Summary
On June 27, Kevin Bass became the first player in Astros history to connect for four extra base hits in one game, comprised of two doubles, one triple, and one home run to overshoot hitting for the cycle (rather, the "cycle plus one"). This effort led a 6–5 win over the San Francisco Giants, [12] while Bass collected four runs batted in (RBI). With the Astros leading 6–2 in the seventh, Bass took his final at bat requiring only the single to hit for the cycle. He laced a line drive to left field for an easy single of Mark Davis to briefly attain the cycle upon reaching first base. However, Bass instinctively kept running for second to land the double, narrowly ahead of the relay throw. Previously, on three occasions, Astros hitters had amalgamized cycles, including César Cedeño (twice—August 2, 1972, and August 9, 1976), and Bob Watson (June 24, 1977). [13] [14]
During the first inning, Bass cranked a two-run double off Kelly Downs to score Denny Walling and Glenn Davis. In the third, Bass tripled but was stranded when Downs whiffed José Cruz and retired Alan Ashby on a grounder to first base. In fifth, Bass homered to drive in Walling and chase Downs as Houston mounted a 6–1 margin. [14]
The Astros withstood two home runs each by Chili Davis and Matt Williams, while the bullpen staved off Padres comeback attempts during the bottom of sixth and eighth innings. Starter Jim Deshaies (8–2) tossed seven sturdy innings with three earned runs, while Larry Andersen got his first save by converting the final two outs. [14]
The next Astros player to swat as many as four extra-base hits during one contest was Jeff Bagwell [b] [15] —who tied the major league record with four doubles—on June 14, 1996. [16]
July
Ryan collected his 1,494th strikeout as a member of the Houston Astros on July 3 to surpass J. R. Richard for the franchise record. [17] In spite of striking out 10 on the day to go with two runs surrendered over seven innings, Ryan (4–9) dropped a 2–1 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies. [18]
Rest of July
Astros rookies provided the key roles in a July 16 walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies, including third baseman Ken Caminiti, who made his major league debut. His defensive prowess immediately electrified the Astrodome crowd. In the first inning, he pegged an off-balance throw to retire Charlie Hayes, and in the second, an acrobatic catch to snag a line drive off the bat of Lance Parrish. At the plate, Caminiti went 2-for-4, including his first major league triple and, in the seventh inning, his first home run, off starter Kevin Gross, deep to center that tied the contest, 1–1. In the top of the ninth, fellow rookie Gerald Young made two dramatic catches in center field to save runs and keep the scored tied. Caminiti drew a base on balls in the bottom of the ninth, and with one out, Young singled to score him as the game-winner and 2–1 win. Astros hitters drew 10 walks while Houston's Danny Darwin (6–6) tossed a four-hit complete game gem, staying through all the way through to become the winning pitcher. [21] [22]
August
On August 31, 1987, Billy Hatcher of the Astros was batting against the Chicago Cubs when his bat broke and pieces flew down the third base line. Cubs third baseman Keith Moreland saw cork, and Hatcher was subsequently suspended for 10 games. He later claimed that he was using reliever Dave Smith's bat, who had allowed him to select one from his bat rack, and not his own. [23]
Nolan Ryan's 4,500th strikeout
On September 9, Ryan struck out Mike Aldrete for the 4,500th strikeout in his career. [24] The final out of the seventh inning in a fantastic outing for "The Express," Ryan fanned 16 total that day to lead a 4–2 victory over San Francisco. At the plate, he contributed two hits of his own, including one that drove in the first run of the contest. Building on another dominant season, Ryan ended the day leading the NL in earned run average (2.76 ERA) and strikeouts (226), though his win–loss record stood at 8–15. Speaking on the performance, Ryan predicted that this "old dog" would not reach strikeout number 5,000. [25]
Ryan's performance was the third 16+ strikeout performance in franchise annals, and by the second Astro overall. Preceding Ryan was Don Wilson, who whiffed a club-record 18 on July, 14, 1968, and another 16 on September 10, 1968. Randy Johnson tossed the next 16-strikeout blitz for Astros pitchers, on August 28, 1998. [26]
This was Ryan's fourteenth career performance with 16 or more strikeouts, and represented his career-high while in Houston. It was his most since June 9, 1979, as a member of the California Angels. [27]
Rest of September
Glenn Davis launched three home runs on September 10 at Jack Murphy Stadium; however, in spite of this performance, the San Diego Padres overcame Houston, 8–7. Davis' first two home runs were off Mark Grant, and the final was launched off Mark Davis on his way to five RBI. In the bottom of the ninth, Rob Nelson singled home Garry Templeton off Manny Hernández for the walk-off. [28] This was the first of two occasions that Davis had hit three home runs in a game during his career, [29] and was the third time by an Astros hitte. [c] [30]
Houston finished the season with the third-highest attendance total in baseball (1,909,902). [19]
Nolan Ryan concluded the season having maintained his major league lead in numerous pitching categories, including 270 strikeouts, 6.548 hits per nine innings (H/9), 11.480 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), 2.47 fielding independent pitching (FIP), and 3.103 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB), [31] He also finished as the National League ERA leader at 2.76, earning the distinction as the first Houston Astro to win two ERA titles. It was the fourth occasion that an Astros pitcher led the NL in ERA, following J. R. Richard (2.71 in 1979), himself (1.69 in 1981), and Mike Scott the year before (2.22). [32] Scott concluded the 1987 season as NL runner-up in strikeouts (233), tied for third in wins (16), and seventh with a 3.23 ERA. [33] Ryan also joined Richard (303 in 1978 and 313 in 1979) and Scott (306 in 1986) as the third Astros pitcher to lead the NL strikeouts. [34] As league leader in strikeouts and ERA, Ryan contributed the third season in which an Astros pitcher claimed two-thirds of the pitching Triple Crown (Richard in 1979 and Scott in 1986). [d] [35]
Such was the magnitude of Ryan's accomplishment that he became the rare pitcher to lead his league in both ERA and strikeouts while not winning the Cy Young Award during the same season, instead placing fifth in the voting. [36] Ryan joined Richard in 1979 as the second Astro with this distinction. [32] [34] Ryan became the oldest pitcher to the lead the league in strikeouts. [36]
Ryan also led the major leagues in hits per nine innings surrendered (6.548 H/9) for the fourth time in his Astros career, setting a franchise record in this statistic. This was the ninth occasion in club history a Houston pitcher had led the league. Ryan was preceded by Don Wilson, J. R. Richard and Mike Scott.. [37]
With 53 stolen bases, Billy Hatcher became the first Astro since César Cedeño (61) in 1977 to pierce the 50-stolen base threshold. Hatcher's was the seventh such season in franchise history (Cedeño produced each of the first six). [e] [38]
Second baseman Bill Doran was voted for Houston Astros' team Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) for the second time, following his selection in 1985. He became the third repeat winner, following Rusty Staub (1966 and 1967), and teammate José Cruz (four times, 1977, 1980, 1983, and 1984). [39]
