2017 - In just their fifth year in the American League, the Astros capture the A.L. pennant with a thrilling 4-0 Game Seven shutout over the Yankees. Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers combine on a three-hitter. Evan Gattis homered off C.C. Sabathia in the fifth to open the scoring while Jose Altuve went deep the next inning. Houston advances to the World Series for just the second time in franchise history.
2004 - Heartbreak again. Houston owns a 2-1 lead with Roger Clemens on the hill in the decisive Game Seven of the N.L.C.S. but Albert Pujols ties it with a double in the sixth then Scott Rolen unties it on the next pitch with a two-run homer. The Cardinals tack on an insurance run and win the series, 5-2, behind Jeff Suppan. Craig Biggio started the night perfectly with a solo homer . While not as close as the 1980 World Series, the Astros were in sniffing distance of this one before falling short. Still, they could look back on an improbable season that featured an amazing streak to make the playoffs and the first postseason series win in their history.
1960 - Franklin Stubbs is born in Richlands, NC. He might best be remembered in Houston as the answer to the trivia question "Who played first base for the Astros in between Davis and Bagwell?" His lone year in Houston was 1990 when he contributed a .261 average along with a career-best 23 homers and 71 RBIs.
1941 - Ron Davis is born in Roanoke Rapids, NC. The outfielder makes his debut as a 20-year-old with the Colt .45s in 1962 then reappears in 1966 to play as a reserve for three more seasons. Overall, he bats .239 with ten homers while in Houston. He died in Houston just before his 51st birthday in 1992.
Date Opp Result
9/01 TEX L 6-5
9/02 TEX W 2-1
9/03 TEX* W 8-4
9/04 @ANA L 6-5
9/05 @ANA L 10-9
9/05 @ANA L 7-6
9/06 @ANA* L 9-5
9/07 @OAK L 6-0
9/08 @OAK* L 4-2
9/08 @OAK W 5-4
9/09 @OAK L 3-2
9/10 @OAK* L 3-1
9/11 off --
9/12 @LA W 7-5
9/13 @LA L 8-1
9/14 off --
9/15 TEX W 4-1
9/16 TEX L 1-0
9/17 TEX W 2-1
9/18 ARI L 6-3
9/19 ARI W 3-2
9/20 ARI* W 3-2
9/21 @SEA L 6-1
9/22 @SEA W 6-1
9/23 @SEA L 3-2
9/24 @TEX W 12-4
9/25 @TEX L 5-4
9/26 @TEX L 6-1
9/27 @TEX* L 8-4
---- first round --
9/29 @MIN* W 4-1
9/30 @MIN* w 3-1
---- ALDS --
10/5 @OAK* W 10-5
10/6 @OAK* W 5-2
10/7 @OAK* L 9-7
10/8 @OAK* W 11-6
---- ALCS --
10/11 @TAM L 2-1
10/12 @TAM* L 4-2
10/13 @TAM L 5-2
10/14 @TAM W 4-3
10/15 @TAM* W 4-3
10/16 @TAM W 7-4
10/17 @TAM L 4-2
* - day game.
Jul/Aug record: 19 - 14
Sept record: 10 - 17
Playoffs: 8 - 5
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Houston Astros recap - 10/18/20 - Astros' Saga Finishes In Game 7 Defeat
Astros' Saga Finishes In Game 7 Defeat
Love 'Em Or Hate 'Em, Astros Fought 'Til End
McCullers: Early HR victim
(c) Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle
A pair of early home runs off Lance McCullers staked Tampa Bay to a 3-0 advantage. Charlie Morton and the Rays' bullpen made that stand up for a 4-2 decision, sending Tampa to their first World Series since 2008. Carlos Correa slapped a two-run single in the eighth for the only Houston runs although the Astros outhit the Rays, 7-6, as they had in most of the games of the A.L.C.S.
A tip of the cap is deserved for the Astros who were decimated by injuries in the pitching corps and found answers in some unlikely places yet finished one victory short of returning to the World Series. A team that couldn't muster a winning record still managed to reach just one rung short of the Fall Classic.
A tip of the cap is also deserved for the plucky Rays who compiled the best record in the American League and toppled the hated Yankees without any household names on the roster. They're a worthy champion and will be a solid opponent for either the Braves or the Dodgers in the Series.
Next comes the hard part for Houston. Another winter of free agency while trying to sidestep the luxury cap penalties. Some hard decisions will need to be made regarding George Springer, Michael Brantley and others as they craft a roster for 2021.
The most enjoyable aspect to me was watching so many pitching prospects make big league debuts and demonstrate they have the skills to stick around for awhile, particularly Cristian Javier, Enoli Paredes and Blake Taylor. Framber Valdez and Jose Urquidy also took big leaps forward in their careers.
There will be much more to say in the coming months but, for now, congratulations to both franchises for a memorable A.L.C.S. and good luck going forward.
