What happened today in team history?
1997 – First interleague game
For the first time in the franchise’s history, the Houston Astros played an interleague game, facing off against the AL’s Minnesota Twins, and it went awfully, losing 8-1. The only good takeaway from the game was Astros Chuck Knoblauch, who ended the game with four hits.
1999 – Dierker collapse
During a game between the Astros and San Diego Padres, Astros manager Larry Dierker collapsed in the dugout due to a seizure. Dierker only ended up missing 23 games despite having brain surgery and the game was suspended, with the Astros leading 4-0.
2004 – Four K’s in one inning
Astros reliever Brad Lidge recorded four strikeouts in the seventh inning on the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers. This came right after the Brewers starter recorded an immaculate inning, striking out all three Astros with just nine pitches.
2009 – Two milestones in one game
Right after Astros outfielder Miguel Tejada smacked his 2,000th career hit on an RBI-single, Astros Lance Berkman launched his 300th career home run to help to a 6-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
2012 – Start start of the downturn
Coming into the game with a 26-36 record and over eight games out of first, the Astros lost 10-0 to the San Francisco Giants, with their starter Matt Cain tossing a perfect game. This started a spiral that led the Astros later a 29-81 record and losing 100-games three seasons in a row.
What else happened on this day?
1989
Astros Terry Puhl recorded the most games played by a Canadian-born player, appearing in his 1,403rd MLB game to pass Jack Graney.
2003
In an outing that gave New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens his 300th career win, he also became just the third player in MLB history to record 4,000 strikeouts in a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Edgar Renteria was Clemens’ 4,000th, striking him out in the second inning.