Framber Valdez becomes the first lefthander to pitch a no-hitter in franchise history. He blanks the Cleveland Guardians, 2-0, striking out seven and walking one on just 93 pitches. The only runs came on a two-run single from Kyle Tucker.
2023 - Timeline
from This Date in Astros History
Mar 08 - Jose Altuve singles against the Astros. The team icon is dressed in the red-and-gold gear of the Venezuelan National team as they prepare for the World Baseball Classic. The two sides meet in an exhibition game eventually won by Venezuela, 9-8. To make matters more confusing, some Venezuelan players had to dress in Astros uniforms because theirs had not arrived.
Mar 31 - Astros receive their 2022 World Championship rings then bash the White Sox, 6-3. Yordan Alvarez cracks a bases-loaded double in the seventh for the game-winning runs. Kyle Tucker adds a two-run homer.
May 17 - Trailing the Cubs 6-1 in the eighth inning, Jake Meyers blasts a two-run homer then, in the ninth, Houston tallies four as Kyle Tucker's bases-loaded single wins a 7-6 thriller. The series sweep puts the Astros at 24-19, two games behind the Rangers in the A.L. West race.
May 28 - Yordan Alvarez homers twice, part of a 7-HR explosion to blow out Oakland, 10-1. Jose Altuve, fresh off returning from a broken thumb, clubs his first homer of the season and free agent Jose Abreu socks his first home run too. The homerfest ties a club record.
Jun 29 - Kyle Tucker homers and drives in five while Alex Bregman belts a farewell grand slam to blast the Cardinals, 14-0. Bregman, Yainer Diaz and Corey Julks chip in three hits each. Rookie J.P. France tosses seven innings of four-hit shutout ball. Despite the win, the Astros remain five games behind the Rangers in the American League West race.
Jul 21 - Kyle Tucker blasts three homers to carry the Astros to a 6-4 win over hapless Oakland. Houston is still three games behind the Rangers but currently own the last playoff berth.
Aug 01 - Framber Valdez becomes the first lefthander to pitch a no-hitter in franchise history. He blanks the Cleveland Guardians, 2-0, striking out seven and walking one on just 93 pitches. The only runs came on a two-run single from Kyle Tucker.
Aug 06 - Outfielder Jake Meyers smashes two three-run homers for six RBIs in a 9-7 triumph over the Yankees in the Bronx. Yordan Alvarez and Martin Maldonado also go deep. J.P. France picks up the win in relief of Jose Urquidy who was returning from shoulder surgery.
Aug 11 - Jon Singleton crushes two homers and drives in five to pace an 11-3 triumph over the Angels. The former top prospect was completely out of baseball before returning to the minors. The blasts were his first big league bombs since 2015. Justin Verlander posts his 251st career victory.
Aug 27 - Jeremy Pena's five hits pace a 17-4 thrashing of the Tigers. The 25 hits ties a club record. Nine Spacemen had multi-hit games. Justin Verlander notches his 254th career victory.
Aug 28 - Jose Altuve hits for the cycle during a 13-5 spanking of the Red Sox in Fenway. Altuve doubled and singled against starter Chris Sale then tripled and homered off Kyle Barraclough. Yordan Alvarez also had four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer. Astros remain in third place in the A.L. West but are just one game behind leader Seattle.
Sep 04 - Mauricio Dubon and Jose Altuve become the second pair of Astros to crack back-to-back homers twice in one game as Houston bombs the Rangers, 13-6 to pull into a tie atop the American League West. Yanier Diaz also goes deep while Altuve and Alex Bregman spank four hits apiece.
Oct 10 - Jose Abreu homers twice and drives in five to pace a 9-1 blowout in Game 3 of the A.L.D.S and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman also go yard. Starter Cristian Javier allows just one hit and fans nine over five innings for the win.
Oct 18 - After dropping the first two games to the Rangers at home in the A.L.C.S., Houston bounces back with an 8-5 victory in Arlington in Game 3. Martin Maldonado gets the scoring started with a two-run single off Max Scherzer. Mauricio Dubon adds three hits and Jose Altuve blasts his 25th postseason home run, second on the all-time list. The next day, the Astros even the series with a 10-3 rout as Jose Abreu blasts a pair of home runs.
Oct 20 - Jose Altuve drills a three-run homer in the ninth for a 5-4 victory over the Rangers and a 3-2 lead in the A.L.C.S. Unfortunately, the Astros drop both remaining games in Houston, watching yet another team celebrate a title on their home turf.
Oct 26 - Dusty Baker resigns as manager after four seasons, having reached the LCS in all four campaigns. He posted a 320-226 (.586) record in the regular season while winning two American League pennants and one World Championship as their skipper. The 74-year-old retires as seventh on the All-Time managerial wins list.
Nov 13 - Astros name Joe Espada as their new manager. The 48-year-old former infielder has served as the bench coach for six seasons under A.J. Hinch and Dusty Baker - all division winners. This will be his first big league managerial assignment.
Dec 30 - First baseman Chuck Harrison died in his hometown of Abilene, TX at age 82. Harrison played parts of three seasons with the Astros (1965-67), batting .248 with 12 homers in 204 games. Harrison was later dealt to Atlanta and resurfaced for two partial seasons with the expansion Kansas City Royals in 1969 and 1971.