The 1989 Houston Astros season was the 28th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 25th as the Astros, 28th in the National League (NL), 21st in the NL West division, and 25th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed an 82âÂÂ80 record, in fifth place and games behind the division-champion and World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.
On April 4, pitcher Mike Scott made his third consecutive Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the Atlanta Braves and won, 10âÂÂ3. The season was best remembered for the Astros winning 16 of 17 games in late May through mid June. During the amateur draft, the Astros selected pitcher Jeff Juden at 12th overall and Todd Jones (27th) in the first round, outfielder Brian Hunter in the second round, and pitcher Shane Reynolds in the third round.
Scott and first baseman Glenn Davis were selected to the MLB All-Star Game and played for the National League, the second career selection for both.
The Astros concluded the season with an 86âÂÂ76 record, in third place and six games behind the division champion and NL pennant-winning San Francisco Giants. Scott led the NL in wins (20), while, following the season, catcher Craig Biggio received his first career Silver Slugger Award.
For the third consecutive season, right-hander Mike Scott, the 1986 NL Cy Young Award winner, handled the Opening Day start for Houston, while Art Howe made his managerial debut. The Astros hosted the Atlanta Braves to commence the 25th season of baseball at the Astrodome. The Braves, meanwhile, countered with Zane Smith, to make his first Opening Day start. During the first three frames, Scott allowed no runs while inducing four whiffs, all swinging. In the bottom of the second inning Glenn Davis struck the Astros' first home run of the season, deep to left-center field. Next, Kevin Bass and Ken Caminiti each singled, then Scott singled in both in for a 3âÂÂ0 lead. Misplayed chances on the part of the Braves during the third inning keyed three more runs as the Astros built a 6âÂÂ0 lead. The Braves scored twice in the fourth, and during the fifth, Scott struck out the side, but not before the Tommy Gregg homered to cut the Astros' lead to 6âÂÂ3. Larry Andersen relieved Scott and tossed a scoreless top of the eighth inning to earn the hold, while the Astros bats struck for four more run in the bottom of the eighth to raise the lead to 10âÂÂ3. Dave Smith pitched a scoreless ninth, appearing in his third consecutive Opening Day.
From May 7 to May 31, the Astros established a club record with a 10-game winning streak on the road.
Taking a no-hit bid into the eighth inning on May 19, Mike Scott surrendered a single to Glenn Wilson. This was the only hit by the Pittsburgh Pirates as Scott led the Astros to a 3âÂÂ0 win, also the third one-hit complete game of Scott's career. Along with his no-hitter in 1986, this performance signaled the fourth successive campaign for Scott having pitched either a no-hit or a one-hit shutout, a club record for most games of those criteria.
On May 27, Houston trailed heading into the bottom of the ninth, until infielder Glenn Davis connected for a two-out, two-run game-tying home run to take the game in extra innings. In the 12th, the Astros won on a walk-off when Rafael RamÃÂrez singled home Davis.
The final two games of four-game set on June 3 and 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers took so many extra innings that by themselves the lasted a span of four games. A 22-inning marathon unfolded at The Astrodone on June 3, taking seven hours and 14 minutes. This ended with a 5âÂÂ4 Astros win when RamÃÂrez' single grazed the glove of left-hander Fernando Valenzuela, who was filling in at first base, for the game-winning RBI, which was the longest game in major league history. The ninth consecutive win for the Astros, they pulled to games behind the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants, while concluding at 2:50 AM. First pitch for the series finale was just 10 hours later at 1 PM. For the first time at the Astrodome, two grand slams were hit, including one by the Dodgers' Mike Scioscia in top of the first inning, while the Astros' Louie Meadows answered in the fifth, also his first home of the season. The game remained tied, and in the top of the 13th, Astros ace Mike Scott, who made his first relief appearance since 1985, tossed a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the 13th inning, Scott hit for himself and drove in RamÃÂrez on sacrifice fly for the walk-off run, securing a 7âÂÂ6 win and four-game sweep of the Dodgers. Their tenth consecutive win (May 26âÂÂJune 4), this tied another club record.
On June 13, right fielder Terry Puhl played his 1,403rd game to pass Jack Graney for most all-time in the major leagues among Canadian-born players.
Mike Scott concluded June with a 6âÂÂ1 winâÂÂloss record (WâÂÂL), 2.20 earned run average, three complete games, 26 strikeouts, 15 bases on balls, and .209 batting average against. Hence, Scott was recognized as NL Pitcher of the Month to become the first Astro to receive the award since Nolan Ryan for May 1984.
Reliever Dave Smith established an Astros club record by converting each of the first 21 save opportunities to start the season. This record stood until 2025, when Josh Hader extended his streak to 22.
On August 20, Kevin Bass hit a walk-off grand slam off Chicago Cubs closer Mitch Williams, the second of a switch-hit, two home-run bout for Bass. The slam secured an 8âÂÂ4 win for the Astros; moreover, this was the first of two grand slams on the season by Bass that either secured a win or tied the game. In an all-round performance, Bass was 3-for-5 with 5 RBI. This was a club-record third switch-hit, multi-homer, performance for Bass, the first with a grand slam for an Astro, and, at the time, the only Astro to have generated more than one. Ryne Sandberg homered twice for the Cubs, once off starter Mike Scott and again off Danny Darwin in the top of the ninth. Though charged with a blown save, Darwin earned the victory, bringing his record to an excellent 11âÂÂ3 standing.
Bass was recognized with NL Player of the Week honors for the week ended August 20.
Infielder Rafael RamÃÂrez led a near-Astros victory over the Cubs on August 29, when he set a club record with 7 runs batted in (RBI). He homered twice, including a grand slam, to power Houston to a 9âÂÂ0 lead. However, the Astros wasted RamÃÂrez' landmark day and the lead. The Cubs came all the way back to tie the game, and in the tenth inning, Dwight Smith singled off Dave Smith for the game-winning RBI and 10âÂÂ9 final score. Houston slipped to five games behind San Francisco in the NL West division title race. RamÃÂrez' performance surpassed Román MejÃÂas' record 6 RBI, which he set in the first-ever game in franchise history, April 10, 1962, which also took place against the Cubs.
Mike Scott earned his 100th victory as an Astro on September 9 at the Astrodome, notching a three-hitter as Houston topped San Francisco, the NL West-division leader, 5âÂÂ1. The win closed the Astros' gap to five games behind the Giants. Scott (19âÂÂ8) struck out seven with 37,711 fans in attendance. He surrendered just two base on balls and earned a game score of 82. The Astros scored twice in the bottom if the first. Kevin Bass singled home Gerald Young. Glenn Wilson also singled off Giants starter Kelly Downs to score Bass.
The Astros concluded the season with a 86âÂÂ76 record, in third place, and six games behind the division- and NL pennant-winning San Francisco Giants. An increase in wins by 4 from the year prior, it was the fourth time in club history that the Astros had won 86 games or more.
Meanwhile, Mike Scott became the fourth pitcher in club history to win 20 games in a single season, which led the National League. Scott became the second Astros pitcher to lead the league, following Joe Niekro in 1979 (21). Houston's other prior moundsmen who had breached the 20-win threshold included Larry Dierker (1969) and J. R. Richard (1976). Scott also attained his third campaign as an 18-game or higher winner, second in club history only to Richard, with four (1976âÂÂ1979). Scott (1986) joined Richard (1978 and 1979) as Houston Astros who were 20-game winners and members of the 300 strikeout club, and as earned run average (ERA) leaders (Scott, 1986; Richard, 1979). Scott (September 25, 1986) also joined Dierker (July 9, 1976) as the only Astros to have won 20 contests and hurled a no-hitter. As the club's first Cy Young Award winner in 1986, Scott also became the first pitcher in franchise history to have claimed 20 victories in one campaign, fired a no-hitter, won an ERA title, and joined the 300-strikeout club.
Glenn Davis launched a career-best 34 home runs, which, as his third campaign with upward of 30 home runs (previously, 1986 and 1988), set a franchise record.
Catcher Craig Biggio won his first career Silver Slugger Award, the fifth overall in club history, and the first at the position.
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts