2004 – Carlos Beltran’s two home runs lead a five-dinger barrage as Houston clubs the Cubs, 15-7. Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent and Lance Berkman also supply the long ball. Roy Oswalt wins his 15th despite harassment from Chicago’s Michael Barrett who is still upset over being hit by Oswalt the previous weekend in Houston. Oswalt is plunked by Kent Mercker but nobody is tossed despite the war of words.
Having earned the All-Star MVP award as a 23-year-old for pitching three perfect innings at the Astrodome in 1986, the 41-year-old Roger Clemens gives up six runs in the 1st inning in the 75th Midsummer Classic played at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. The eventual 9 – 4 American League victory is halted in the top of the 5th inning as the much chagrined “Rocket” receives the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award from Bud Selig in recognition of his outstanding 21-year career.
2002 – Craig Biggio becomes the fourth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle in an 8-4 triumph in Colorado. After reaching with a single and a triple his first two times up, Biggio homers off Denny Neagle for two runs then doubles in the eighth off Mike James for two more. Richard Hidalgo and Lance Berkman also go deep.
2001 – Scott Elarton is ejected after he hits the first batter and misses a 14-5 thrashing by the Astros in Kansas City. After Craig Biggio and Julio Lugo are plunked to start the game, umpires warn both teams. After Elarton hits Rey Sanchez with his fifth pitch of the day, he and skipper Larry Dierker get the thumb. Jeff Bagwell and Mendy Lopez bash three-run homers in the game. Lance Berkman (.365) and Moises Alou (.362) take the league’s top two batting averages into the All-Star break.
2001 – Jeff Bagwell ties a club record with seven RBIs in a 10-8 slugfest in Kansas City. His day starts with a three-run shot off Paul Byrd and finishes with a two-run double in the eighth to give the Astros breathing room. Lance Berkman strokes four safeties to run his hitting streak to 20 games.
2001 – Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman drive in four runs apiece to drum the Rockies, 13-5. Tony Eusebio adds a double and a homer. Colorado manages to outhit Houston, 14-12, and still lose by eight.
2000 – Six different Astros belt home runs and they’ll need all of them to outlast Pittsburgh, 11-10. Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Chris Truby, Moises Alou, Tim Bogar and Julio Lugo play long ball to build an 11-2 lead but no lead is safe at Enron Field. The Bucs storm back with eight runs in the last two frames before Octavio Dotel can coax the final out.
1976 – Lance Berkman is born in Waco, TX. The Rice grad was a major power source with the Astros, leading the league in RBIs in 2002. In 12 seasons (1999-2010), he batted .296 while powering 326 home runs and driving in 1090 runs. He hit .321 with six homers in postseason play.
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