|

Jason Lane homers and Morgan Ensberg hits the decisive sacrifice fly to nip the Cardinals, 2-1, giving Houston a 3-1 edge in the N.L.C.S. Brandon Backe and four relievers hold St. Louis to just five hits. Frustrations spill over for the Redbirds as skipper Tony LaRussa and slugger Jim Edmonds are ejected for arguing pitches with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi. Sparkling defense ends the ninth when Eric Bruntlett and Adam Everett turn a double play on John Mabry’s roller. 

ByTom

2005 – Jason Lane homers and Morgan Ensberg hits the decisive sacrifice fly to nip the Cardinals, 2-1, giving Houston a 3-1 edge in the N.L.C.S. Brandon Backe and four relievers hold St. Louis to just five hits. Frustrations spill over for the Redbirds as skipper Tony LaRussa and slugger Jim Edmonds are ejected for arguing pitches with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi. Sparkling defense ends the ninth when Eric Bruntlett and Adam Everett turn a double play on John Mabry’s roller. 

|

2005 – Houston grabs a 2-1 lead in the N.L.C.S. with a 4-3 triumph over St. Louis. Mike Lamb doubles and homers to key a pair of two-run rallies  while Roger Clemens, Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge hold the Redbirds to seven hits. Craig Biggio adds a pair of hits. 

ByTom

2005 – Houston grabs a 2-1 lead in the N.L.C.S. with a 4-3 triumph over St. Louis. Mike Lamb doubles and homers to key a pair of two-run rallies  while Roger Clemens, Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge hold the Redbirds to seven hits. Craig Biggio adds a pair of hits. 

|

Andy Pettitte is hit by a line drive during warmups and struggles through a 5-3 loss to St. Louis in Game One of the N.L.C.S. Reggie Sanders powers a two-run blast in the first off Pettitte as the Cardinals build a lead they would never surrender. Chris Burkestays hot for Houston with a pinch-hit two-run shot of his own. 

ByTom

2005 – Andy Pettitte is hit by a line drive during warmups and struggles through a 5-3 loss to St. Louis in Game One of the N.L.C.S. Reggie Sanders powers a two-run blast in the first off Pettitte as the Cardinals build a lead they would never surrender. Chris Burkestays hot for Houston with a pinch-hit two-run shot of his own. 

|

2005 – Mike Lamb homers  and Craig Biggio swats three doubles to pace the Astros in a 7-3 triumph over the Braves to take a 2-1 edge in the N.L.D.S. Roy Oswalt goes seven innings for the win. Houston smacks seven doubles in all to tie a league postseason record. Eight of their 12 hits go for extra bases. 

ByTom

2005 – Mike Lamb homers  and Craig Biggio swats three doubles to pace the Astros in a 7-3 triumph over the Braves to take a 2-1 edge in the N.L.D.S. Roy Oswalt goes seven innings for the win. Houston smacks seven doubles in all to tie a league postseason record. Eight of their 12 hits go for extra bases. 

|

Morgan Ensberg drives in five runs on three singles and a bases-loaded walk to pace a 10-5 victory in Atlanta in Game One of the N.L.D.S.  Andy Pettitte allows four hits over seven innings for his 14th career postseason win. The .081-hitting Pettitte adds a double and two sacrifice bunts that lead to runs. Craig Biggio scores three times. 

ByTom

2005 – Morgan Ensberg drives in five runs on three singles and a bases-loaded walk to pace a 10-5 victory in Atlanta in Game One of the N.L.D.S.  Andy Pettitte allows four hits over seven innings for his 14th career postseason win. The .081-hitting Pettitte adds a double and two sacrifice bunts that lead to runs. Craig Biggio scores three times. 

|

Roger Clemens wins number 341 and tops 4,500 strikeouts

ByTom

2005 – Roger Clemens adds career win number 341 and career strikeout number 4,500 while Craig Biggio sets a personal best with his 26th homer of the year in a 3-1 victory over Chicago. More importantly, the triumph snaps a two-game skid and clinches a tie for the N.L. Wild Card spot. Clemens also becomes the fifth Astro hurler to claim the league ERA title (1.87). The next day, Roy Oswalt clinches with his 20th victory, a 6-4 thriller that ends when Brad Lidge notches his 42nd save 

|

2005 – This wasn’t just an ordinary game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth for Jeff Bagwell. It was his first big league hit since mid-May when he decided on surgery to help an arthritic shoulder. There were no guarantees the franchise’s home run champ would be able to resume playing. His hit scores Willy Taveras for a 2-1 triumph over Milwaukee to keep the Astros a half-game ahead in the wild card race. Elsewhere, former Astro owner John McMullen, the man who signed the first million-dollar free agent (Nolan Ryan), dies at age 87. McMullen owned the ballclub from 1979 to 1992. 

ByTom

2005 – This wasn’t just an ordinary game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth for Jeff Bagwell. It was his first big league hit since mid-May when he decided on surgery to help an arthritic shoulder. There were no guarantees the franchise’s home run champ would be able to resume playing. His hit scores Willy Taveras for a 2-1 triumph over Milwaukee to keep the Astros a half-game ahead in the wild card race. Elsewhere, former Astro owner John McMullen, the man who signed the first million-dollar free agent (Nolan Ryan), dies at age 87. McMullen owned the ballclub from 1979 to 1992. 

|

Roger Clemens notches his 340th career win

ByTom

2005 – On the day his mother Bess passes away from emphysema, Roger Clemens notches his 340th career win, a critical 10-2 victory over Florida that halts a three-game losing skid and keeps Houston 1/2 game behind in the wild card race. Mike Lamb has three hits to pace the offense. Clemens often credited his mother for his success and had thoughts of retiring so she could attend his eventual Hall of Fame induction. Roger’s sister claims Bess correctly predicted the final score of the game from her deathbed and foreshadowed an encounter with the Chicago White Sox. 

Craig Biggio becomes 13th player to reach 600 doubles in his career
|

Craig Biggio becomes 13th player to reach 600 doubles in his career

ByTom

2005 – It’s another milestone moment for Craig Biggio. With a two-run double to right in the second, Biggio becomes the 13th major leaguer to reach 600 doubles in his career. He’s the first player in big league history to combine 600 doubles, 2700 hits, 250 homers and 400 steals. His three hits give him 2777, passing Andre Dawson for 43rd on the all-time list. Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte notches his 15th win and Brad Lidge claims his 36th save in a 7-5 triumph at Milwaukee to stay a half-game ahead of Florida in the wild card race. 

Craig Biggio blasts a dramatic three-run homer off ex-Astro Billy Wagner with two outs in the ninth to stun the Phillies, 8-6
|

Craig Biggio blasts a dramatic three-run homer off ex-Astro Billy Wagner with two outs in the ninth to stun the Phillies, 8-6

ByTom

2005 – Craig Biggio blasts a dramatic three-run homer off ex-Astro Billy Wagner with two outs in the ninth to stun the Phillies, 8-6. Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb had previously gone deep. It’s the second night in a row the Astros tag their former closer for the winning run, extending Houston’s mastery over Philadelphia to 12 straight, not having lost to them since May of 2003. The Astros maintain a one-game lead over Florida in the wild card chase.