1986 Houston Astros
National League West Champions
LeagueNational League
DivisionWest
BallparkThe Astrodome
CityHouston, Texas
Record96–66 (.593)
Divisional place1st
OwnersJohn McMullen
General managersDick Wagner
ManagersHal Lanier
TelevisionKTXH–TV 20
(Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker)
HSE
(Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Bill Worrell)
RadioKTRH–AM 740
(Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Jerry Trupiano)
Seasons

The 1986 Houston Astros season was the 25th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. For the second time in team history, the Astros won the National League West; it was their third postseason appearance the past seven seasons, and it would be their last for eleven years.

Offseason

Regular season

  • Kevin Bass had a 20-game hit streak during the season.
  • Dave Smith set a club record with 33 saves in one season.
  • September 23, 1986: Jim Deshaies set a record for the most strikeouts to start a game. Deshaies started the game with 8 strikeouts versus the Los Angeles Dodgers[2]
  • September 25, 1986: Mike Scott threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants to help the Astros win the National League West. The final score was 2–0 and Scott struck out 13 Giants batters.

Scott was the first pitcher in the National League and the second overall to throw a no-hitter to clinch a pennant. The first was New York Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds, who accomplished the feat on September 18, 1951.[3]

Opening Day starters

All-Star Game

The 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 57th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 15, 1986, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, the home of the Astros. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 3–2.

Season standings

NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Houston Astros 9666 0.593 — 52–29 44–37
Cincinnati Reds 8676 0.531 10 43–38 43–38
San Francisco Giants 8379 0.512 13 46–35 37–44
San Diego Padres 7488 0.457 22 43–38 31–50
Los Angeles Dodgers 7389 0.451 23 46–35 27–54
Atlanta Braves 7289 0.447 23½ 41–40 31–49

Record vs. opponents

1986 National League record

Sources:
Team ATL CHC CIN HOU LAD MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL
Atlanta —9–36–125–1310–84–74–84–85–712–67–116–6
Chicago 3–9—5–74–86–68–106–129–87–116–66–610–7
Cincinnati 12–67–5—4–1410–87–54–87–510–29–99–97–5
Houston 13–58–414–4—10–88–45–76–66–610–89–97–5
Los Angeles 8–106–68–108–10—5–73–95–78–46–128–108–4
Montreal 7–410–85–74–85–7—8–108–1011–74–85–79–9
New York 8–412–68–47–59–310–8—8–1017–110–27–512–6
Philadelphia 8-48–95–76–67–510–810–8—11–76–69–36–12
Pittsburgh 7–511–72–106–64–87–111–177–11—8–44–87–11
San Diego 6–126–69–98–1012–68–42–106–64–8—8–105–7
San Francisco 11–76–69–99–910–87–55–73–98–410–8—5–7
St. Louis 6–67–105–75–74–89–96–1212–611–77–57–5—

Notable transactions

  • June 2, 1986: 1986 Major League Baseball draft
    • Ryan Bowen was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round.[4]
    • Karl Rhodes was drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round. Player signed June 10, 1986.[5]
    • Trenidad Hubbard was drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1986.[6]
    • Ed Whited was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 1986 amateur draft. [7]
    • Eric Anthony was drafted by the Astros in the 34th round. Player signed June 7, 1986.[8]
  • June 30, 1986: Matt Keough was signed as a free agent by the Astros.[9]

Roster

1986 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log

Regular season

1986 regular season game log: 96–66 (Home: 52–29; Away: 44–37)
April: 14–6 (Home: 6–4; Away: 8–2)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
1April 87:35 p.m. CSTGiantsL 3–8Krukow (1–0)Ryan (0–1)Davis (1)2:2022,9350–1L1
2April 97:35 p.m. CSTGiantsL 1–4Garrelts (1–0)Scott (0–1)Minton (1)2:336,8750–2L2
3April 107:35 p.m. CSTGiantsW 4–0Knepper (1–0)Blue (0–1)—2:276,0701–2W1
4April 117:35 p.m. CSTBravesW 2–1Kerfeld (1–0)Palmer (0–1)Smith (1)2:149,3572–2W2
5April 127:35 p.m. CSTBravesW 4–3Ryan (1–1)Mahler (1–1)Smith (2)2:3019,8033–2W3
6April 132:05 p.m. CSTBravesL 7–8Johnson (1–0)Scott (0–2)Garber (1)2:568,7393–3L1
7April 153:05 p.m. CST@ GiantsW 8–3Knepper (2–0)Blue (0–2)Kerfeld (1)3:0146,6384–3W1
8April 162:05 p.m. CST@ GiantsW 4–1Ryan (2–1)Mason (0–1)Smith (3)2:453,5905–3W2
9April 186:35 p.m. CST@ RedsW 6–4Scott (1–2)Soto (1–1)Smith (4)2:3826,1266–3W1
10April 191:15 p.m. CST@ RedsW 4–3Knepper (3–0)Browning (0–1)Smith (5)2:2617,5647–3W2
11April 201:15 p.m. CST@ RedsW 6–4adden (1–0)Gullickson (0–1)Kerfeld (2)2:4517,8788–3W3
12April 216:40 p.m. CST@ BravesL 2–8Johnson (2–0)Ryan (2–2)—2:365,3618–4L1
13April 226:40 p.m. CST@ BravesW 4–3Kerfeld (2–0)Ward (0–1)—2:186,3169–4W1
14April 234:40 p.m. CST@ BravesW 3–2Solano (1–0)Smith (1–1)Smith (6)2:277,66610–4W2
15April 247:35 p.m. CSTRedsL 0–3Soto (2–1)Madden (1–1)—2:3510,24510–5L1
16April 257:35 p.m. CSTRedsW 3–1Ryan (3–2)Browning (0–2)—2:0716,29611–5W1
17April 267:35 p.m. CSTRedsW 1–0Scott (2–2)Gullickson (0–2)—2:0638,44212–5W2
18April 272:05 p.m. CDTRedsW 6–0Knepper (4–0)Denny (1–2)—2:0612,18513–5W3
19April 296:35 p.m. CDT@ PhilliesL 4–12Rawley (3–1)Ryan (3–3)—2:4816,31313–6L1
20April 306:35 p.m. CDT@ PhilliesW 1–0Scott (3–2)Gross (1–3)Smith (7)2:3817,13414–6W1
May: 13–13 (Home: 6–6; Away: 7–7)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
21May 22:35 p.m. CDT@ ExposW 6–3Knepper (5–0)Youmans (0–3)Smith (8)2:386,78115–6W2
22May 312:35 p.m. CDT@ ExposL 6–7 (10)Reardon (3–2)DiPino (0–1)—3:4511,76915–7L1
23May 42:05 p.m. CDT@ ExposL 6–7Reardon (4–2)Smith (0–1)—3:0113,81015–8L2
24May 66:35 p.m. CDT@ MetsL 0–4Gooden (5–0)Knepper (5–1)—2:3641,72215–9L3
25May 76:35 p.m. CDT@ MetsL 2–3Fernandez (4–0)Ryan (3–4)Orosco (6)2:4226,95615–10L4
26May 96:35 p.m. CDT@ PiratesW 3–2Kerfeld (3–0)Winn (1–1)Smith (9)2:2717,29616–10W1
27May 106:05 p.m. CDT@ PiratesW 6–3Knepper (6–1)Rhoden (2–2)DiPino (1)2:5613,34417–10W2
28May 1112:35 p.m. CDT@ PiratesL 3–4 (12)DeLeón (1–0)Kerfeld (3–1)—3:3913,17017–11L1
29May 127:35 p.m. CDTPhilliesL 1–5Rawley (4–3)Deshaies (0–1)—2:188,35417–12L1
30May 137:35 p.m. CDTPhilliesW 3–2 (11)Solano (2–0)Rucker (0–1)—2:517,08718–12W1
31May 147:35 p.m. CDTMetsW 6–2Knepper (7–1)Ojeda (5–1)—2:2311,62619–12W2
32May 157:35 p.m. CDTMetsL 2–6Darling (4–0)Ryan (3–5)—2:4213,85619–13L1
33May 167:35 p.m. CDTCubsW 9–6Solano (3–0)Baller (1–2)Smith (10)2:5017,80220–13W1
34May 177:35 p.m. CDTCubsW 5–1Scott (4–2)Trout (2–1)—2:4037,48321–13W2
35May 182:05 p.m. CDTCubsL 2–5Hoffman (1–1)Knepper (7–2)Smith (5)3:0214,48321–14L1
36May 207:35 p.m. CDTPiratesL 2–4Walk (2–0)Ryan (3–6)—2:388,71121–15L2
37May 217:35 p.m. CDTPiratesL 1–2Rhoden (3–3)Scott (4–3)—2:226,99021–16L3
38May 223:35 p.m. CDTPiratesW 4–0Knepper (8–2)Reuschel (3–4)—2:294,78422–16W1
39May 233:05 p.m. CDT@ CubsL 1–4Sutcliffe (2–6)Solano (3–1)—2:2320,53222–17L1
40May 2412:20 p.m. CDT@ CubsL 3–4Frazier (2–3)Smith (0–2)Smith (6)2:5033,35522–18L2
41May 251:20 p.m. CDT@ CubsW 3–1 (11)Kerfeld (4–1)Smith (0–2)Smith (11)3:0236,00023–18W1
42May 265:35 p.m. CDT@ CardinalsW 4–1Deshaies (1–1)Forsch (3–3)DiPino (2)2:4320,09924–18W2
43May 277:35 p.m. CDT@ CardinalsW 5–4Smith (1–2)Dayley (0–3)—2:4820,14625–18W3
44May 2812:35 p.m. CDT@ CardinalsW 4–3 (11)Kerfeld (5–1)Worrell (3–3)—3:1817,58226–18W4
45May 307:35 p.m. CDTExposL 0–1Smith (4–4)Scott (4–4)Reardon (12)2:1413,85426–19L1
46May 317:35 p.m. CDTExposW 4–3DiPino (1–1)Burke (2–1)Smith (12)2:3025,83127–19W1
June: 14–15 (Home: 9–6; Away: 5–9)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
47June 12:05 p.m. CDTExposW 8–4Knepper (9–2)Hesketh (3–4)—2:3813,32528–19W2
48June 27:35 p.m. CDTCardinalsL 2–9Tudor (5–3)Madden (1–2)—2:4511,66928–20L1
49June 37:35 p.m. CDTCardinalsL 1–3Mathews (1–0)Deshaies (1–2)Worrell (8)2:206,43028–21L2
50June 47:35 p.m. CDTCardinalsW 4–2Scott (5–4)Burris (2–2)Smith (13)2:3311,39629–21W1
51June 59:35 p.m. CDT@ DodgersL 0–1Honeycutt (3–3)Hernández (0–1)Howell (3)2:2532,54529–22L1
52June 69:35 p.m. CDT@ DodgersL 2–3Howell (2–2)Knepper (9–3)—2:5238,99129–23L2
53June 72:20 p.m. CDT@ DodgersW 7–5López (1–0)Howell (2–3)Smith (14)3:2732,90230–23W1
54June 83:05 p.m. CDT@ DodgersW 3–2Scott (6–4)Valenzuela (8–4)Smith (15)2:4447,40431–23W2
55June 99:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresW 5–3Deshaies (2–2)Show (3–4)López (1)2:4219,16732–23W3
56June 109:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresW 12–1Knepper (10–3)Dravecky (5–6)—2:3113,96633–23W4
57June 113:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresL 7–11McCullers (2–1)DiPino (1–2)—2:4713,68633–24L1
58June 127:35 p.m. CDTGiantsW 4–1Hernández (1–1)Krukow (8–4)Smith (16)2:3716,34234–24W1
59June 137:35 p.m. CDTGiantsL 1–3Davis (2–3)Scott (6–5)—2:2223,35234–25L1
60June 147:35 p.m. CDTGiantsW 7–3Deshaies (3–2)Mulholland (0–1)López (2)2:4832,47735–25W1
61June 152:05 p.m. CDTGiantsL 2–7Blue (4–3)Knepper (10–4)—2:5622,95835–26L1
62June 176:35 p.m. CDT@ RedsL 4–5Welsh (2–1)Hernández (1–2)Franco (11)2:3316,82435–27L2
63June 186:35 p.m. CDT@ RedsL 2–3Robinson (5–0)Smith (1–3)—2:2017,42635–28L3
64June 196:35 p.m. CDT@ RedsW 6–2Deshaies (4–2)Soto (3–7)—2:5425,92036–28W1
65June 2010:05 p.m. CDT@ Giants1–3Blue (5–3)Knepper (10–5)Berenguer (2)2:1825,11636–29L1
66June 213:05 p.m. CDT@ Giants1–2Garrelts (6–6)Knudson (0–1)Berenguer (3)2:5124,92736–30L2
67 (1)June 222:05 p.m. CDT@ Giants2–4Krukow (9–4)Hernández (1–3)—2:22N/A36–31L3
68 (2)June 225:02 p.m. CDT@ Giants2–3Berenguer (1–0)Smith (1–4)Hensley (1)2:4247,03036–32L4
69June 237:35 p.m. CDTRedsW 7–6Anderson (1–0)Power (3–5)—2:5712,95337–32W1
70June 247:35 p.m. CDTRedsW 8–4Ryan (4–6)Browning (5–7)—2:4417,48738–32W2
71June 257:35 p.m. CDTRedsL 3–4 (10)Franco (1–4)López (1–1)—3:0013,31338–33L1
72June 277:35 p.m. CDTDodgersW 5–0Scott (7–5)Reuss (2–6)—2:0625,76039–33W1
73June 287:35 p.m. CDTDodgersW 6–4Deshaies (5–2)Welch (3–6)Aurelio López (3)2:3534,25240–33W2
74June 292:05 p.m. CDTDodgersW 2–1Hernández (2–3)Valenzuela (10–5)DiPino (3)2:2332,72341–33W3
75June 307:35 p.m. CDTPadresL 2–9Dravecky (7–7)Knepper (10–6)—2:2211,14141–34L1
July: 16–11 (Home: 11–5; Away: 5–6)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
76July 17:35 p.m. CDTPadresL 4–7Show (7–4)Knudson (0–2)Gossage (14)2:4613,86641–35L2
77July 27:35 p.m. CDTPadresW 8–1Scott (8–5)Hawkins (5–5)—2:1810,14842–35W1
78July 36:35 p.m. CDT@ MetsL 5–6 (10)Orosco (4–4)DiPino (1–3)—3:0848,83942–36L1
79July 412:35 p.m. CDT@ MetsL 1–2Gooden (10–3)Smith (1–5)—2:3928,55742–37L2
80July 56:05 p.m. CDT@ MetsW 2–1Kerfeld (6–1)McDowell (7–1)—2:2450,93943–37W1
81July 612:35 p.m. CDT@ MetsL 3–5Fernandez (11–2)Knudson (0–3)McDowell (8)3:0831,01743–38L1
82July 76:35 p.m. CDT@ ExposW 12–1Scott (9–5)Martínez (0–1)—2:4017,69444–38W1
83July 86:35 p.m. CDT@ ExposW 4–1Ryan (5–6)Tibbs (4–5)Kerfeld (3)2:2916,38245–38W2
84July 96:05 p.m. CDT@ ExposL 1–2Youmans (9–5)Knepper (10–7)—2:0815,31645–39L1
85July 107:35 p.m. CDTPhilliesW 11–4Knudson (1–3)Hudson (4–9)—2:3918,28946–39W1
86July 117:35 p.m. CDTPhilliesL 1–4Carman (4–2)Scott (9–6)Bedrosian (11)2:2218,04746–40L1
87July 1212:50 p.m. CDTPhilliesW 4–3Ryan (6–6)Rawley (11–5)Smith (17)2:5117,49147–40W1
88July 132:05 p.m. CDTPhilliesL 4–5 (11)Bedrosian (6–3)Smith (1–6)—3:0120,59747–41L1
57th All-Star Game in Houston, Texas
89July 177:35 p.m. CDTMetsL 2–13Ojeda (11–2)Ryan (6–7)—3:1021,53647–42L2
90July 187:35 p.m. CDTMetsW 3–0Knepper (11–7)Darling (9–3)—2:2522,90648–42W1
91July 197:35 p.m. CDTMetsW 5–4Smith (2–6)McDowell (7–3)—2:3844,50249–42W2
92July 202:05 p.m. CDTMetsW 9–8 (15)Knepper (12–7)McDowell (7–4)—5:2923,90050–42W3
93July 217:35 p.m. CDTExposW 8–7Kerfeld (7–1)Reardon (6–5)—3:0313,75351–42W4
94July 227:35 p.m. CDTExposW 1–0 (10)Smith (3–6)Youmans (10–6)—2:4319,27152–42W5
95July 237:35 p.m. CDTExposW 4–3 (11)López (2–1)Burke (7–4)—3:0715,36453–42W6
96July 246:35 p.m. CDT@ PhilliesW 9–3Scott (10–6)Rawley (11–7)—2:3731,09454–42W7
97July 256:35 p.m. CDT@ PhilliesL 2–4Hudson (6–9)Deshaies (5–3)Bedrosian (13)2:2823,38754–43L1
98July 266:05 p.m. CDT@ PhilliesL 2–3Carman (5–2)Knudson (1–4)Schatzeder (2)2:2434,07554–44L2
99July 2712:35 p.m. CDT@ PhilliesW 3–2Ryan (7–7)Gross (6–8)López (4)2:1433,19255–44W1
100July 287:35 p.m. CDTBravesW 4–2Knepper (13–7)Alexander (6–7)Smith (18)2:1924,59756–44W2
101July 297:35 p.m. CDTBravesL 0–1Palmer (7–8)Scott (10–7)Garber (13)2:3126,61056–45L1
102July 307:35 p.m. CDTBravesW 4–2Deshaies (6–3)Acker (3–5)Smith (19)2:5034,10257–45W3
August: 16–12 (Home: 8–4; Away: 8–8)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
103August 19:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresW 6–3Knepper (14–7)Hoyt (5–7)Smith (20)2:3922,10858–45W2
104August 29:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresW 5–4Scott (11–7)Show (7–5)Smith (21)2:4028,61259–45W3
105August 33:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresL 1–5Hawkins (8–7)Knudson (1–5)Gossage (18)2:2021,85059–46L1
106August 47:05 p.m. CDT@ DodgersL 3–7Valenzuela (15–6)Kerfeld (7–2)—2:5432,18259–47L2
107August 59:35 p.m. CDT@ DodgersW 10–2López (3–1)Howell (4–7)Smith (22)3:2145,52560–47W1
108August 63:05 p.m. CDT@ DodgersL 4–7Honeycutt (8–6)Keough (2–3)Neidenfuer (7)3:0640,70960–48L1
109August 87:35 p.m. CDTPadresW 5–0Scott (12–7)McCullers (5–6)—2:1531,14261–48W1
110August 97:35 p.m. CDTPadresW 6–2Deshaies (7–3)Hawkins (8–8)Kerfeld (4)2:2838,16962–48W2
111August 102:05 p.m. CDTPadresL 3–5Dravecky (8–9)Knepper (14–8)Gossage (19)2:3020,83962–49L1
112August 117:05 p.m. CDTDodgersW 7–6Smith (4–6)Howell (4–8)—3:3123,20663–49W1
113August 127:35 p.m. CDTDodgersW 3–0Ryan (8–7)Honeycutt (8–7)Kerfeld (5)2:2537,97364–49W2
114August 137:35 p.m. CDTDodgersL 3–5Hershiser (12–8)Scott (12–8)Niedenfuer (8)2:4033,32764–50L1
115August 147:35 p.m. CDTDodgersW 3–2Andersen (2–0)Valenzuela (15–8)Smith (23)2:1542,11865–50W1
116August 156:40 p.m. CDT@ BravesW 3–0Knepper (15–8)Acker (4–6)—2:1426,62566–50W2
117August 166:40 p.m. CDT@ BravesW 7–4Keough (3–3)Mahler (11–12)Smith (24)2:4331,86267–50W3
118August 171:10 p.m. CDT@ BravesL 3–4Speck (2–0)Andersen (2–1)Garber (18)2:5417,61867–51L1
119August 186:35 p.m. CDT@ PiratesW 3–0Scott (13–8)Walk (5–7)—2:247,96568–51W1
120August 196:35 p.m. CDT@ PiratesW 1–0Deshaies (8–3)Bielecki (6–9)Smith (25)2:319,12869–51W2
121August 206:35 p.m. CDT@ PiratesL 1–4Rhoden (14–7)Knepper (15–9)—2:1216,99769–52L1
122August 227:35 p.m. CDT@ CardinalsL 5–6Tudor (13–6)Ryan (8–8)Worrell (28)2:4433,91869–53L2
123August 237:05 p.m. CDT@ CardinalsL 1–7Cox (8–10)Scott (13–9)—2:2840,94469–54L3
124August 241:15 p.m. CDT@ CardinalsW 5–1Deshaies (9–3)Conroy (3–8)López (5)2:5033,68770–54W1
125August 257:35 p.m. CDTCubsW 3–2Kerfeld (8–2)Smith (8–8)Smith (26)2:4024,21171–54W2
126August 267:35 p.m. CDTCubsL 3–5Lynch (4–3)Darwin (6–9)Smith (25)2:3322,57971–55L1
127August 277:35 p.m. CDTCubsW 7–1Ryan (9–8)oyer (5–4)Kerfeld (6)2:3924,19872–55W1
128August 297:35 p.m. CDTPiratesW 3–2Scott (14–9)Reuschel (8–15)Smith (27)2:3722,80173–55W2
129August 307:35 p.m. CDTPiratesL 3–13Rhoden (15–7)Deshaies (9–4)—2:4630,59873–56L1
130August 312:05 p.m. CDTPiratesL 2–8Walk (7–7)Knepper (15–10)—2:1725,40573–57L2
September: 18–9 (Home: 9–3; Away: 9–6)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
131September 11:20 p.m. CDT@ CubsW 6–4Darwin (7–9)Lynch (4–4)Smith (28)3:0125,54774–57W1
132September 23:05 p.m. CDT@ CubsW 8–7 (18)Darwin (8–9)Maddux (0–1)—5:1410,50175–57W2
133September 31:20 p.m. CDT@ CubsW 8–2Scott (15–9)Sanderson (7–11)—2:487,05176–57W3
134September 57:35 p.m. CDTCardinalsL 5–8Soff (2–0)López (3–2)—2:5023,54776–58L1
135September 67:35 p.m. CDTCardinalsW 7–6Kerfeld (9–2)Worrell (8–10)—2:5821,80277–58W1
136September 72:05 p.m. CDTCardinalsW 6–3Calhoun (1–0)Mathews (10–5)Smith (29)2:5020,77378–58W2
137September 87:35 p.m. CDTRedsW 3–1Ryan (10–8)Welsh (5–6)Kerfeld (7)2:2626,99779–58W3
138September 97:35 p.m. CDTRedsW 9–2Scott (16–9)Browning (12–12)—2:1122,71180–58W4
139September 109:35 p.m. CDT@ DodgersL 1–5Hershiser (13–10)Deshaies (9–5)—2:5627,53480–59L1
140September 119:35 p.m. CDT@ DodgersL 6–14Valenzuela (19–9)Knepper (15–11)—2:5134,81680–60L2
141September 129:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresW 5–3Kerfeld (10–2)McCullers (8–8)Smith (30)2:3511,31981–60W1
142September 139:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresL 3–4Lefferts (8–7)Smith (4–7)—2:4232,72981–61L1
143September 143:05 p.m. CDT@ PadresL 2–3Lefferts (9–7)Scott (16–10)—2:3513,27981–62L2
144September 166:35 p.m. CDT@ RedsW 6–1Knepper (16–11)Gullickson (13–11)Andersen (1)2:3416,92782–62W1
145September 176:35 p.m. CDT@ RedsW 6–1Darwin (9–9)Welsh (6–7)—2:2615,19583–62W2
146September 1811:35 a.m. CDT@ RedsW 5–3Keough (4–3)Browning (13–13)López (6)2:1611,82584–62W3
147September 197:35 p.m. CDTPadresW 5–4Kerfeld (11–2)LaPoint (4–9)Smith (31)2:4723,80585–62W4
148September 207:35 p.m. CDTPadresW 10–6Scott (17–10)Hayward (0–1)—2:3336,87886–62W5
149September 212:05 p.m. CDTPadresL 0–5Jones (1–0)Knepper (16–12)—2:2423,38586–63L1
150September 227:35 p.m. CDTDodgersL 2–9Valenzuela (20–10)Darwin (9–10)—2:3527,64186–64L2
151September 237:35 p.m. CDTDodgersW 4–0Deshaies (10–5)Powell (2–7)—2:4427,73487–64W1
152September 247:35 p.m. CDTGiantsW 6–0Ryan (11–8)LaCoss (10–13)—2:3937,61188–64W2
153September 253:35 p.m. CDTGiantsW 2–0Scott (18–10)Berenguer (2–3)—2:2432,80889–64W3
154September 266:40 p.m. CDT@ BravesL 4–5Alexander (11–10)Keough (4–4)Smith (1)2:156,75489–65L1
155September 271:20 p.m. CDT@ BravesW 4–0Darwin (10–10)Palmer (11–10)—2:2213,54590–65W1
156September 281:10 p.m. CDT@ BravesW 2–0Deshaies (11–5)Acker (5–11)Smith (32)2:226,28091–65W2
157September 309:35 p.m. CDT@ GiantsL 5–6Davis (5–7)López (3–3)—2:3413,35891–66L1
October: 5–0 (Home: 3–0; Away: 2–0)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
158October 12:05 p.m. CDT@ GiantsW 5–0Darwin (11–10)Krukow (19–9)—2:419,88192–66W1
159October 23:05 p.m. CDT@ GiantsW 2–1Keough (5–4)Robinson (6–3)Smith (33)3:078,65693–66W2
160October 37:35 p.m. CDTBravesW 6–2Ryan (12–8)Acker (5–12)—2:2225,06894–66W3
161October 41:20 p.m. CDTBravesW 3–2Deshaies (12–5)Smith (8–16)López (7)2:1817,31495–66W4
162October 52:05 p.m. CDTBravesW 4–1Knepper (17–12)Mahler (14–18)—1:5037,53196–66W5
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

Postseason Game log

1986 Postseason game log: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–2)
NL Championship Series: vs. New York Mets 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–2)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceSeriesBox/
Streak
1October 87:25 p.m. CDTMetsW 1–0Scott (1–0)Gooden (0–1)–2:5644,131HOU 1–0W1
2October 97:20 p.m. CDTMetsL 1–5Ojeda (1–0)Ryan (0–1)–2:4044,391Tied 1–1L1
3October 1111:10 a.m. CDT@ MetsL 5–6Orosco (1–0)Smith (0–1)–2:5555,052NYM 2–1L2
4October 127:20 p.m. CDT@ MetsW 3–1Scott (2–0)Fernandez (0–1)–2:2355,038Tied 2–2W1
–October 13@ MetsPostponed (Rain) (Makeup date: October 14)
5October 1412:05 p.m. CDT@ MetsL 1–2 (12)Orosco (2–0)Kerfeld (0–1)–3:4554,986NYM 3–2L1
6October 152:05 p.m. CDTMetsL 5–6 (16)Orosco (3–0)López (0–1)–4:4245,718NYM 4–2L2
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

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
CAlan Ashby12031581.257738
1BGlenn Davis158574152.26531101
2BBill Doran145550152.276637
SSCraig Reynolds11431378.249641
3BDenny Walling130382119.3121358
LFJosé Cruz141479133.2781072
CFBilly Hatcher127419108.258636
RFKevin Bass157591184.3112079

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
Phil Garner10731383.265941
Dickie Thon10627869.248321
Terry Puhl8117242.244314
Mark Bailey5715327.176415
Jim Pankovits7011332.28317
Davey Lopes379823.235113
Tony Walker849020.222210
John Mizerock448115.18516
Ty Gainey265015.30016
Bert Peña15296.20702
Dan Driessen17247.29213
Eric Bullock6211.04801
Robbie Wine9123.25000
Louie Meadows662.33300

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
Mike Scott37275.118102.22306
Bob Knepper40258.017123.14143
Nolan Ryan30178.01283.34194
Jim Deshaies26144.01253.25128
Mark Knudson942.2154.2220

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
Danny Darwin1254.1522.3240
Mike Madden1339.2124.0830
Matt Keough1035.0323.0925
Manny Hernández927.2233.909

Relief pitchers

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

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Dave Smith5456.047332.7346
Charlie Kerfeld6193.211272.5977
Aurelio López4578.03373.4644
Larry Andersen3864.22112.7833
Frank DiPino4140.11333.5727
Julio Solano1632.03107.5921
Jeff Calhoun2026.21003.7114
Tom Funk88.10006.482
Rafael Montalvo11.00009.000

National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 8 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 000 000 000 050
Houston 010 000 00X 171
WP: Mike Scott (1–0)  LP: Dwight Gooden (0–1)
HR: NYM – None.; HOU – Glenn Davis (1)

Game 2

October 9 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 000 230 000 5100
Houston 000 000 100 1102
WP: Bob Ojeda (1–0)  LP: Nolan Ryan (0–1)
HR: NYM – None.; HOU – None.

Game 3

October 11 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 220 000 100 581
New York 000 004 002 6101
WP: Jesse Orosco (1–0)  LP: Dave Smith (0–1)
HR: HOU – Bill Doran (1); NYM – Darryl Strawberry (1), Lenny Dykstra (1)

Game 4

October 12 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 020 010 000 341
New York 000 000 010 130
WP: Mike Scott (2–0)  LP: Sid Fernandez (0–1)
HR: HOU – Alan Ashby (1), Dickie Thon (1); NYM – None.

Game 5

October 14 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Houston 000 010 000 000 191
New York 000 010 000 001 240
WP: Jesse Orosco (2–0)  LP: Charlie Kerfeld (0–1)
HRs: HOU – None. NYM – Darryl Strawberry (2)

Game 6

October 15 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 R H E
New York 000 000 003 000 0103 7110
Houston 300 000 000 000 0102 6111
WP: Jesse Orosco (3–0)  LP: Aurelio López (0–1)
HRs: NYM – None. HOU – Billy Hatcher (1)

Game 6 was one for the ages, in more ways than one. The game went 16 innings with the Mets coming out on top 7–6. It was the highest scoring game of the series; in fact, the 16th inning alone featured more runs than three of the previous five games had in their entirety.

The Astrodome hosted what some consider to be one of the greatest games of all time that October and it will forever be remembered.

The big story of Game 6 was that it was most nearly a must-win for both teams. The Astros obviously had to have it because they were facing elimination. Even though they were up 3–2 in the series, the Mets regarded it as a must-win because they were scheduled to face Mike Scott again in Game 7. Scott had given up a grand total of 1 run in his first two starts of the series, and had dominated the Mets so completely that even the most optimistic Mets fans knew their chances of beating him in a potential Game 7 were small. The end result was one of the greatest games in baseball history.

The Astros broke through first, and for a low scoring series like this, they broke through big, scoring three runs off a possibly tired Bob Ojeda in the bottom of the first. He settled down after that, however, and the Astros wouldn't score again for the next 12 innings. Meanwhile, Astros starter Bob Knepper was brilliant from the very first pitch, and the game headed to the 9th still 3–0.

Just when it looked like the Mets would have to face the mighty Scott, however, their bats suddenly came to life. After pitching almost perfectly for the first eight innings, Knepper clearly tired in the 9th. He allowed three hits and recorded only one out, and left with the Astros clinging to a 3–2 lead. The decision by Lanier not to bring in Smith to start the inning was talked about for years to come. Smith was their closer, but had blown a save earlier in the series. When Smith finally did appear, he was ineffective, walking two batters to load the bases and then allowing the tying run to score on a sacrifice fly by Ray Knight. In a matter of minutes, the previously raucous crowd of 45,718 had been almost completely silenced and extra innings had soon begun.

In the 14th, the Mets made their first bid to win. After Gary Carter opened with a single, a walk to Darryl Strawberry put two runners on with nobody out. After Knight forced Carter at third, Wally Backman drove a single to right. When Kevin Bass' throw to the plate sailed high over Alan Ashby's head to the screen, Strawberry scored. It looked like the end for the Astros, as Orosco came in to close them down.

With one out in the bottom of the 14th and the Houston fans with their heads in their hands, Billy Hatcher shocked everyone with a line drive home run off the left field foul pole. It was the first earned run allowed by the Mets bullpen in the entire series. Hatcher went 3 for 7 in the game, and his homer meant the Astros would be kept alive for at least one more inning. Both teams failed to score in the 15th, and the game went to the 16th inning, the most innings in playoff history at that time.

The 16th inning would be the deciding factor, and it was not an easy 16th for either pitching staff. The Mets appeared to take control of the game once again, this time coming up with 3 runs in the top half of the inning. The rally began with Strawberry receiving a gift double when Billy Hatcher and Bill Doran misplayed his towering fly ball with one out. When Knight followed with a single to right, a poor throw to the plate by Kevin Bass allowed the tiebreaking run to score, just as it had in the 14th. A walk, two wild pitches, and a single by Lenny Dykstra brought in two more runs, putting the Mets up 7–4. This sent some of the Houston faithful for the exits; those who stayed, however, almost witnessed the unthinkable.

Orosco struck out Craig Reynolds to open the inning, but a walk and two singles later, Houston had a run in and the tying run on base. Orosco induced Denny Walling to hit into a force play at second for the second out, but Glenn Davis singled home another run, bringing the Astros within a run. People everywhere were quiet as they watched Orosco face right fielder Kevin Bass with two outs and the tying run on second, and the winning run on first.

It was all up to Bass to drive in a run and tie the game. Orosco threw Bass six straight sliders; when Bass swung and missed the last of them, the epic series was over. Orosco was awarded the victory, marking the first time in postseason history a reliever won three games in a series. It would be a long winter for the Astros, but for the Mets, an even bigger trial awaited them. After taking two days off to recover from the exhausting series against Houston, the Mets began a legendary World Series against the Boston Red Sox, a series in which they would pull off one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

The Mets had won the series with a .189 batting average, the lowest average recorded by a winning team in a postseason series. Their pitching had been the key.

Awards and honors

  • Kevin Bass – National League Player of the Month, June
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader ERA Champion (2.22)
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader in Innings Pitched (275.1)
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader in Shutouts (5)
  • Mike Scott – National League Leader in Strikeouts (306)
  • Mike Scott – NLCS Most Valuable Player
  • Mike Scott – The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year, National League
  • Mike Scott – Cy Young Award, National League
  • Hal Lanier – National League Manager of the Year
  • Hal Lanier, Associated Press Manager of the Year

All-Star Game

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Carlos Alfonso
AA Columbus Astros Southern League Dave Cripe, Chuck Taylor and Gary Tuck
A Osceola Astros Florida State League Tom Wiedenbauer
A Asheville Tourists South Atlantic League Ken Bolek
A-Short Season Auburn Astros New York–Penn League Keith Bodie
Rookie GCL Astros Gulf Coast League Julio Linares

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Columbus

References

  1. ↑ Mike Richardt at Baseball-Reference
  2. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros Box Score, September 23, 1986".
  3. ↑ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.142, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
  4. ↑ Ryan Bowen at Baseball-Reference
  5. ↑ Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes at Baseball-Reference
  6. ↑ "Trent Hubbard Stats".
  7. ↑ "Ed Whited: Career Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. ↑ Eric Anthony at Baseball-Reference
  9. ↑ Matt Keough at Baseball-Reference
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