What happened today in team history?
1976 – Hit barrage against the Braves
In the second game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, the first of which the Houston Astros won, they set a club record, recording 25 hits leading to a 16-5 win. 23 of the 25 hits were singles and Jerry Davanon led the way for the Astros, collecting three hits and driving in five runs.
1978 – Wild pitch costs the game
Against the San Francisco Giants, Astros starter J.R. Richard wastes a gem of an outing by tossing three wild pitches in one inning, allowing a lone run to score and helping the Giants to a 1-0 win over the Astros.
2001 – Wade Miller helps himself out
After six innings of three-run ball from Astros starter Wade Miller, he helped himself out at the plate by going three-for-three to help himself to a 7-4 win over the San Diego Padres and his seventh win of the season. This win snaps an eight-game losing streak for the Astros, who had fallen well below .500 at that point.
What else happened on this day?
1894
Bobby Lowe of the Boston Beaneaters became the first player in MLB history to hit four homers in a game in a 20-11 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
1935
Starting the game for the Boston Braves, future Hall of Famer Babe Ruth makes his final major league appearance, playing in just the first inning of a game between the Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies before getting pulled.
1977
After so long of the votes being decided by players, managers and coaches, All-Star voting is returned to the fans using mail-in punch cards and once available at stadiums.
1982
Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. starts a game against the Toronto Blue Jays to begin what ends up as the longest streak of consecutive starts, playing the next 2,631 games after this over 17 seasons.
1995
The first openly gay player in the MLB, Glenn Burke, passed away from AIDS at the age of 42.