1.   He allowed the leadoff runner to reach base in four of five innings while being nicked for four runs and seven hits.

2.   He allowed the leadoff runner to reach base only twice and never allowed more than one hit in an inning.

3.   Once again, the Astros benefited from putting the leadoff runner on base in the fourth inning.

4.   The Astros put the leadoff runner on base in each of the first three innings, leading to one run in the first and three in the third.

5.   The Expos put runners on base against Holt in each of the seven innings he pitched except the fifth, and they put the leadoff runner on three times.

6.   Then the Sox, who failed to score despite putting the leadoff runner on base six times, blundered again in the sixth.

7.   With a leadoff runner at first, Helling had two strikeouts in the fifth before going to a full-count on Scott Brosius.

8.   Wolcott lasted into the sixth, allowing leadoff runners in five straight innings and scoring-position threats in all five.

9.   Pettitte stranded leadoff runners in the second through sixth innings.

10.   At the World Championships two years ago, they blew the first handoff, between leadoff runner Brian Lewis and Tim Montgomery, in the first round.