2021 - Timeline
from This Date in Astros History

Jan 07 - Houston reaches an agreement with righthander Ryne Stanek on a one-year, $1.1 million contract. After some promising seasons with Tampa Bay, Stanek comes over from Miami where he struggled during two partial seasons.

Feb 06 - Astros avoid arbitration with star shortstop Carlos Correa in his final year before free agency, agreeing on an $11.7 million one-year contract. Both sides are hoping a contract extension can be worked out that will keep the 26-year-old infielder in Houston for much longer.

Mar 06 - As two starting pitchers may join Justin Verlander on the 60-day Injured List, Houston announces they've reached an agreement to sign free agent righthander Jake Odorizzi to a two-year deal with an option for a third. Hurlers Framber Valdez (broken ring finger) and prospect Forrest Whitley (ulnar ligament) await second opinions before season-ending surgeries are performed.

Apr 01 - Astros open the season with an 8-1 drubbing of Oakland. Zack Greinke tosses six shutout innings. Michael Brantley smacks three hits, including a double and home run while Yordan Alvarez drives in three. Houston has a 9-0 record in Opening Days since they were switched to the American League.

Apr 23 - Down 4-2 in the 10th, Houston rallies for a 5-4 walk-off win over Anaheim. It's the backups who get it done with an infield hit, a ground rule double and a sacrifice fly before Robel Garcia bloops the game-winner into short center field. Garcia had been claimed off waivers from the Angels during spring training.

Jun 13 - Michael Brantley pounds four hits, including three doubles, as Houston trounces the Twins, 14-3. Seven Astros have multi-hit games as the Spacemen produce 20 hits. Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Chas McCormick blast homers. Framber Valdez tosses seven innings to run his record to 3-0.

Jun 15 - Down to their last strike in the ninth, Carlos Correa lifts the Astros with a solo homer to tie the Rangers, 2-2. After Texas reclaims the lead, 3-2, in the tenth, Jose Altuve slugs a grand slam off Demarcus Evans for a walk-off 6-3 victory.

Jul 06 - In his first game back from paternity leave, Yordan Alvarez blasts two homers and drives in five as Houston recovers from a four-run deficit to topple the Athletics, 9-6. A two-run single by Jose Altuve in the sixth provide the winning runs. The victory pushes the Astros' division lead over Oakland to 4-1/2 games, best of their season to that point.

Jul 11 - Down 7-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Houston erupts with six runs to shock the Yankees, 8-7. A three-run homer by Jose Altuve into the Crawford Boxes climaxes the rally which features three doubles and two singles before the walk-off blow. Yankee players had mocked Altuve over his controversial 2019 homer than won the ALCS. This time, Altuve allows his teammates to rip away his jersey at home plate, revealing there is no buzzer or any other aid taped to his body as New York conspiracy buffs alleged happened previously. This was Altuve's 20th homer of the season to lead the team. Houston also sets a club record by issuing 14 walks in the game.

Sep 12 - 26-year-old Jose Siri, a September call-up, makes his first big league start a memorable one. The Dominican outfielder blasts two home runs and drives in five during a 15-1 spanking of the Rangers. Siri has four hits and scores thrice. Yordan Alvarez also crushes a pair of opposite field homers to give him 30 long balls on the year. Eight of the 16 hits are for extra bases. Houston owns a 6-1/2 game lead over Seattle in the A.L. West.

Oct 07 - In a matchup of the two oldest managers in postseason history, 72-year-old Dusty Baker's Astros challenge 77-year-old Tony LaRussa's White Sox in the best-of-five A.L.D.S. Lance McCullers sees to it the Astros get off on the right foot, blanking the Pale Hose for 6-2/3rd innings in a 6-1 triumph. Yordan Alvarez leads the offense with a home run and a double. Houston would use a five-run seventh the next day to grab a 9-4 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.

Oct 12 - Chicago fans cheer and jeer as Jose Altuve is hit by a pitch early in Game 4 of their A.L.D.S with the White Sox. They shouldn't have done that. Altuve responds by scoring four times and delivering a capping three-run homer in a 10-1 series clincher. There was bad news too as starter Lance McCullers hurt his right forearm and would be unavailable for the rest of the playoffs.

Oct 15 - In a rematch of 2018, the Astros take on Boston in the A.L.C.S. Houston gets the first punch in a 5-4 comeback victory. Jose Altuve blasts a two-run shot to tie the game at three apiece then Carlos Correa drills a solo homer in the seventh to push ahead.

Oct 16 - Red Sox sluggers J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers rip grand slam homers in consecutive innings to pace a 9-5 Boston massacre that evens the A.L.C.S. at 1-1. It was the first time in postseason history that two slams were hit in the same game. Two days later at Fenway, Kyle Schwarber joins the club with a grand slam during a 12-3 drubbing in Game 3.

Oct 19 - Down 2-1 in the A.L.C.S. and on the road, the Astros get off the mat in Boston to even the series. Jose Altuve ties the contest at 2-2 with an eighth-inning bomb. Next, Houston explodes for seven runs in the ninth for a 9-2 triumph. Jason Castro's RBI pinch-hit single opens the floodgates.

Oct 20 - Framber Valdez spins eight innings of three-hit ball leading the Astros to 9-1 thumping of the Red Sox at Fenway in the critical Game 5 of the A.L.C.S. Yordan Alvarez smacks a homer and a double. Yuli Gurriel also drives in three.

Oct 22 - CELEBRATE! Houston takes Game 6 of the A.L.C.S. to win Houston's third American League championship in five years. Rookie Luis Garcia and the bullpen tames Boston on two hits in a 5-0 shutout. Houston nurses a small lead all night before Kyle Tucker crushes a three-run shot in the eighth to put the series on ice. Yordan Alvarez is named the series M.V.P.

Oct 26 - Atlanta takes Game 1 of the World Series in a 6-2 fashion. The Braves score five times in the first three innings off Framber Valdez. Meanwhile, Atlanta starter, and former Houston hero Charlie Morton suffers a broken leg after he is hit by a line drive in the fourth.

Oct 27 - Houston responds with a 7-2 victory over Atlanta in Game 2 of the World Series. Jose Altuve leads the way with a homer and a double while Jose Urquidy and four relievers hold the Braves offense in check. The Series heads to Atlanta in a 1-1 tie.

Oct 29 - Ian Anderson tosses five shutout innings and four Atlanta relievers do the rest in a 2-0 shutout during Game 3 of the World Series, pushing the Braves to a 2-1 advantage over all. Houston could manage just two hits, singles by Alex Bregman and Aledmys Diaz.

Oct 30 - Cristian Javier allows homers to Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler as Atlanta nips Houston, 3-2, taking a 3-1 lead in the World Series. The Astros' lone highlight in Game 4 is Jose Altuve moving into second place all-time in postseason homers (23) with a solo shot off Kyle Wright.

Oct 31 - Houston keeps their World Series dreams alive with a 9-5 comeback win over Atlanta in Game 5 of the World Series. Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel have three hits apiece while light-hitting Martin Maldonado drives in three. The Astros overcome a four-run deficit to bring the Fall Classic back to Houston, trailing 3-2.

Nov 02 - Houston's World Series hopes are again denied as Atlanta blanks the Astros, 7-0, to win the World's Championship. A three-run homer by Series MVP Jorge Soler was all the offense Atlanta would need in winning Game 6. The Astros were held to six hits in the finale. Three teams have celebrated a Series title at Minute Maid Park but none of them have been the Astros.

Nov 07 - Astros infielders Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa win Gold Gloves as the best defensive players at their position in the American League. It's the first time for both honorees. Gurriel also won the American League batting title that year while Correa had his best season as a pro.

Nov 22 - Former Astros closer Doug Jones passes away from COVID-19 at age 64. A five-time All-Star, Jones pitched for the Astros in 1992 and 1993, winning 15 games and saving 62. His specialty was tossing a change-up so slow that big league hitters looked inept trying to swing at it. Over 16 seasons with seven teams, Jones notched 303 saves with a 3.30 ERA.

Nov 23 - Bill Virdon, a World Champion with the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates and manager of the Astros from 1975 to 1982, passes away at age 90. Virdon led Houston to their first division title (1980) and skippered more Astros wins (544) than anyone in franchise history. A quiet, direct, level-headed skipper, he also managed the Yankees, Pirates and Expos.