1988 Houston Astros season

The 1988 Houston Astros season was the 27th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 24th as the Astros, 27th in the National League (NL), 20th in the NL West division, and 24rd at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed a 76–86 record and in third place, 14 games behind the division champion San Francisco Giants.

1988 Houston Astros
League	National League
Division	West
Ballpark	The Astrodome
City	Houston, Texas
Record	82–80 (.506)
Divisional place	5th
Owners	John McMullen
General managers	Bill Wood
Managers	Hal Lanier
Television	KTXH HSE
Radio	KTRH (Bill Brown, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Bruce Gietzen, Bill Worrell) KBUC (Orlando Sánchez-Diago, Rolando Becerra)
← 1987 Seasons 1989 →

On April 5, Mike Scott made his second Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the San Diego Padres and won, 6–3. In the amateur draft, the Astros selected outfielder Willie Ansley in the first round at 7th overall, infielder Dave Silvestri in the second round, and outfielder Kenny Lofton in the 17th round.

Pitcher Bob Knepper represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game, and played for the National League, his second career selection.

The Astros concluded the season with an 82–80 record, in fifth place and 12+1⁄2 games behind the division champion and World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitcher Nolan Ryan, who led the NL in strikeouts for a second consecutive and in his final season as an Astro, departed for the Texas Rangers in the offseason.

Offseason

• October 13, 1987: Ronn Reynolds was released by the Houston Astros.^[1]
• December 8, 1987: Ed Whited was traded by the Houston Astros with Mike Stoker (minors) to the Atlanta Braves for Rafael Ramirez and cash. ^[2]
• January 8, 1988: Joaquín Andújar was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[3]
• March 10, 1988: Ernie Camacho was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[4]
• March 25, 1988: Robbie Wine was traded by the Astros to the Texas Rangers for Mike Loynd.^[5]

Notable transactions

• July 23, 1988: Mark Bailey was traded by the Astros to the Montreal Expos for Casey Candaele.^[6]
• August 31, 1988: Denny Walling was traded by the Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bob Forsch.^[7]

Draft picks

• June 1, 1988: 1988 Major League Baseball draft
  • Dave Silvestri was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round. Player signed October 18, 1988.^[8]
  • Kenny Lofton was drafted by the Astros in the 17th round. Lofton signed on June 16, 1988.^[9]

Miscellaneous

This roster of pitchers had 8 career no-hitters with 5 (at the time) by Nolan Ryan, 2 by Bob Forsch, and 1 by Mike Scott.

Regular season

Summary

With strong windy conditions all around Pittsburgh on May 23, the Astros held a 3–0 advantage going into the ninth inning. However, the game was called due to debris on the field at Three Rivers Stadium, and Mike Scott, who had held the Pirates scoreless for 8 innings, got the win.^[10]

Craig Biggio made his major league debut at catcher on June 26 in a 6–0 win over the San Francisco Giants. Though he went hitless, Biggio stole second base and scored Houston's final run.^[11]

Biggio was the starting catcher on July 9 as the batterymate for veteran Nolan Ryan's 100th career win as an Astro. It was just 12th contest for Biggio as a major leaguer.^[12]

Roster

1988 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers 49 Juan Agosto 42 Larry Andersen 47 Joaquín Andújar 13 Ernie Camacho 50 Rocky Childress 44 Danny Darwin 43 Jim Deshaies 31 Bob Forsch 31,41 Jeff Heathcock 39 Bob Knepper 53 Dave Meads 35 Brian Meyer 34 Nolan Ryan 33 Mike Scott 45 Dave Smith		Catchers 14 Alan Ashby  6 Mark Bailey  4 Craig Biggio  9 Alex Treviño Infielders 25 Buddy Bell 11 Ken Caminiti  1 Casey Candaele 27 Glenn Davis 19 Bill Doran 23 Chuck Jackson 20 Jim Pankovits 16 Rafael Ramírez 12 Craig Reynolds 29 Craig Smajstrla  6 Harry Spilman 29 Denny Walling		Outfielders 17 Kevin Bass  3 Cameron Drew 18 John Fishel 28 Billy Hatcher  5 Steve Henderson 26 Louie Meadows 21 Terry Puhl  2 Gerald Young		Manager 22 Hal Lanier Coaches  8 Yogi Berra (Bench) 10 Gene Clines (Hitting) 48 Matt Galante (First Base) 54 Marc Hill (Bullpen) 15 Denis Menke (Third Base) 55 Les Moss (Pitching)

Game log

Regular season

Legend
	Astros win
	Astros loss
	Postponement
	Eliminated from playoff race
Bold	Astros team member

1988 regular season game log: 82–80 (Home: 44–37; Away: 38–43)[13]
April: 14–7 (Home: 10–3; Away: 4–4) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 1 April 5 Padres 6–3 1–0 2 April 6 Padres 5–1 2–0 3 April 8 @ Reds 8–3 (16) 3–0 4 April 9 @ Reds 4–5 3–1 5 April 10 @ Reds 12–3 4–1 6 April 12 @ Braves 8–3 5–1 7 April 13 @ Braves 4–0 6–1 8 April 14 Reds 9–3 7–1 9 April 15 Reds 2–4 (10) 7–2 10 April 16 Reds 2–8 7–3 11 April 17 Reds 5–3 8–3 12 April 19 Braves 4–5 8–4 13 April 20 Braves 1–0 9–4 14 April 21 Braves 8–0 10–4 15 April 22 @ Padres 1–3 10–5 16 April 23 @ Padres 0–4 10–6 17 April 24 @ Padres 0–3 10–7 18 April 26 Phillies 3–1 11–7 19 April 27 Phillies 3–2 (10) 12–7 20 April 29 Expos 6–4 13–7 21 April 30 Expos 3–0 14–7 =
May: 13–14 (Home: 7–5; Away: 6–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 22 May 1 Expos 3–7 (14) 14–8 23 May 2 @ Phillies 1–7 14–9 24 May 3 @ Phillies 4–0 15–9 25 May 4 @ Mets 0–8 15–10 — May 5 @ Mets Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 1 26 May 6 @ Expos 5–6 (11) 15–11 27 May 7 @ Expos 3–4 15–12 28 May 8 @ Expos 7–2 16–12 29 May 9 Mets 6–2 17–12 30 May 10 Mets 2–5 17–13 31 May 11 Mets 8–9 (10) 17–14 32 May 13 Cubs 8–2 18–14 33 May 14 Cubs 3–1 19–14 34 May 15 Cubs 1–2 19–15 35 May 16 Pirates 9–2 20–15 W1 36 May 17 Pirates 3–2 21–15 W2 37 May 18 Pirates 4–2 22–15 W3 38 May 20 @ Cardinals 5–3 23–15 39 May 21 @ Cardinals 4–7 (11) 23–16 40 May 22 @ Cardinals 2–1 24–16 41 May 23 @ Pirates 3–0 25–16 W2 42 May 24 @ Pirates 4–5 25–17 L1 43 May 25 @ Pirates 3–4 25–18 L2 44 May 27 @ Cubs 2–3 25–19 45 May 28 @ Cubs 7–14 25–20 46 May 29 @ Cubs 7–1 26–20 47 May 30 Cardinals 5–4 27–20 48 May 31 Cardinals 7–9 27–21
June: 13–16 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 49 June 1 Cardinals 2–3 (13) 27–22 50 June 3 @ Giants 8–4 28–22 51 June 4 @ Giants 2–8 28–23 52 June 5 @ Giants 3–9 28–24 53 June 6 @ Dodgers 10–4 29–24 54 June 7 @ Dodgers 5–2 30–24 55 June 8 @ Dodgers 1–11 30–25 56 June 9 @ Dodgers 2–4 30–26 57 June 10 Braves 3–10 (13) 30–27 58 June 11 Braves 5–4 (11) 31–27 59 June 12 Braves 5–0 32–27 60 June 13 Braves 6–5 33–27 61 June 14 @ Reds 1–7 33–28 62 June 15 @ Reds 3–5 33–29 63 June 16 @ Reds 7–4 34–29 64 June 17 @ Braves 3–4 34–30 65 June 17 @ Braves 5–6 34–31 66 June 18 @ Braves 14–7 35–31 67 June 19 @ Braves 6–4 36–31 68 June 20 Reds 1–2 36–32 69 June 21 Reds 3–1 37–32 70 June 22 Reds 5–1 38–32 71 June 24 Giants 0–11 38–33 72 June 25 Giants 1–4 38–34 73 June 26 Giants 6–0 39–34 74 June 27 Dodgers 0–4 39–35 75 June 28 Dodgers 4–3 40–35 76 June 29 Dodgers 0–2 40–36 77 June 30 @ Mets 6–12 40–37
July: 16–12 (Home: 6–5; Away: 10–7) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 78 July 1 @ Mets 2–3 40–38 79 July 1 @ Mets 6–5 (13) 41–38 80 July 2 @ Mets 2–7 41–39 81 July 3 @ Mets 0–5 41–40 82 July 4 Expos 4–7 41–41 83 July 5 Expos 3–4 (11) 41–42 84 July 6 Expos 2–4 41–43 85 July 8 Mets 4–2 42–43 86 July 9 Mets 6–3 43–43 87 July 10 Mets 6–5 44–43 88 July 14 @ Phillies 7–5 45–43 89 July 15 @ Phillies 5–2 46–43 90 July 16 @ Phillies 6–10 46–44 91 July 17 @ Phillies 4–10 46–45 92 July 18 @ Expos 6–1 47–45 93 July 19 @ Expos 4–3 48–45 94 July 20 @ Expos 3–2 49–45 95 July 21 Phillies 2–0 50–45 96 July 22 Phillies 5–3 51–45 97 July 23 Phillies 7–6 52–45 98 July 24 Phillies 4–6 52–46 99 July 26 @ Padres 1–5 52–47 100 July 27 @ Padres 4–1 53–47 101 July 28 @ Padres 3–2 54–47 102 July 29 @ Dodgers 3–1 55–47 103 July 30 @ Dodgers 14–6 56–47 104 July 31 @ Dodgers 1–6 56–48
August: 15–14 (Home: 9–8; Away: 6–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 105 August 1 @ Giants 1–4 56–49 106 August 2 @ Giants 13–10 57–49 107 August 3 @ Giants 3–2 58–49 108 August 5 Dodgers 6–4 59–49 109 August 6 Dodgers 3–5 59–50 110 August 7 Dodgers 4–2 60–50 111 August 8 Dodgers 10–0 61–50 112 August 9 Giants 3–2 62–50 113 August 10 Giants 0–5 62–51 114 August 11 Giants 0–6 62–52 115 August 12 Padres 3–4 62–53 116 August 13 Padres 1–0 63–53 117 August 14 Padres 1–6 63–54 118 August 15 Padres 7–3 64–54 119 August 16 @ Cardinals 0–3 64–55 120 August 17 @ Cardinals 1–0 65–55 121 August 18 @ Cardinals 1–2 65–56 122 August 19 @ Pirates 5–1 66–56 W1 123 August 20 @ Pirates 1–2 66–57 L1 124 August 21 @ Pirates 2–1 (11) 67–57 W1 125 August 22 @ Cubs 9–7 (10) 68–57 126 August 23 @ Cubs 3–9 68–58 127 August 24 @ Cubs 2–3 68–59 128 August 26 Pirates 2–0 69–59 W1 129 August 27 Pirates 3–1 70–59 W2 130 August 28 Pirates 3–4 70–60 L1 131 August 29 Cubs 1–2 (11) 70–61 132 August 30 Cubs 7–4 71–61 133 August 31 Cubs 1–3 71–62
September: 11–16 (Home: 5–8; Away: 6–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 134 September 2 Cardinals 0–2 71–63 135 September 3 Cardinals 10–1 72–63 136 September 4 Cardinals 4–3 73–63 137 September 5 Reds 3–0 74–63 138 September 6 Reds 3–10 74–64 139 September 7 @ Dodgers 1–4 74–65 140 September 8 @ Dodgers 2–1 75–65 141 September 9 @ Giants 4–3 (12) 76–65 142 September 10 @ Giants 2–3 76–66 143 September 11 @ Giants 4–1 77–66 144 September 13 @ Reds 2–5 77–67 145 September 14 @ Reds 7–1 78–67 146 September 15 @ Reds 5–7 78–68 147 September 16 Giants 4–5 78–69 148 September 17 Giants 2–4 78–70 149 September 18 Giants 3–10 78–71 150 September 19 Dodgers 0–1 78–72 151 September 20 Dodgers 0–6 78–73 152 September 21 Braves 1–0 79–73 153 September 22 Braves 3–2 80–73 154 September 23 @ Padres 3–4 (12) 80–74 155 September 24 @ Padres 0–3 80–75 156 September 25 @ Padres 1–9 80–76 157 September 27 @ Braves 3–2 (10) 81–76 158 September 28 @ Braves 3–4 (17) 81–77 159 September 29 @ Braves 5–4 82–77 160 September 30 Padres 1–5 82–78
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–2; Away: 0–0) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 161 October 1 Padres 3–6 82–79 162 October 2 Padres 1–5 82–80

Detailed records

National League Opponent W L WP RS RA NL East Chicago Cubs 5 7 0.417 51 51 Montreal Expos 6 6 0.500 49 44 New York Mets 5 7 0.417 48 66 Philadelphia Phillies 8 4 0.667 51 52 Pittsburgh Pirates 8 4 0.667 42 24 St. Louis Cardinals 6 6 0.500 41 38 Div Total 38 34 0.528 282 275 NL West Atlanta Braves 13 5 0.722 87 60 Cincinnati Reds 9 9 0.500 82 72 Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers 9 9 0.500 66 66 San Diego Padres 6 12 0.333 41 67 San Francisco Giants 7 11 0.389 59 91 Div Total 44 46 0.489 335 356 Season Total 82 80 0.506 617 631

Month Games Won Lost Win % RS RA April May June July August September October Total Games Won Lost Win % RS RA Home Away Total

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
C	Alan Ashby	73	227	54	.238	7	33
1B	Glenn Davis	152	561	152	.271	30	99
2B	Bill Doran	132	480	119	.248	7	53
3B	Buddy Bell	74	269	68	.253	7	37
SS	Rafael Ramírez	155	566	156	.276	6	59
LF	Billy Hatcher	145	530	142	.268	7	52
CF	Gerald Young	149	576	148	.257	0	37
RF	Kevin Bass	157	541	138	.255	14	72

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
Terry Puhl	113	234	71	.303	3	19
Alex Treviño	78	193	48	.249	2	13
Denny Walling	65	176	43	.244	1	20
Craig Reynolds	78	161	41	.255	1	14
Jim Pankovits	68	140	31	.221	2	12
Craig Biggio	50	123	26	.211	3	5
Chuck Jackson	46	83	19	.229	1	8
Ken Caminiti	30	83	15	.181	1	7
Steve Henderson	42	46	10	.217	0	5
Louie Meadows	35	42	8	.190	2	3
Casey Candaele	21	31	5	.161	0	1
John Fishel	19	26	6	.231	1	2
Mark Bailey	8	23	3	.130	0	0
Cameron Drew	7	16	3	.188	0	1
Harry Spilman	7	5	0	.000	0	0
Craig Smajstrla	8	3	0	.000	0	0

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
Nolan Ryan	33	220.0	12	11	3.52	228
Mike Scott	32	218.2	14	8	2.92	190
Jim Deshaies	31	207.0	11	14	3.00	127
Bob Knepper	27	175.0	14	5	3.14	103
Bob Forsch	6	27.2	1	4	6.51	14

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 Darwin	44	192.0	8	13	3.84	129
Joaquín Andújar	23	78.2	2	5	4.00	35

Relief pitchers

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

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Dave Smith	51	4	5	27	2.67	38
Juan Agosto	75	10	2	4	2.26	33
Larry Andersen	53	2	4	5	2.94	66
Dave Meads	22	3	1	0	3.18	27
Jeff Heathcock	17	0	5	0	5.81	12
Ernie Camacho	13	0	3	1	7.64	13
Rocky Childress	11	1	0	0	6.17	24
Brian Meyer	8	0	0	0	1.46	10

Awards and achievements

• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award: Buddy Bell

Minor league system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Tucson Toros	Pacific Coast League	Bob Didier
AA	Columbus Astros	Southern League	Tom Wiedenbauer
A	Osceola Astros	Florida State League	Keith Bodie
A	Asheville Tourists	South Atlantic League	Gary Tuck and Jim Coveney
A-Short Season	Auburn Astros	New York–Penn League	Frank Cacciatore
Rookie	GCL Astros	Gulf Coast League	Julio Linares

See also

• Texas portal
• Baseball portal

• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders