The 1990 Houston Astros season was the 29th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 26th as the Astros, 29th in the National League (NL), 22nd in the NL West division, and 26th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having posted a record of 86âÂÂ76 for third place in the NL West, six games behind the division-champion and NL pennant-winning San Francisco Giants.
On April 9, pitcher Mike Scott made his fourth Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the Cincinnati Reds, but were defeated, 8âÂÂ4. In the amateur draft, the Astros' first round selections included shortstop Tom Nevers (21st overall) and pitcher Brian Williams (31st).
Pitcher Dave Smith earned his second career MLB All-Star selection, representing the Astros and playing for the National League. Second baseman Joe Morgan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, at the time the longest-tenured former, and earliest, member of the Colt .45s/Astro to receive this honor. He started his major league career with Houston in 1963 and played 10 of his 22 major league seasons for the franchise. Pitcher Danny Darwin, who worked primarily out of the bullpen, was the NL earned run average (ERA) leader (2.21), the third ERA title by an Astros pitcher within the previous five seasons.
The Astros concluded the season with a 75âÂÂ87 record, tied for fourth place with the San Diego Padres and 16 games behind the division- and World Series-champion Reds. The 87 losses were the most for Houston since 1978.
Hosting the Cincinnati Reds for Opening Day on April 9âÂÂalso the event for the 25th anniversary since the opening of the AstrodomeâÂÂthe Astros built a 4âÂÂ2 lead in the bottom of the second inning. However, Cincinnati came back to drop the Astros, 8âÂÂ4. The most pain went to first baseman Glenn Davis, who was hit by pitch three times, which tied a major-league record. Right-hander Mike Scott made his fourth Opening Day start, joining Larry Dierker and J. R. Richard (five) to have done so as the starting pitcher. Shortstop Rafael RamÃÂrez attained his fourth bout of four hits as a member of the Astros.
On May 17, Houston outfielder Eric Anthony launched the first-ever home run by a member of the home team into the upper reserve seating at the Astrodome, a monster blast in the eighth inning during a 5âÂÂ4 win over the Chicago Cubs. Ken Oberkfell cranked a sacrifice fly in the eleventh inning to score Ken Caminiti for the game-winning run. Anthony's drive came off Mike Bielecki. The only previous home run that had landed in the first upper deck was launched by Bernie Carbo of the Reds in 1970.
On May 26, the Cubs hosted the Astros at Wrigley Field for their first doubleheader since July 7, 1979. The Astros swept, led by Glenn Davis homering thrice over the two games to tie a club record for a doubleheader, set by Román MejÃÂas, on May 6, 1962, against the Milwaukee Braves. Davis was 6-for-9 with 9 runs batted in (RBI). In the opener, Mike Scott (2âÂÂ5) tossed his first complete game of the season. Jim Deshaies (2âÂÂ2) started the second contest and allowed six hits over innings to earn the win, while Larry Andersen closed out the final innings for his second save.
Astros slugger Glenn Davis connected for three home runs and five runs batted in (RBI) in one game on June 1. That was nearly enough offense for Houston, who managed just two additional hits, though they worked six walks. Davis homered in each of the fourth, sixth, and eighth innings. San Francisco scored thrice in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, 4âÂÂ4. Davis' final shot gave the Astros the lead, 5âÂÂ4; however, in the bottom of the eighth, Will Clark singled home Brett Butler to tie the score. In the bottom of the 12th, Greg Litton . It was the second time that he had hit three home runs in a game during his career, and the fourth time overall by a Houston Astro.
Mike Scott tossed both a career-best 10-inning complete game and 15 strikeouts on June 8, a three-hitter which was his 12th complete game of three hits or fewer. After exchanging shutout ball with Tom Browning for nine innings, the Cincinnati Reds broke through in the top of the 10th inning on an RBI single. by Todd Benzinger to score Barry Larkin. During the bottom of the tenth, Ken Caminiti whiffed against Randy Myers before Eric Anthony drew a base on balls, who was replaced by Louie Meadows. Rafael RamÃÂrez singled on ground ball to left. One out later, Glenn Wilson smoked a walk-off home run to right fieldfor a 3âÂÂ1 Houston win. Scott's (3âÂÂ6) effort earned a game score of 96.
In the bottom of the first, Scott struck out the side, all swinging, He followed that up by registering a pair of whiffs in each of the next two frames. Scott retired each hitter during the initial rotation through the order while peppering 26 of the first 30 offerings for strikes. This performance eclipsed the previous career high of 14 attained three times (twice in 1986, September 14, and Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, and June 15, 1987).
After having been inserted into the starting rotation beginning in July, Danny Darwin responded with a 4âÂÂ0 winâÂÂloss record (WâÂÂL), 1.04 earned run average (ERA), two home runs surrendered, 28 strikeouts, and 0.808 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) over innings pitched. Hence, Darwin received the NL Pitcher of the Month award, succeeding Mike Scott as the most recent Astro, who had received the award in June of the previous year.
On September 21, Houston turned the sixth triple play in club history, doing so in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves. During the bottom of the fourth, David Justice and Jim Presley opened with consecutive singles off Jim Deshaies. Francisco Cabrera hit a grounder to Ken Caminiti, who made the forceout at third, rifled to Dave Rohde at second, who relayed to Mike Simms at first to complete the play. During the top of the sixth, Eric Anthony slugged a three-run home run. The Braves came back to tie the game, 3âÂÂ3, during the bottom of the ninth. However, Simms slugged the game-winning home run for Houston in the top of the tenth.
On September 28, Casey Candaele stunned Atlanta with the fourth walk-off triple in club history, to plate Mark Davidson and Eric Yelding in the bottom of the tenth inning. The final score was Houston 2, Atlanta 1. Starter Danny Darwin spun seven shutout frames to lower his earned run average (ERA) to 2.21, by which claiming the NL ERA title.
The Astros concluded the season with a 75âÂÂ87 record, tied for fourth place with the San Diego Padres, and 16 games behind the division- and World Series-champion Reds. A decline by 11 wins from the year prior, the 87 losses were the most for Houston since 1978.
The Astros played in 27 extra-inning games, tying a league record.
Danny Darwin led the National League in earned run average (2.21 ERA), to become the third Houston Astro within the previous five years to attain the ERA title, following Scott in 1986 (2.22) and Nolan Ryan in 1987 (2.76). This was the fifth ERA title overall in franchise history. Darwin, who made 31 of 48 total appearances out of the bullpen, also led the major leagues in walks plus hits per inning pitched (1.027 WHIP).
Glenn Davis became the first Astro in franchise history to swat 20 or more home runs over six consecutive campaigns. Both Jeff Bagwell (1999) and Lance Berkman (2007) exceeded this string and beyond.
Left fielder Franklin Stubbs set a club record for home runs by a left-handed batter, with 23.
Eric Yelding established a club rookie record for stolen bases with 64, breaking the record of 49 set by Sonny Jackson in 1966.
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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