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2004 – The Cardinals build a 2-0 lead in the N.L.C.S. with a 6-4 verdict in the rain. Houston’s 3-0 lead, buoyed by homers from Carlos Beltran and Morgan Ensberg,  is washed away in a four-run Redbird fifth inning. Dan Miceli then serves up the decisive runs on back-to-back blasts by Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen in the eighth. 

ByTom

2004 – The Cardinals build a 2-0 lead in the N.L.C.S. with a 6-4 verdict in the rain. Houston’s 3-0 lead, buoyed by homers from Carlos Beltran and Morgan Ensberg,  is washed away in a four-run Redbird fifth inning. Dan Miceli then serves up the decisive runs on back-to-back blasts by Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen in the eighth. 

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A six-run sixth inning puts the Cardinals out of reach as they outslug the Astros, 10-7, in Game One of the N.L.C.S. in St. Louis. Brandon Backe and Chad Qualls are torched by the league’s most potent offense, despite receiving home run support from Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Jeff Kent and Mike Lamb 

ByTom

2004 – A six-run sixth inning puts the Cardinals out of reach as they outslug the Astros, 10-7, in Game One of the N.L.C.S. in St. Louis. Brandon Backe and Chad Qualls are torched by the league’s most potent offense, despite receiving home run support from Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Jeff Kent and Mike Lamb 

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Craig Biggio pops his first postseason home run  and Houston leads Atlanta, 5-2, in Game Four of the N.L.D.S.

ByTom

2004 – Craig Biggio pops his first postseason home run  and Houston leads Atlanta, 5-2, in Game Four of the N.L.D.S. with a chance to advance. Then Chad Qualls gives up a three-run homer to Adam Laroche and the Braves push across the winning run in the ninth to steal a 6-5 verdict and fly back to Atlanta for a decisive fifth game. Jeff Kent rolls into a double play with two men on in the bottom of the ninth to end a painful day – made worse by the news of ex-teammate Ken Caminiti’s death in New York at age 41. 

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2004 – The Astros hold on for an 8-5 triumph over the Braves in Game Three of the N.L.D.S., taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Morgan Ensberg drives in three while Carlos Beltran drives in a pair with a homer and a double . Brandon Backe works the first six innings for the victory but watches the bullpen struggle again. 

ByTom

2004 – The Astros hold on for an 8-5 triumph over the Braves in Game Three of the N.L.D.S., taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Morgan Ensberg drives in three while Carlos Beltran drives in a pair with a homer and a double . Brandon Backe works the first six innings for the victory but watches the bullpen struggle again. 

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2004 – A two-run homer in the 11th by Rafael Furcal off Dan Miceli gives Atlanta a 4-2 decision over Houston in Game Two of the N.L.D.S. to tie the best-of-five series. The Braves outlast Roy Oswalt then attack the bullpen late. Solo homers by Jeff Bagwell and Raul Chavez give the Astros their only runs. 

ByTom

2004 – A two-run homer in the 11th by Rafael Furcal off Dan Miceli gives Atlanta a 4-2 decision over Houston in Game Two of the N.L.D.S. to tie the best-of-five series. The Braves outlast Roy Oswalt then attack the bullpen late. Solo homers by Jeff Bagwell and Raul Chavez give the Astros their only runs. 

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2004 – Houston gets the jump on Atlanta in Game One of the N.L.D.S. with a 9-3 rout behind Roger Clemens and four home runs. Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran and Jason Lane provide the long balls . Clemens, pitching while recovering from the stomach flu, lasts seven innings. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, goats of postseasons past, both deliver hits to start the series. 

ByTom

2004 – Houston gets the jump on Atlanta in Game One of the N.L.D.S. with a 9-3 rout behind Roger Clemens and four home runs. Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran and Jason Lane provide the long balls . Clemens, pitching while recovering from the stomach flu, lasts seven innings. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, goats of postseasons past, both deliver hits to start the series. 

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2004 – Roy Oswalt becomes the National League’s only 20-game winner with a 9-3 triumph over Colorado. Craig Biggio smashes two homers to set a career high. Jeff Kent goes yard to set a career record for home runs by a second baseman with 278. More importantly, the win clinches a tie for the wild card spot when ex-Astro Steve Finley belts a walk-off grand slam to give the Dodgers a 7-3 verdict over the Giants. The next day, Brandon Backe clinches the berth for Houston with a 5-3 victory, giving the Astros a 92-70 mark . They finished the year winning 36 of their last 46 games and 18 straight at home. 

ByTom

2004 – Roy Oswalt becomes the National League’s only 20-game winner with a 9-3 triumph over Colorado. Craig Biggio smashes two homers to set a career high. Jeff Kent goes yard to set a career record for home runs by a second baseman with 278. More importantly, the win clinches a tie for the wild card spot when ex-Astro Steve Finley belts a walk-off grand slam to give the Dodgers a 7-3 verdict over the Giants. The next day, Brandon Backe clinches the berth for Houston with a 5-3 victory, giving the Astros a 92-70 mark . They finished the year winning 36 of their last 46 games and 18 straight at home. 

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Backup catcher Raul Chavez drives in five as Houston outslugs Milwaukee, 11-7. 

ByTom

2004 – Backup catcher Raul Chavez drives in five as Houston outslugs Milwaukee, 11-7. Morgan Ensberg adds four hits. Jeff Kent and Lance Berkman go deep. The Astros are 1-1/2 games behind the Cubs in the hunt for the final playoff berth. 

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Lance Berkman tags Dustin Hermanson with a three-run bomb in the ninth inning that keys a 7-3 win in San Francisco

ByTom

2004 – Lance Berkman tags Dustin Hermanson with a three-run bomb in the ninth inning that keys a 7-3 win in San Francisco when it appeared the Giants were set to sweep the three-game series . The blast ignites a five-run outburst that would prove to be important in the season’s final weekend. Berkman tops the 100-RBI mark for the third time in four seasons. 

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2004 – Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge combine to blank the Brewers, 1-0, on a two-hitter while striking out 13. Clemens claims the 328th win of his career, becoming the tenth best of all time. He provides offense, too, driving in the game’s only run and later blasting a double – one of just four Houston hits. Craig Biggio also doubles to move past Eddie Murray into 18th all-time in that category. The win keeps Houston a half-game behind Chicago and tied with San Francisco in the wild card race. 

ByTom

2004 – Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge combine to blank the Brewers, 1-0, on a two-hitter while striking out 13. Clemens claims the 328th win of his career, becoming the tenth best of all time. He provides offense, too, driving in the game’s only run and later blasting a double – one of just four Houston hits. Craig Biggio also doubles to move past Eddie Murray into 18th all-time in that category. The win keeps Houston a half-game behind Chicago and tied with San Francisco in the wild card race.