2004 Houston Astros season

2004 Houston Astros
National League Wild Card winners
LeagueNational League
DivisionCentral
BallparkMinute Maid Park
CityHouston, Texas
Record92–70 (.568)
Divisional place2nd
OwnersDrayton McLane, Jr.
General managersGerry Hunsicker
ManagersJimy Williams – 44–44 (.500)
Phil Garner – 48–26 (.649)
TelevisionKNWS-TV
FSN Southwest
(Bill Brown, Larry Dierker, Jim Deshaies, Greg Lucas, Bill Worrell)
RadioKTRH
(Milo Hamilton, Alan Ashby)
KLAT
(Francisco Ernesto Ruiz, Alex Treviño)
StatsESPN.com
Baseball Reference

The 2004 Houston Astros season was the 43rd season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 40th as the Astros, 43rd in the National League (NL), 11th in the NL Central division, and fifth at Minute Maid Park. The Astros entered the season with an 87–75 record, in second place and one game behind the division-champion Chicago Cubs. In the NL Wild Card race, the Astros also finished second, four games behind the World Series-champion Florida Marlins.

On April 5, pitcher Roy Oswalt made his second Opening Day starts for the Astros, who hosted the San Francisco Giants, but were defeated, 5–4. On May 6, Roger Clemens moved into second place all-time in strikeouts, increasing his total to 4,140, while on May 8, Craig Biggio became the first Astro to reach 2,500 career hits.

The Astros hosted the MLB All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park, which was the first held in Houston since 1986. Outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Lance Berkman, second baseman Jeff Kent, and Clemens each represented the Astros as All-Stars, and Clemens was selected as the starting pitcher for the National League.

Having limped into the All-Star break with a 44–44 record, Phil Garner was named manager, the 16th in franchise history, replacing Jimy Williams. On September 18, Jeff Bagwell scored both the 1,500th run and run batted in (RBI) of his career to become the 29th major leaguer and first Astro to reach both milestones. Kent hit his 300th home run on September 29. The Astros won 36 of their final 46 games: 36–10 (.783). The Astros reached 3 million in attendance for the second time in franchise history, and first time since 2000.

Having completed the regular season with a 92–70 record, Houston ranked second in the NL Central, finishing 13 games behind the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals. However, the Astros captured the NL Wild Card title for the first time, finishing just one game ahead of the San Francisco Giants. It was the eighth playoff qualification overall for Houston.

In the National League Division Series (NLDS), the Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-games-to-2 by scoring an NLDS-record 36 runs. Hence, the Astros won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history, while also defeating Atlanta in a playoff series on their fourth attempt. They advanced to the third National League Championship Series (NLCS) in franchise history and first since 1986 to face the Cardinals. Beltrán, who connected for eight home runs between the NLDS and NLCS, tied Barry Bonds' record for one postseason in 2002.[a] However, the Astros were eliminated in 7 games, ending their season as St. Louis claimed the NL pennant.

Clemens won the NL Cy Young Award, becoming the fourth pitcher to win the award in both leagues,[1] the only one with seven overall,[2] and joined Mike Scott in 1986 as the second Astro to be selected.

Offseason

Summary

The Astros concluded the 2003 campaign with an 87–75 (.537) record, runners-up in the National League (NL) Central division, and one game behind the division-champion Chicago Cubs. The Astros also finished as runners-up in the NL Wild Card race to the eventual World Series-champion Florida Marlins. Hence, they missed the playoffs by one game.[3] On June 11, 2003, Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, and Billy Wagner combined to hurl the tenth no-hitter in franchise history, and first combined effort for the team. It was the first in the Major Leagues to involve as many as six pitchers.[4]

Transactions

Regular season

Summary

April

Opening Day starting lineup
Uniform Player Position
7Craig BiggioCenter fielder
28Adam EverettShortstop
5Jeff BagwellFirst baseman
12Jeff KentSecond baseman
15Richard HidalgoRight fielder
17Lance BerkmanLeft fielder
14Morgan EnsbergThird baseman
11Brad Ausmus Catcher
44Roy OswaltPitcher
Venue: Minute Maid Park • San Francisco 5, Houston 4

Sources:[10][11]

The Astros hosted the San Francisco Giants for Opening Day on April 5, falling in defeat, 5–4. During the top of the ninth inning, Giants first baseman J. T. Snow swatted a sacrifice fly against Astros reliever Octavio Dotel for the game-winning run batted in (RBI). One inning earlier, Barry Bonds drilled a game-tying, three-run home run off Astros starter Roy Oswalt. Bonds also doubled twice and drew a base on balls to reach base four times. Richard Hidalgo collected three hits and went deep for the Astros.[12]

On April 7, a 41-year-old Roger Clemens, also known as "The Rocket," made his Houston Astros debut, to deal to the San Francisco Giants. A memorable debut, Clemens blanked San Francisco for just one hit over seven innings to earn his 311th career victory and lead a 10–1 rout. Home runs by Richard Hidalgo, Jeff Bagwell and Jeff Kent bolstered Houston's scoring output. Clemens also struck out nine, including slugger Barry Bonds twice. At the plate, Clemens singled in his first at bat as a National Leaguer.[13]

When he hit his sixth career grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 9, first baseman Jeff Bagwell tied a club record.[14] The Colt .45s/Astros franchise record was established by Bob Aspromonte, who hit six from the 1963 to the 1966 seasons.[b][15] Bagwell collated five RBI while Hidalgo added four. Each of Berkman, Bagwell, and Hidalgo doubled. Wade Miller picked up his first victory of the season following six innings with two runs allowed, leading n 13–7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.[16]

Richard Hidalgo opened the season with four successive multi-hit bouts, and five of the first six.[17] On April 9, Hidalgo produced his 11th career four-RBI bout.[18] Through the first six contests, Hidalgo batted .500 / .538 on-base percentage (OBP) / .833 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.372 on-base plus slugging (OPS), two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI.[17] Thus, Hidalgo received National League Player of the Week honors for the week ended April 11.[19]

Brandon Backe's immaculate inning

On April 15, Brandon Backe hurled the sixth immaculate inning club history, whiffing Bill Hall, Scott Podsednik, and Craig Counsell of the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning.[20] Backe had come in relief of Mike Gallo for the seventh inning though the Astros trailed, 6–2. Backe tossed a perfect seventh, getting a strikeout of Chad Moeller to end the seventh and start four successive strikeouts.[21] Backe was preceded among Astros pitcher by Shane Reynolds on July 15, 1999, and succeeded by Will Harris on September 27, 2019.[20]

Rest of April

On April 29, Andy Pettitte obtained his first win in an Astros uniform, also the 150th of his career. Pettitte tossed six shutout innings at PNC Park, surrendered one hit, one walks, and struck out three. Catcher Brad Ausmus and pinch hitter José Vizcaíno each delivered RBI singles as Houston won over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2–0.[22]

On the strength of a 5–0 win–loss record (W–L), 1.95 earned run average (ERA), 32 strikeouts and 14 bases on balls in 32+1⁄3 innings pitched, Clemens was named NL Pitcher of the Month for April. In just one start did Clemens allow more than one run.[23] Clemens succeeded Roy Oswalt in August 2002 the most recent Houston moundsman to have been so recognized.[24]

May

Roger Clemens with the Astros in 2004.

Clemens passed Steve Carlton to move into then-second place behind Nolan Ryan on the all-time strikeout list on May 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 6–2 victory while striking out nine and bringing his career total to 4,140. In the fifth inning, Clemens whiffed Raúl Mondesí swinging for the milestone;[25] however, he would be displaced back into ranking third just a few years later by Randy Johnson.[26]

Starting things off May 8, Biggio stroked a leadoff single for the 2,500th hit of his career to become the first player in franchise history to reach the mark, all with the Astros. Biggio added two solo home runs to round out a 3-for-4 day. However, the Astros' bullpen was unable to clutch the lead, as the Atlanta Braves rallied for a 5–4 win in 10 innings.[27]

From May 14 to June 11, second baseman Jeff Kent recorded a 25-game hitting streak to eclipse Tony Eusebio's streak of 24 for longest in franchise history, which he accomplished in 2000. Kent raised his batting average from .284 to .315 while stroking 17 extra-base hits to also raise his on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) from .837 to .902. His achievement stood as the franchise leader until 2006, when Willy Taveras hit in 30 straight.[28] Kent's streak led the National League in 2004, and was second-longest in the Major Leagues to Carlos Lee of the Chicago White Sox (28 games).[c][29]

In May, outfielder Lance Berkman produced a .785 slugging percentage with 24 runs batted in (RBI), winning his first career National League Player of the Month honors.[30] Berkman became the first Astro win the Player of the Month Award since Jeff Bagwell in July 2001.[31]

June

The Milwaukee Brewers recorded an immaculate inning versus the Astros on June 13. However, in the Brewers' next at bat, reliever Brad Lidge recorded four strikeouts.[32] Lidge became the third Astros pitcher to get four strikeouts in one inning, succeeding bullpen mate Octavio Dotel by one year and two days on June 11, 2003, as both the most recent Major Leaguer and most recent Astro.[d][33] Moreover, following Brandon Backe's immaculate inning just two months earlier on April 15, the Astros and Brewers became the first Major League teams to trade successive immaculate innings against each other.[20]

In a three-team deal on June 28 involving the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics, the Astros acquired center fielder Carlos Beltrán. The Royals sent Beltrán to Houston for minor league catcher John Buck and cash. The A's sent minor leaguers pitcher Mike Wood and first baseman Mark Teahen to the Royals. The Astros sent relief pitcher Octavio Dotel to the A's. Dotel, the Astros' closer, had a 0–4 W–L with a 3.12 ERA in 34+1⁄3 innings pitched, 50 strikeouts and 14 saves in 17 opportunities. He had replaced Billy Wagner in that role following his trade to Philadelphia in the previous off-season.[34]

On June 25, Beltrán made his debut as an Astro, going 2-for-4 with a double in a 2–1 defeat to the Texas Rangers.[35]

Beltrán concluded a 15-game hitting streak that spanned June 15 to July 1, overlapping his time with Kansas City and Houston. Beltrán scored 17 runs, hit 7 home runs, drove in 14, and drew 10 base on balls. He hit .377 with a .787 slugging percentage.[c][29]

On June 30, righty Wade Miller was shut down for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. Miller elected to rest the joint rather than undergo surgery,[36]

July, pre-All-Star break

Carlos Beltrán homered from both sides of the plate on July 1 to become the sixth switch hitter in club history to accomplish this feat,[e][37] while producing his first multi-home run game as a member of the Astros. The tenth multi-home run game of Beltrán's career,[38] this was the third of which featured switch-hit home runs.[37]

Having taken 213 turns at the plate without a home run, on July 2, Morgan Ensberg swatted his first of the season after launching 25 blasts the during the prior season. A timely hit, the bomb landed over the railway track past left field at Minute Maid Park in the bottom of the eighth inning. It deposited the Astros in front of the Texas Rangers for the comeback victory, 7–5.[13] Roy Oswalt (7–6) outlasted the Rangers' high-octane offense in spite of surrendering all five runs, but induced 11 punchouts over eight innings. Brad Lidge hurled a spotless ninth with two more whiffs to ice the contest for the save (5).[39]

On July 3, Enberg belted a grand slam during bottom of the fifth to cut the Rangers' lead to 6–5. Three batters later, Mike Lamb followed with a pinch-hit, two run single to complete the comeback. Houston answered with 7 in the frame to answer Texas' six-run barrage in the top of the fifth. The teams swapped two runs each, but Houston held on for the 10–8 win.[40]

The Astros fired manager Jimy Williams and replaced him with Phil Garner at the All-Star break. With a 44–44 record, the team had been slumping after spending the first month and a half of the season in first place in the National League Central division. That was considered a disappointment due to hopes of reaching the World Series after signing free agent starting pitchers Clemens and Pettitte, and acquiring Beltrán weeks earlier.[41]

Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park

The 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 75th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The game was held on July 13, 2004, for the first time at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, the Houston Astros' home stadium.[42] The third All-Star Game to be hosted in Houston, each occurred over 18-year intervals, first in 1968, and again in 1986, both in the Astrodome.[43]

In the Home Run Derby, Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles defeated Lance Berkman in the final round, 5–4, to win the contest. Tejada established records of both 27 home runs overall, and 15 in a single round, while Berkman hit the longest home run of the competition at 497 feet (151 m). A switch hitter, Berkman batted from the right side.[44] It was his second career Derby, having first participated in 2002. He hit 21 home runs overall, seven ahead of the third-place finisher, Rafael Palmeiro.[45] No Astro had previously won the tournament; in fact, Berkman became the first to qualify for the final round.[46]

For the first time in franchise history, three Astros manned the starting lineup;[47] Roger Clemens, the MVP of the 1986 Classic,[48] was the starting pitcher, Jeff Kent started at second base, while Berkman started in center field. Clemens was the Astros' first starting pitcher in the Midsummer Classic since Mike Scott in 1987, Kent was the first to start at second base since Craig Biggio in 1998, while Berkman joined César Cedeño in 1973 at center field. Seven years earlier, Bagwell and Biggio comprised the Astros core as two starters for the National League for the first time.[47]

Beltrán, first named to the American League team before the trade, was added to the National League team as a reserve. The game had an attendance of 41,886 and boxing legend Muhammad Ali threw the ceremonial first pitch of the game. The final result was the American League defeating the National League 9–4,[42] thus awarding an AL team (which would eventually be the Boston Red Sox) home-field advantage in the World Series.

August

A triple play and a seven-run seventh inning on August 19 against Philadelphia highlighted an Astros 12–10 win. With the Phillies leading 7–2, Todd Pratt grounded into a bases-loaded triple play in the fifth inning, Houston's first in 13 years. Berkman, Craig Biggio, and Eric Bruntlett each homered in the seventh inning.[49]

On August 24, southpaw Andy Pettitte underwent successful surgery to repair his left elbow and would miss the rest of the season. He was expected to be ready for Opening Day of 2005. The surgery closed a campaign in which he faced higher-than-normal struggles and ineffective results.[36]

Following a defeat to the Chicago Cubs on August 26, the Astros embarked on a club record with a 12-game winning streak.[36]

Bagwell recorded his 200th career stolen base on August 30 against the Cincinnati Reds to become the tenth player in MLB history to reach that plateau while hitting 400 home runs.[14]

Biggio commenced a 14-game hitting streak on August 30, second longest for the Astros on the season to Kent's from May 14 to June 11. Biggio hit .338 with three home runs and 8 RBI.[c][29]

September—October

On September 3, Jeff Kent connected for his 11th career grand slam, and second as a member of the Astros.[50] The 11 grand slams tied Kent for 11th all-time MLB history.[51]

Willy Taveras made his Major League debut on September 6,[7] while Astros' starting pitcher Brandon Backe slammed his first major league home as a batter.[52] Taveras substituted in center field for Carlos Beltrán in the top of the eighth inning in an 11–5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Leading off the bottom of eighth for his first major league plate appearance, Taveras struck out swinging versus John Riedling. Earlier, in the bottom of the fourth, Jeff Bagwell (23), Lance Berkman (26), Jeff Kent (21), and Backe all homered off Reds starter Aaron Harang (8–8). Backe, who reached base in each of his three plate appearances, also thumped a single and drew a walk. Mike Lamb added two hits and three RBI for Houston. On the mound, Backe (3–2) tossed seven innings to garner the victory as he surrendered one run, scattered seven hits and one walk, and struck out eight.[53]

On September 18, Bagwell collected his 1,500th career RBI with a single in the third inning against the Brewers. Two innings later, he homered for his 1,500th run scored, becoming just 29th player in MLB history and first Astro to reach both milestones.[14]

Astros fans made history on September 28, mounting the season's attendance total to three million. This was the just the second time in club history the club saw this milestone reached (2000), the inaugural season of Minute Maid Park as Enron Field. Counting that year's playoffs, the attendance figure totaled greater than 3.2 million for 2004.[36]

On September 29, Jeff Kent crushed his 300th career home run, connecting off Jeff Suppan in the second inning to a break a scoreless tie with the St. Louis Cardinals.[50]

On October 2, Jeff Kent hit the 278th home run of his career as the second baseman, which surpassed Ryne Sandberg for most all-time at the position.[f][50][54]

Performance overview

The Astros won 36 of their final 46 games to capture the National League Wild Card.[55] The NL Central division champion St. Louis Cardinals steamrolled their way to a major league-best 105–57 record, leaving Houston 13 games behind. Meanwhile, the Astros finished just a game ahead of the San Francisco Giants[56] to take their first playoff berth since 2001.[57]

The Astros reached the 89-win threshold for the seventh time in franchise history, while qualifying for their eighth playoff appearance, via their first-ever Wild Card title. Since the inception of the NL Central division in 1994, Houston had concluded the regular season in either first or second place ten times in 11 seasons, excluding the 2000 campaign. Furthermore, during a span of 17 seasons commencing in 1992, the 2004 campaign signified the twelfth of 15 having completed with a .500 winning percentage or above. The 2004 stage was also the fourth of five in succession with 84 or more wins—another club record—which remained so until 2015 to 2025, excluding the shortened 2020 season.[57]

After the Astros acquired Beltrán from the Royals, he played 90 games batting .258 with 23 home runs, 53 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. His combined totals in 2004 included 159 games with a .267 batting average, 38 home runs, 104 RBI, 42 stolen bases, and 121 runs scored. Thus, he entered the 30 home runs—30 stolen bases club,[g] joining Bagwell (twice, 1997 and 1999) as the second Astro to accomplish this feat.[58]

Bagwell finished with 27 home runs, extending a club-record streak of 12 seasons with at least 20 home runs.[14]

Berkman, who drew 127 bases on balls, established the National League record for a single season by a switch hitter.[59] Berkman also became the first Astros outfielder to produce 30 or more home runs in three different campaigns, following his 2001 (34) and 2002 (42) campaigns.[60]

Clemens won the NL Cy Young Award to join Mike Scott in 1986 as the second Astro to win this award. The seventh such award for Clemens, he extended his major league record for this award, and became just the fourth hurler to win the award in both leagues.[61] Meanwhile, Oswalt became the fourth Astros pitcher to lead the league in wins (20), following Joe Niekro in (21 in 1979), Scott (20 in 1989), and Mike Hampton (22 in 1999).[62]

Season standings

National League Central

NL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 10557 .648 — 53‍–‍28 52‍–‍29
Houston Astros 9270 .568 13 48‍–‍33 44‍–‍37
Chicago Cubs 8973 .549 16 45‍–‍37 44‍–‍36
Cincinnati Reds 7686 .469 29 40‍–‍41 36‍–‍45
Pittsburgh Pirates 7289 .447 32½ 39‍–‍41 33‍–‍48
Milwaukee Brewers 6794 .416 37½ 36‍–‍45 31‍–‍49

Record vs. opponents

2004 National League record

Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2004

Team AZ ATL CHC CIN COL FLA HOU LAD MIL MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL AL
Arizona—2–44–23–36–133–42–43–163–30–63–41–52–47–125–141–56–12
Atlanta4–2—3–32–44–214–53–34–34–215–412–710–94–23–34–32–48–10
Chicago2–43–3—9–85–13–310–92–410–73–34–23–313–54–22–48–118–4
Cincinnati3–34–28–9—3–34–26–114–210–84–23–33–39–102–43–35–145-7
Colorado 13–62–41–53–3—1–51–58–112–42–41–55–32–410–98–111–58–10
Florida4–35–143–32–45–1—3–33–34–211–815–412–71–54–22–52–47–11
Houston4–23–39–1011–65–13-3—1–513–62–42–46–012–52–42–410–87–5
Los Angeles 16–33–44–22–411–83–35–1—3–34–33–31–56–010–910–92–410–8
Milwaukee3–32–47–108–104–22–46–133–3—5–12–40–66–122–41–58–98–4
Montreal6–04–153–32–44–28-114–23–41–5—9–107–124–21–61–53–37–11
New York4–37–122–43–35–14–154–23–34–210–9—8–111–51–64–21–510–8
Philadelphia5-19–103–33–33–57–120–65–16–012–711–8—3–35–12–43–39–9
Pittsburgh4–22–45–1310–94–25–15–120–612–62–45–13–3—3–35–15–122–10
San Diego12–73–32–44–29–102–44–29–104–26–16–11–53–3—12–72–48–10
San Francisco14–53–44–23–311–85–24–29–105–15–12–44–21–57–12—3–311–7
St. Louis5–14–211–814–55–14-28–104–29–83–35–13–312–54–23–3—11–1

Transactions

  • April 17, 2004: Kirk Saarloos was traded by the Houston Astros to the Oakland Athletics for Chad Harville.[63]
  • June 7, 2004: Hunter Pence was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed July 14, 2004.[64]
  • June 7, 2004: J.R. Towles was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 2004.[65]
  • June 17, 2004: Dave Weathers was traded by the New York Mets with Jeremy Griffiths to the Houston Astros for Richard Hidalgo.[66]
  • June 28, 2004: Carlos Beltrán was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Houston Astros in a three-team deal, which also sent relief pitcher Octavio Dotel from the Astros to the Oakland Athletics, while the Royals picked up Oakland minor leaguers (pitcher Mike Wood and third-baseman Mark Teahen) and Astros catcher John Buck.[66]
  • September 7, 2004: Dave Weathers was released by the Houston Astros.[66]

Roster

2004 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CBrad Ausmus129403100.248531
1BJeff Bagwell156572152.2662789
2BJeff Kent145540156.28927107
SSAdam Everett104384105.273831
3BMorgan Ensberg131411113.2751066
LFCraig Biggio156633178.2812463
CFCarlos Beltrán9033386.2582353
RFLance Berkman160544172.31630106

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
José Vizcaíno13835898.274333
Mike Lamb11227880.2881458
Richard Hidalgo5819951.256430
Raúl Chávez6416234.210023
Jason Lane10713637.272419
Orlando Palmeiro10213332.241312
Eric Bruntlett455213.25048
Chris Burke17171.05900
Jason Alfaro7112.18200
Willy Taveras1010.00000
Chris Tremie100----00

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Roy Oswalt36237.020103.49206
Roger Clemens33214.11842.98218
Pete Munro2199.2475.1563
Wade Miller1588.2773.3574
Andy Pettitte1583.0643.9079
Carlos Hernández942.0136.4326
Jeremy Griffiths14.10010.385

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Tim Redding27100.2575.7256
Brandon Backe3367.0534.3054
Brandon Duckworth1939.1126.8623
Darren Oliver914.0103.8613
Jared Fernández21.00054.000

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV SO
Brad Lidge8065291.90157
Dan Miceli746623.5983
Mike Gallo692004.7434
Chad Harville563204.7546
Octavio Dotel3204143.1250
Kirk Bullinger271016.1611
David Weathers261404.7826
Chad Qualls254013.5524
Ricky Stone161105.6816
Russ Springer160102.639
Dan Wheeler140002.519

Playoffs

National League Division Series

Carlos Beltran's jersey at the Library of Congress Baseball Americana exhibit

In Game 2, Bagwell hit his first career postseason home run off Mike Hampton in the first inning in a 4–2 extra-inning loss.[67]

After seven failed attempts[68] in 43 years of franchise history to win a playoff series, the Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves in five games for their first.[69] Behind the quartet dubbed the "Killer B's" – composed of Bagwell, Beltrán, Berkman and Biggio – who batted .395 (34-for-86) with eight home runs, 21 RBI and 24 runs scored, the Astros' offense ignited, scoring an NLDS-record 36 runs. Beltrán homered four times in this series.[70]

GameScoreDate
1Houston 9, Atlanta 3October 6
2Atlanta 4, Houston 2 (11 innings)October 7
3Houston 8, Atlanta 5October 9
4Atlanta 6, Houston 5October 10
5Houston 12, Atlanta 3October 11

National League Championship Series

The Astros faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs for the first time in 2004 in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). By hitting one home run in each of the first four home runs in the NLCS, including the game-winner in Game 4, Beltrán tied Barry Bonds' record for home runs in single postseason-record with eight, continuing a strong performance from the NLDS. Counting a two home-run performance in Game 5 of the NLDS, that gave Beltrán at least one home run in a record-setting five consecutive postseason games,[71] later eclipsed by Daniel Murphy's home runs in six consecutive postseason games in 2015.[72]

The home run record that Beltrán tied with Bonds was matched in 2011 by Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, and surpassed in 2020 by Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays.[73]

Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds hit the game-winning home run off Dan Miceli in the 12th inning of Game 6, for a 6–4 final score and forcing a Game 7. It was the third game Miceli lost of the 2004 postseason.[74]

GameScoreDate
1St. Louis 10, Houston 7October 13, 2004
2St. Louis 6, Houston 4October 14, 2004
3Houston 5, St. Louis 2October 16, 2004
4Houston 6, St. Louis 5October 17, 2004
5Houston 3, St. Louis 0October 18, 2004
6St. Louis 6, Houston 4October 20, 2004
7St. Louis 5, Houston 2October 21, 2004

Awards and achievements

Offensive achievements

Grand slams

No.DateAstros batterVenueInningPitcherOpposing teamBox
1 April 9 Jeff Bagwell Miller Park 6 Brooks Kieschnick Milwaukee Brewers [16]
2 April 11 Lance Berkman 3[i] Doug Davis
3 July 3 Morgan Ensberg Minute Maid Park 5 Ricardo Rodríguez Texas Rangers [40]
4 September 1 Jeff Kent Great American Ball Park 7 Ryan Wagner Cincinnati Reds
  1. ↑ Tied score or took lead

Power—speed club

30 home runs–30 stolen bases club
Player AVG Runs HR SB PSN
Carlos Beltrán[h] .267 121 42 38 39.9

Records

Awards

League leaders

Individual pitching leaders

Minor league system

Level Team League Manager
AAA New Orleans Zephyrs Pacific Coast League Chris Maloney
AA Round Rock Express Texas League Jackie Moore
A Salem Avalanche Carolina League Russ Nixon
A Lexington Legends South Atlantic League Iván DeJesús
A-Short Season Tri-City ValleyCats New York–Penn League Gregg Langbehn
Rookie Greeneville Astros Appalachian League Jorge Orta and Tim Bogar
Championships
Awards

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Equaled by Nelson Cruz in 2011 and surpassed in 2020 by Randy Arozarena (10). In 2020, Corey Seager also tied Beltrán, Bonds, and Cruz.
  2. ↑ Six grand slams remained the club record until surpassed by Carlos Lee on July 25, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Longest streak of consecutive games, in 2004, in the regular season, requiring hits ≥ 1, sorted by most games matching criteria.
  4. ↑ Bud Norris produced the next four-strikeout inning by an Astros pitcher on April 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ Preceded by Ken Caminiti on August 20, 1999, as the most recent Astro, and succeeded by Lance Berkman on April 13, 2006.
  6. ↑ In Cumulative seasons, In the regular season, from 1901 to 2025, as 2B (within defensive positions), sorted by greatest home runs.
  7. ↑ 30–30 club
  8. ↑ Includes full-season totals with both the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.

References

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  82. 1 2 3 "Appalachian League award winners". Appalachian League. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
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