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2009 – Minutes after Miguel Tejada strokes his 2,000th career hit to drive in a run, Lance Berkman launches his 300th career homer  to pace a 6-4 win at Arizona. After seven strong innings by Roy Oswalt, Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins work their way out of jams to preserve the win. The Astros are last in the division with a 28-32 record but are just five games out of first. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

2009 – Minutes after Miguel Tejada strokes his 2,000th career hit to drive in a run, Lance Berkman launches his 300th career homer  to pace a 6-4 win at Arizona. After seven strong innings by Roy Oswalt, Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins work their way out of jams to preserve the win. The Astros are last in the division with a 28-32 record but are just five games out of first. 

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2009 – Every person in the Astros’ starting lineup, including pitcher Mike Hampton, has a multi-hit game in the 15-11 victory over Colorado at Coors Field. Lance Berkman leads the 24-hit attack (one shy of the club record) with a 4-for-4 night. Miguel Tejada adds three hits while Geoff Blum drives in five. Houston scores all their runs without the benefit of a homer. 

ByTom

2009 – Every person in the Astros’ starting lineup, including pitcher Mike Hampton, has a multi-hit game in the 15-11 victory over Colorado at Coors Field. Lance Berkman leads the 24-hit attack (one shy of the club record) with a 4-for-4 night. Miguel Tejada adds three hits while Geoff Blum drives in five. Houston scores all their runs without the benefit of a homer. 

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2009 – Infielder Aaron Boone, a free agent signed in December, announces he will have aortic heart surgery and forgo the season. Boone is best known for his home run that decided the 2003 A.L.C.S. for the Yankees over the Red Sox. He was expected to platoon at third base. Successful surgery is performed eight days later. He returns in September but goes hitless in 13 attempts. 

ByTom

2009 – Infielder Aaron Boone, a free agent signed in December, announces he will have aortic heart surgery and forgo the season. Boone is best known for his home run that decided the 2003 A.L.C.S. for the Yankees over the Red Sox. He was expected to platoon at third base. Successful surgery is performed eight days later. He returns in September but goes hitless in 13 attempts. 

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2009 – Third base prospect Chris Johnson mashes a home run estimated at up to 600 feet in the 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals that opens the spring schedule. Reclamation projects Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz get off to good starts, each tossing a pair of shutout innings. It will be three weeks before they win another Grapefruit League game. 

ByTom

2009 – Third base prospect Chris Johnson mashes a home run estimated at up to 600 feet in the 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals that opens the spring schedule. Reclamation projects Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz get off to good starts, each tossing a pair of shutout innings. It will be three weeks before they win another Grapefruit League game. 

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2009 – Routine physicals at the beginning of spring training sometimes reveal the unexpected. Returning pitcher Mike Hampton is told he has an irregular heartbeat and is sent back to Houston for tests and a minor procedure. Doctors then determine no procedure was necessary and fly him back to Florida the next day. 

ByTom

2009 – Routine physicals at the beginning of spring training sometimes reveal the unexpected. Returning pitcher Mike Hampton is told he has an irregular heartbeat and is sent back to Houston for tests and a minor procedure. Doctors then determine no procedure was necessary and fly him back to Florida the next day. 

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Miguel Tejada pleads guilty lying to congressional investigators about performance enhancing drugs

ByTom

2009 – Miguel Tejada pleads guilty in Washington D.C. to lying to congressional investigators about performance enhancing drugs. He claims he also purchased but did not use human growth hormone which he bought from former Oakland teammate Adam Piatt. He is later sentenced to one year probation, 100 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine. 

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Preston Gomez, the Astros’ first minority manager, dies in Fullerton, CA at age 85. The Cuban native had been in failing health since being hit by a pickup truck while walking across the street nine months before. Gomez spent less than two years at the helm of the Astros, leading them to an 81-81 record in 1974 and a 47-80 record in 1975 before he was replaced by Bill Virdon. Gomez also managed the Padres and Cubs then served over 20 years as an assistant with the Angels. 

ByTom

Preston Gomez, the Astros’ first minority manager, dies in Fullerton, CA at age 85. The Cuban native had been in failing health since being hit by a pickup truck while walking across the street nine months before. Gomez spent less than two years at the helm of the Astros, leading them to an 81-81 record in 1974 and a 47-80 record in 1975 before he was replaced by Bill Virdon. Gomez also managed the Padres and Cubs then served over 20 years as an assistant with the Angels. 

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2008 – Hurricane Ike, a massive Category 2 storm, crashes into Galveston Island doing damage throughout the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts. Minute Maid Park survives with little damage but Houston fans learn that a key three-game series with the Cubs delayed by Ike will be moved to Milwaukee. The Astros have crept within 2-1/2 games of the Brewers in the wild card race after winning 14 of their last 15 before the weather disaster but lose five straight when forced to hit the road. Ultimately, they finish third in the Central Division with an 86-75 record. 

ByTom

2008 – Hurricane Ike, a massive Category 2 storm, crashes into Galveston Island doing damage throughout the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts. Minute Maid Park survives with little damage but Houston fans learn that a key three-game series with the Cubs delayed by Ike will be moved to Milwaukee. The Astros have crept within 2-1/2 games of the Brewers in the wild card race after winning 14 of their last 15 before the weather disaster but lose five straight when forced to hit the road. Ultimately, they finish third in the Central Division with an 86-75 record. 

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For the first time in National League history, instant replay is used to help officiate a game.

ByTom

2008 – For the first time in National League history, instant replay is used to help officiate a game. Hunter Pence’s double in the sixth inning is reviewed to see if it might have been a home run but replays set up in New York back the umpire’s call. Nonetheless, Houston drops the Pirates, 9-3, to suddenly climb within four games of the faltering Brewers in the wild card race. Lance Berkman homers and drives in four to reach 100 RBIs for the sixth time in his 10-year career. 

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Roy Oswalt spins a one-hitter, blanking the Rockies, 2-0. A single by Brad Hawpe is the only Colorado safety. Oswalt fans six and walks two. Hunter Pence’s two-run homer provides the only runs of the game. The Astros are 28-11 since July 26th but remain in fourth place in their division with only faint playoff hopes. 

ByTom

2008 – Roy Oswalt spins a one-hitter, blanking the Rockies, 2-0. A single by Brad Hawpe is the only Colorado safety. Oswalt fans six and walks two. Hunter Pence’s two-run homer provides the only runs of the game. The Astros are 28-11 since July 26th but remain in fourth place in their division with only faint playoff hopes.