedeno Scores/Adv on E1/unER
   t 3   1  2-1  12-      -8%  35% C Cedeno        B Forsch        Gross Picked off 2B (P-2B)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Astros Batting, Tied 0-0, Bob Forsch facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      48%  G Gross         Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      46%  J Davanon       Strikeout
   R      ---      57%  C Cedeno        Triple to RF; Cedeno Scores/Adv on E1/unER
          ---      58%  B Watson        Walk
   O      1--      56%  J Cruz          Lineout: 3B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Cardinals Batting, Behind 0-1, Dan Larson facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      59%  J Mumphrey      Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      60%  G Templeton     Flyball: LF
   O      ---      61%  L Brock         Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 0.

Top of the 2nd, Astros Batting, Ahead 1-0, Bob Forsch facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      59%  K Boswell       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      58%  E Herrmann      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      57%  R Metzger       Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Cardinals Batting, Behind 0-1, Dan Larson facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      60%  T Simmons       Groundout: 1B-P
          ---      57%  W Crawford      Single to RF
          1--      52%  K Hernandez     Single to SS; Crawford to 2B
   RR     12-      32%  D Kessinger     Double to LF; Crawford Scores; Hernandez Scores
   O      -2-      35%  H Cruz          Strikeout
   O      -2-      38%  B Forsch        Groundout: SS-1B
                  2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Top of the 3rd, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Bob Forsch facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      35%  D Larson        Groundout: P-1B
          ---      38%  G Gross         Single to CF
          1--      43%  J Davanon       Walk; Gross to 2B
   O      12-      35%  C Cedeno        Gross Picked off 2B (P-2B)
   O      1--      32%  " "             Foul Flyball: 1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Bottom of the 3rd, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 2-1, Dan Larson facing 1-2-3
          ---      29%  J Mumphrey      Walk
   O      1--      32%  G Templeton     Groundout: 2B unassisted/Forceout at 2B
          1--      30%  L Brock         Passed Ball; Templeton to 2B
   O      -2-      33%  " "             Flyball: LF
   O      -2-      36%  T Simmons       Groundout: 1B-P
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Top of the 4th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Bob Forsch facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      34%  B Watson        Strikeout
          ---      37%  J Cruz          Walk
          1--      39%  K Boswell       Cruz Steals 2B
   O      -2-      35%  " "             Groundout: 1B-P; Cruz to 3B
   O      --3      30%  E Herrmann      Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Bottom of the 4th, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 2-1, Dan Larson facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      32%  W Crawford      Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      29%  K Hernandez     Double to LF
   O      -2-      31%  D Kessinger     Groundout: 1B unassisted; Hernandez to 3B
   O      --3      35%  H Cruz          Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Top of the 5th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Bob Forsch facing 8-9-1
   O      ---      32%  R Metzger       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      35%  D Larson        Single to CF
   O      1--      31%  G Gross         Strikeout Looking
   O      1--      28%  J Davanon       Groundout: SS unassisted/Forceout at 2B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Bottom of the 5th, Cardinals Batting, Ahead 2-1, Dan Larson facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      30%  B Forsch        Flyball: CF
   O      ---      31%  J Mumphrey      Groundout: P-1B
   O      ---      32%  G Templeton     Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Cardinals 2.

Top of the 6th, Astros Batting, Behind 1-2, Bob Forsch facing 3-4-5
   R      ---      50%  C Cedeno        Home Run
   O      ---      47%  B Watson        Popfly: 1B
   O      ---      44%  J Cruz          Groundout: 1B-P
   O      ---      43%  K Boswell       Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Cardinals 2.

Bottom of the 6th, Cardinals Batting, Tied 2-2, Dan Larson facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      46%  L Brock         Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      42%  T Simmons       Walk
   OO     1--      50%  W Crawford      Ground Ball Double Play: 2B-SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Cardinals 2.

Top of the 7th, Astros Batting, Tied 2-2, Bob Forsch facing 7-8-9
                  Joe Ferguson replaces Willie Crawford playing RF batting 5th
          ---      56%  E Herrmann      Single to RF
   O      1--      50%  R Metzger       Flyball: CF
          1--      56%  D Larson        Reached on E6 (Ground Ball); Herrmann to 2B
   O      12-      49%  G Gross         Flyball: LF
          12-      54%  J Davanon       Single to 3B; Herrmann to 3B; Larson to 2B
   RRR    123      90%  C Cedeno        Double to LF; Herrmann Scores/unER; Larson Scores/unER; Davanon Scores/unER
          -2-      91%  B Watson        Wild Pitch; Cedeno to 3B
   R      --3      95%  " "             Single to SS; Cedeno Scores/unER
   O      1--      94%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B
                  4 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Astros 6, Cardinals 2.

Bottom of the 7th, Cardinals Batting, Behind 2-6, Dan Larson facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      96%  K Hernandez     Flyball: LF
   O      ---      97%  D Kessinger     Flyball: LF
   O      ---      97%  H Cruz          Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 6, Cardinals 2.

Top of the 8th, Astros Batting, Ahead 6-2, Bob Forsch facing 6-7-8
          ---      97%  K Boswell       Single to RF
                  Mike Wallace replaces Bob Forsch pitching and batting 9th
          1--      98%  E Herrmann      Reached on E3 (Ground Ball); Boswell to 2B
          12-      99%  R Metzger       Walk; Boswell to 3B; Herrmann to 2B
   R      123      99%  D Larson        Single to CF; Boswell Scores; Herrmann to 3B; Metzger to 2B
   RR     123     100%  G Gross         Single to CF; Herrmann Scores/unER; Metzger Scores; Larson to 3B
                  Eddie Solomon replaces Mike Wallace pitching and batting 9th
   R      1-3     100%  J Davanon       Single to CF; Larson Scores; Gross to 3B
   RR     1-3     100%  C Cedeno        Single to RF; Gross Scores; Davanon Scores/No RBI/Adv on E9; Cedeno to 3B
   O      --3     100%  B Watson        Foul Flyball: 1B
   RO     --3     100%  J Cruz          Groundout: 2B-1B; Cedeno Scores/unER
   O      ---     100%  K Boswell       Flyball: CF
                  7 runs, 5 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 13, Cardinals 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Cardinals Batting, Behind 2-13, Dan Larson facing 9-1-2
                  Ron Fairly pinch hits for Eddie Solomon batting 9th
   O      ---     100%  R Fairly        Groundout: 2B-1B
          ---     100%  J Mumphrey      Single to RF
          1--     100%  G Templeton     Single to LF; Mumphrey to 2B
   R      12-     100%  L Brock         Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Mumphrey Scores/No RBI/unER; Templeton to 3B
                  Rob Andrews replaces Jerry Davanon playing 2B batting 2nd
   RO     1-3     100%  T Simmons       Flyball: RF/Sacrifice Fly; Templeton Scores/unER
          1--     100%  J Ferguson      Walk; Brock to 2B
   O      12-     100%  K Hernandez     Lineout: LF
                  2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. Astros 13, Cardinals 4.

Top of the 9th, Astros Batting, Ahead 13-4, John Curtis facing 7-8-9
                  John Curtis replaces Keith Hernandez pitching and batting 6th; Ron Fairly moves to 1B
          ---     100%  E Herrmann      Single to LF
   OO     1--     100%  R Metzger       Ground Ball Double Play: SS-1B
   O      ---     100%  D Larson        Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Astros 13, Cardinals 4.

Bottom of the 9th, Cardinals Batting, Behind 4-13, Dan Larson facing 7-8-9
          ---     100%  D Kessinger     Walk
   OO     1--     100%  H Cruz          Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-2B-1B
          ---     100%  R Fairly        Single to LF
   O      1--     100%  J Mumphrey      Foul Flyball: 1B
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Astros 13, Cardinals 4.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:SLN197608090

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