Houston Astros: Top 10 Astros Games of All-Time
Honorable Mentions
Take a look below for the games that just missed the cut.
#25 April 10, 1962 – Houston Colt 45’s 11, Chicago Cubs 2
The very first game in franchise history was a success as the Colt 45’s would score their first run in the bottom of the first inning on a triple by Al Spangler to score Bob Aspromonte. Roman Mejias and Hal Smith would hit the first two home runs while Bobby Shanz went the whole game allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four batters.
#24 August 21, 2015 – Houston Astros 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 0
Mike Fiers’ Astros career will best be known for two other things. 1) Coming in along with Carlos Gomez in a trade with Milwaukee that for the most part failed. 2) Being the best pitcher for the Astros during the 2017 season when key Astros starters were out with injury only to be benched during the postseason. But the third thing is a night he’ll never forget as he would throw the eleventh no-hitter in Astros history on just 134 pitches. Personally, I thought we were a team of destiny that year on that night.
#23 (Tie) October 3, 2004 – Houston Astros 5, Colorado Rockies 3/October 2, 2005 – Houston Astros 6, Chicago Cubs 4 — Both Wild Card Clinchers
While these were a set of two-run games, the significance was that the Astros were involved in a pair of pennant races that were needed for a playoff appearances. The electricity was there for both games as the Astros would see Brad Lidge shut the door and clinch their playoff spot.
#22 2017 World Series Game 3 – Houston Astros 5, Los Angeles 3
The first World Series home win was no contest for the Astros as they used four runs off of Yu Darvish in the bottom of the second inning that proved to be the difference. Although the Dodgers threatened with the bases loaded in the third, Lance McCullers Jr. was able to bail himself out of trouble with some help from his defense. Then Brad Peacock entered and finished the job.
#21 June 28, 2007 – Houston Astros 8, Colorado Rockies 5 (11 Innings)
Everyone remembers Craig Biggio recording his 3000th hit on this night. But few remember the Rockies taking a 4-1 lead in the eighth only for the Astros to tie it at four. The Rockies would grab a 5-4 lead before Carlos Lee ended the game with a walk-off grand slam, which was started by the fifth hit of the night for Biggio.
#20 2015 ALDS Game 4 – Kansas City Royals 9, Houston Astros 6
Just when Carlos Correa and Colby Rasmus are heroes in this game, the unthinkable happens. The sheer pain and agony of having a four-run lead late slip away stung the Astros as the Royals came back to beat Houston and send the series back to Kansas City where they would finish the job en route to a World Series. But this would be the final heartbreak for Astro fans in search of a World Series.
#19 September 25, 1997 – Houston Astros 9, Chicago Cubs 1
Eleven years after Scott’s no-hitter clinched the NL West Division, the Astros would clinch the NL Central Division with a win over the Cubs. The iconic moments were when Brad Ausmus would hit a three-run homer to put the game out of reach and of course, Craig Biggio jumping into the arms of Jeff Bagwell when the final out was made.
#18 2015 AL Wild Card – Houston Astros 3, New York Yankees 0
Playing in front of the second version of the hallow grounds of Yankee Stadium, the Astros would shut out the Yankees behind Dallas Keuchel in their first playoff win since the night in St. Louis back in 2005.
#17 2005 World Series Game 2 – White Sox 7, Astros 6
If Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers should be credited for one thing, it’s giving up a reminder of this game. Houston had a 4-2 lead before Paul Konerko would hit a grand slam to give the White Sox a 6-4 lead. Fortunately, Houston tied the game in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, Scott Posednik ended the game with a walk-off home run.
#16 2017 ALCS Game 7 – Houston Astros 4, New York Yankees 0
The pitching of Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers Jr. would help give the Astros an incredible Game 7 victory over the Yankees in one of the series in recent memory. Home runs by Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve also propelled the Astros to the win.
#15 1980 NLCS Game 3 – Houston Astros 1, Philadelphia Phillies 0 (11 Innings)
The very first ever home playoff game in Astros history was part of the greatest LCS ever. Joe Niekro pitches ten scoreless innings while the Astros fail to score one run through ten. Then in the eleventh, Joe Morgan leads off with a triple before coming in on a walk-off sacrifice fly from Danny Walling.
#14 2017 ALCS Game 2 – Houston Astros 2, New York Yankees 1
One of the greatest pitching performances in franchise history as Justin Verlander would strike out 13 batters, a franchise record while Carlos Correa would deliver both runs on a home run and a walk-off double. This would put the Astros up 2-0 in the series, which the Astros would win
#13 2017 ALDS Game 4 – Houston Astros 5, Boston Red Sox 4
Facing a must-win Game 4 despite leading 2-1 in the series, the Astros found themselves down 3-2 in front of a Fenway Park crowd in Boston. But a solo homer by Alex Bregman to tie the game in the eighth was followed by a Josh Reddick game-winning RBI to make it 4-3. Carlos Beltran’s insurance RBI in the ninth helped since the Red Sox cut the lead to one. Fortunately, Houston got the win.
#12 September 25, 1986 – Houston Astros 2, San Francisco Giants 0
This day belonged to Mike Scott, who would throw a no-hitter to clinch the NL West Division in 1986. It’s the only no-hitter to achieve such a feat and it would all but confirm Scott’s season as he would win the 1986 NL Cy Young Award
#11 2005 NLCS Game 5 – St. Louis Cardinals 5, Houston Astros 4
Just when it appeared that Lance Berkman had the game won with a three-run homer in the seventh inning. Just when the Astros were one out away from winning the NLCS and advancing to their first World Series, the iconic home run that is still in the air happened.
With these games out of the way, let’s take a look at the top 10 greatest games in Houston Astros history.