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2002 – Infielder Jeff Kent signs a two-year $18 million dollar contract with Houston. The former MVP, it is announced, will replace Craig Biggio at second base with Biggio set to move to an outfield spot after a decade at second for the Astros. 

ByTom

2002 – Infielder Jeff Kent signs a two-year $18 million dollar contract with Houston. The former MVP, it is announced, will replace Craig Biggio at second base with Biggio set to move to an outfield spot after a decade at second for the Astros. 

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Astros fire Luman Harris as manager after just over one season at the helm. General Manager Grady Hatton is named as the new skipper. 

ByTom

1965 – Astros fire Luman Harris as manager after just over one season at the helm. General Manager Grady Hatton is named as the new skipper. 

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1996 – Infielders Pat Listach and Bill Spiers, along with pitcher Sid Fernandez, are signed as free agents. While Listach is slated to be the starting shortstop and Fernandez is expected to find a role in the starting rotation, it is the versatile Spiers who has the more lasting impact with the ballclub. 

ByTom

1996 – Infielders Pat Listach and Bill Spiers, along with pitcher Sid Fernandez, are signed as free agents. While Listach is slated to be the starting shortstop and Fernandez is expected to find a role in the starting rotation, it is the versatile Spiers who has the more lasting impact with the ballclub. 

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2017 – Astros ambush Yu Darvish for four runs in the second inning then hold on for a 5-3 victory in Game Three of the World Series for a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven classic. Lance McCullers and Brad Peacock combine to allow just three hits. Yuli Gurriel homers then is shown afterwards in the dugout making a gesture some believed to be a racial slur against the Japanese star. The result is a five-game suspension to open the 2018 season. 

ByTom

2017 – Astros ambush Yu Darvish for four runs in the second inning then hold on for a 5-3 victory in Game Three of the World Series for a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven classic. Lance McCullers and Brad Peacock combine to allow just three hits. Yuli Gurriel homers then is shown afterwards in the dugout making a gesture some believed to be a racial slur against the Japanese star. The result is a five-game suspension to open the 2018 season. 

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ByTom

  On , —   [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Subscribe to This Day In Baseball” subscribe_text=”Get our latest Posts in your in box” subscribe_button=”GO” show_subscribers_total=”0″] This Day In Baseball on Patreon Own this Day and Be Part of Baseball History Sources: Astro Daily

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Bob Knepper hurls a three-hitter as Houston blanks the Mets, 8-0, to take over first place

ByTom

1981 – Bob Knepper hurls a three-hitter as Houston blanks the Mets, 8-0, to take over first place in the second-half standings. Knepper adds a two-run double to his cause. Alan Ashby and Tony Scott deliver four hits each in the 16-hit assault. Their victim? A lad named Mike Scott. 

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Mel Stottlemyre Sr., the Astros’ pitching coach from 1994-95, passes away from cancer at age 77. In an 11-year career with the Yankees, the righthander won 164 games and was a five-time All-Star. He owned another footnote in Houston history as the opposing starting pitcher for the first game in the Astrodome. 

ByTom

Mel Stottlemyre Sr., the Astros’ pitching coach from 1994-95, passes away from cancer at age 77. In an 11-year career with the Yankees, the righthander won 164 games and was a five-time All-Star. He owned another footnote in Houston history as the opposing starting pitcher for the first game in the Astrodome.