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Houston Astros: Top 10 Astros Games of All-Time

By Kenneth Cline

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 13: A.J. Hinch and SiriusXM radio host Mike Ferrin attend SiriusXM Town Hall With Houston Astros World Series Manager A.J. Hinch on January 13, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 13: A.J. Hinch and SiriusXM radio host Mike Ferrin attend SiriusXM Town Hall With Houston Astros World Series Manager A.J. Hinch on January 13, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for SiriusXM) /
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HOUSTON,TX- JULY 06: Former Houston Astro Jose Cruz throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Astros and the Milwaukee Brewers July 6, 2012 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON,TX- JULY 06: Former Houston Astro Jose Cruz throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Astros and the Milwaukee Brewers July 6, 2012 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

#7 October 6, 1980 – Houston Astros 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

Before there was a do-or-die game in Dodger Stadium last year, there was a do-or-die game thirty-eight years ago. The Astros and the Dodgers were locked in one of the greatest pennant races of all-time. Houston had a three-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West and they needed to win just one more game in Dodger Stadium to clinch.

That was easier said than done as the Dodgers rallied to win all three games, which would set up a one-game playoff to determine the winner at Dodger Stadium.  The Dodgers were confident momentum was still on their side. But this time, there would be no letdowns as Jose Cruz and the Astros, with four RBI and a home run from Art Howe along with a complete game from Joe Niekro sent the Astros to their first ever playoffs with an NL West Division title.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 25: Marwin Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 25: Marwin Gonzalez /

#6 2017 World Series Game 2 – Houston Astros 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 6 (11 Innings)

This was a World Series classic within a World Series classic. Perhaps the greatest home run ever hit in franchise came from Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth inning down 3-2 in a must-win game two. This home run helped set the stage for five extra-inning home runs including three from Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer.

Of course, the Dodgers had to rally from behind to tie the game at 5-5 in the tenth inning. But thanks to Justin Verlander’s sleeveless speech, the Astros found a way to win the game in front of a hostile Dodger crowd. We were already crowning this game as an epic classic and it is. But there was another game that would top it and become an elite game.

Pitcher Mike Scott of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pitcher Mike Scott of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. /

#5 1986 NLCS Game 6 – New York Mets 7, Houston Astros 6 (16 Innings)

The plan was simple. Win game six and we would win game seven because we had Mike Scott going for us and he would’ve defeated the Mets like he did before. For eight innings, the script was set in stone for us to win it all. It also helped to have a three-run lead heading into the ninth.

But when does baseball follow a script? The Mets tie the game at three and five innings later in the fourteenth, they took a 4-3 lead. However, Billy Hatcher would tie the game with a Carlton Fish-like home run in the bottom of the inning. Two innings went by before the Mets scored three runs in the sixteenth.

Still, the Astros would not quit and they would fight their way back into the game scoring two runs to trail 7-6. With two on and two outs, the Astros had Kevin Bass face off against Jesse Orosco and the count went full. Orosco, tired mentally and physically, threw a 3-2 breaking ball, which Bass swung and miss for strike three. The Mets won and Houston was left to wonder what might have been.

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