2009 Houston Astros season
Encyclopedia
The Houston Astros
' 2009 season
is the 48th season for the franchise in the National League
in Houston, Texas and their 10th season at Minute Maid Park
. The Houston Astros are attempting to win the NL Central for the fifth time (1997
, 1998
, 1999
and 2001
) and the National League Championship Series
for the second time (2005
).
, their one win coming off of former Cincinnati Red
Jeff Keppinger's
tenth inning RBI
single in his first at bat with the club. They were then swept by the Cardinals
in St. Louis
in a three game series, giving up 19 runs while only being able to score 5 runs. The team then traveled to Pittsburgh
where they lost the first game 0-7. The next day, Mike Hampton
won his second start of his second stint with the franchise with an 8 strikeout, 6 inning outing for the win over the Pirates
. Lance Berkman's
6th inning 3 run home run
helped the Astros win the third game of the series against the Pirates. The Astros then returned home to Minute Maid Park
, where they had three good outings against the Reds
by ace Roy Oswalt
, journeyman Wandy Rodriguez
and Triple-A Round Rock
call-up Felipe Paulino
. José Valverde
gave up a 2 run home run in the top of the ninth inning to Ramón Hernández
for the loss in Oswalt's game on April 17, Rodriguez's got the win with a strong offensive outing by the Astros led by Geoff Blum
with 3 RBIs on April 18, and Geoff Geary
gave up a two run double to Micah Owings
in the top of the seventh inning for the loss in Paulino's game on April 19. In the fourth game of the series, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee's
back to back solo shot home runs were not enough to beat the Red's Edwin Encarnacion's
2 RBI single and Joey Votto's
2 RBI double to give the Red's the series, 3-1. The Houston Astros are an even 451 wins and 451 losses to the Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
' 2009 season
2009 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champions – New York Yankees**American League Champions – New York Yankees**National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies*Postseason – October 7 to November 4...
is the 48th season for the franchise in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in Houston, Texas and their 10th season at Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
. The Houston Astros are attempting to win the NL Central for the fifth time (1997
1997 Houston Astros season
The 1997 Houston Astros season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League Central.-Opening Day starters:*Bobby Abreu*Brad Ausmus*Jeff Bagwell*Derek Bell*Sean Berry*Craig Biggio*Luis Gonzalez...
, 1998
1998 Houston Astros season
The 1998 Houston Astros season marked their second consecutive trip to the postseason. It was the only time in history that the Astros had over 100 wins in a season...
, 1999
1999 Houston Astros season
The 1999 Houston Astros season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League Central.-Offseason:* November 17, 1998: Ken Caminiti was signed as a free agent by the Astros....
and 2001
2001 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 2001 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros successfully attempting to win the National League Central.-Offseason:*January 2, 2001: Charlie Hayes was signed as a Free Agent with the Houston Astros....
) and the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
for the second time (2005
2005 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 2005 season was a season in which the Houston Astros qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season. The Astros overcame a sluggish 15-30 start to claim the wild card playoff spot, and would go on to win the National League pennant to advance to the World Series...
).
April
The Astros lost their season opening series against the CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, their one win coming off of former Cincinnati Red
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
Jeff Keppinger's
Jeff Keppinger
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Keppinger is an American professional baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Known as a contact hitter, Keppinger has one of the lowest strikeout rates in Major League Baseball...
tenth inning RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
single in his first at bat with the club. They were then swept by the Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in St. Louis
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
in a three game series, giving up 19 runs while only being able to score 5 runs. The team then traveled to Pittsburgh
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
where they lost the first game 0-7. The next day, Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...
won his second start of his second stint with the franchise with an 8 strikeout, 6 inning outing for the win over the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Lance Berkman's
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
6th inning 3 run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
helped the Astros win the third game of the series against the Pirates. The Astros then returned home to Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
, where they had three good outings against the Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
by ace Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
, journeyman Wandy Rodriguez
Wandy Rodríguez
Wandy Fulton Rodríguez is a Dominican pitcher for the Houston Astros. He is a native of Santiago Rodriguez, located in the North Region of the Dominican Republic.-Playing career:...
and Triple-A Round Rock
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
call-up Felipe Paulino
Felipe Paulino
Felipe A. Paulino Del Guidice is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.-Houston Astros:...
. José Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
gave up a 2 run home run in the top of the ninth inning to Ramón Hernández
Ramón Hernández
Ramón José Hernández Marin is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays for the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , and Cincinnati Reds .-Career:Hernández is a career .263 hitter with 144 home runs, 651 RBI, and 455...
for the loss in Oswalt's game on April 17, Rodriguez's got the win with a strong offensive outing by the Astros led by Geoff Blum
Geoff Blum
Geoffrey Edward Blum is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. During his major-league career, he has also played for the Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox...
with 3 RBIs on April 18, and Geoff Geary
Geoff Geary
Geoffrey Michael Geary is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a reliever for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.-Biography:...
gave up a two run double to Micah Owings
Micah Owings
Micah Burton Owings is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher currently pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
in the top of the seventh inning for the loss in Paulino's game on April 19. In the fourth game of the series, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee's
Carlos Lee
Carlos Noriel Lee is a first basemen in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed....
back to back solo shot home runs were not enough to beat the Red's Edwin Encarnacion's
Edwin Encarnación
Edwin Elpidio Encarnación , is a Dominican Republic Major League Baseball utility player with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 6 ft 2 in, 235-pound Encarnación bats and throws right-handed....
2 RBI single and Joey Votto's
Joey Votto
Joseph Daniel "Joey" Votto, is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 2010 NL MVP, the recipient of the National League Hank Aaron Award for 2010, and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year in 2010.-Early life:Votto was born on...
2 RBI double to give the Red's the series, 3-1. The Houston Astros are an even 451 wins and 451 losses to the Chicago Cubs
Season standings
4. Houston Astros 73-89 18 .451 43-38 30-51Game log
| 2009 Game Log | |
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Roster
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Manager Coaches(bullpen) (hitting) (third base) (first base) (third base) (pitching) (bench) |
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Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | AVG | SB |
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