The 2006 Houston Astros season was the 45th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 42nd as the Astros, 45th in the National League (NL), 13th in the NL Central division, and seventh at Minute Maid Park. They entered the season as the defending NL pennant winners for the first time, ultimately ending the season with a 4-games-to-0 loss in the World Series to the Chicago White Sox.
On April 3, pitcher Roy Oswalt made his fourth consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted Florida Marlins, and won, 1–0. On April 18, the Astros recaptured an all-time franchise record of .500 (3,507–3,507) for the first time since their expansion era of early 1962. In the amateur draft, the Astros selected catcher Maxwell Sapp in the first round (23rd overall), third baseman Chris Johnson in the fourth round, and pitcher Bud Norris in the sixth round.
Oswalt and first baseman Lance Berkman represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game. Phil Garner managed the National League. It the fourth career selection for Berkman and second for Oswalt. Gene Elston, who broadcast for the Colt .45s/Astros from 1962 to 1986, was recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick Award.
On July 28, Luke Scott hit for the cycle, to become the first Astros rookie to do so, and for the seventh time overall in franchise history. The Astros drew 3,022,763 in home attendance, the third campaign in club history to entertain at least 3 million fans, and first time since .
The 2006 Astros finished in second place in the NL Central with a record of 82–80, 1½ games behind the eventual World Series-champion St. Louis Cardinals, after losing 3–1 on the road to the Atlanta Braves on the final day of the season. As a result, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003. It was their fifth-consecutive finish in second place in the division.
The 2006 season was the final season as members of the National League that the Astros finished as high as second place within their division; in fact, they had placed first or second in 12 of their first 13 seasons in the NL Central. It was also their 13th winning season over the previous 14, with the 2000 season being the lone exception in both cases.
Following the season, retired right-hander Nolan Ryan was the Astros' DHL Hometown Hero selectee, second baseman Craig Biggio was recognized with his first of two consecutive Heart & Hustle Awards, catcher Brad Ausmus won the third Gold Glove Award of his career and shortstop Adam Everett was a Fielding Bible Award winner.
Offseason Summary The Houston Astros concluded the 2005 season as World Series runners-up to the Chicago White Sox in a four-games-to-zero sweep, after having captured their first National League pennant. During the regular season, Houston finished as runners-up in the NL Central division to the St. Louis Cardinals, claiming the NL Wild Card title, later defeating St. Louis in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Right-hander Roy Oswalt was recognized with the NLCS Most Valuable Player Award (NLCS MVP).
Other Astros garnering awards in 2005 included third baseman Morgan Ensberg with the Silver Slugger Award, Craig Biggio with the Hutch Award, and center fielder Willy Taveras as The Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year, and the Players Choice Award winner for NL Outstanding Rookie. Individual statistical achievements included Roger Clemens leading the major leagues in earned run average (1.87 ERA), while Oswalt became the second Astros pitcher to win 20 games in successive campaigns.
After having missed the majority of the 2005 season, Jeff Bagwell did not take the field for 2006, with his arthritic right shoulder rendering him unable to throw. Though he did appear in spring training, the team placed him on the disabled list and he sat out once the regular season was underway.
World Baseball Classic Each of the following Astros participated in the inaugural edition of the World Baseball Classic:
+ Houston Astros in the 2006 WBC Player Position National team
Regular season
Summary
April
+ Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 7 Craig Biggio Second baseman 1 Willy Taveras Center fielder 17 Lance Berkman First baseman 14 Morgan Ensberg Third baseman 4 Preston Wilson Left fielder 16 Jason Lane Right fielder 11 Brad Ausmus Catcher 28 Adam Everett Shortstop 44 Roy Oswalt Pitcher Venue: Minute Maid Park • Houston 1, Florida 0 Sources:
On Opening Day, April 3, righty Roy Oswalt made his fourth consecutive Opening Day start for Houston at Minute Maid Park, outlasting Dontrelle Willis (5 shutout innings) in a pitchers' duel to triumph over the Florida Marlins, 1–0. Oswalt scatted five hits over eight frames and struck out eight. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Craig Biggio doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Joe Borowski with Morgan Ensberg at the plate for the lone run of the bout. Brad Lidge took over for the ninth. Lidge struck out Miguel Cabrera swinging, and then induced Mike Jacobs to ground into a game-ending double play to convert the save.
During the second game of a doubleheader on April 13 at AT&T Park versus the San Francisco Giants, Lance Berkman became the seventh Astros hitter to homer from both sides of the plate. Morgan Ensberg commenced a personal season-high 10-game hitting streak, that lasted until April 23. During that time, he posted a batting average of .410, and the Astros went 8–2.
From April 15–21, Ensberg established a club record by homering over six consecutive contests, during a series at the Arizona Diamondbaks, and hosting the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates. During the streak, Ensberg hit 7 home runs with 13 runs batted in (RBI), while slashing .480 batting average (12-for-25) /.536 on-base percentage (OBP) / 1.400 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.936 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). After going 1-for-4 (single) with two bases on balls on April 22, he added another home run on April 23, for eight over a span of eight games.
On April 17, Preston Wilson became the first player in club history to earn the platinum sombrero, a mythical award for striking out five times in one game, also tying the major league record for a nine-inning game. Ensberg and Jason Lane, batting before and after Wilson in the order, respectively, helped picked their teammate by supplying deep drives. Craig Biggio had three hits and doubled as the Astros pulled off an 8–7 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers.
After 44 years to attain their first World Series entrance, on April 18, the Astros climbed back to an all-time franchise record of .500 (3,507–3,507) for the first time since their expansion era. In a slugfest, the Astros staved off a frenetic 10-run comeback by Milwaukee over the final three frames to hold on for a 13–12 decision. Roy Oswalt (3–0) was the winner in spite of surrendering six runs (four earned) over six innings. Adam Everett sliced three hits and four RBI, Craig Biggio homered (1), collected three hits and three RBI, and Morgan Ensberg went deep twice (6) with three RBI. This was Everett's third career bout of four RBI.
On April 22, the Astros scaled above the .500 winning percentage stratum for the first time since early 1962, led by right-hander Taylor Buchholz, who obtained his first major league victory. Buchholz surrendered just two hits while coming within one out of also earning his first shutout. Brad Lidge struck out Jason Bay looking to preserve the masterpiece, a 3–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and earn the save (7). Biggio homered, doubled, stroked three hits, and scored all three tallies. Willy Taveras also collected three safeties.
May—June Houston started the season off strong, in club-record fashion, by winning 19 of their first 28 games, a winning percentage. In spite of the auspicious initiation to the campaign, Houston slogged to a showing over the next two-thirds of the campaign, nearly playing themselves out of contention.
Andy Pettitte tossed a three-hit shutout on May 14, his lowest-hit complete game as a member of the Astros, and fifth of his career of three hits or fewer. Pettitte (3–4) whiffed seven and earned a game score of 76. Lance Berkman (13) and Morgan Ensberg (12) each went deep as the Astros prevailed, 3–0, over the Colorado Rockies.
On the verge of losing their sixth consecutive game on May 28, Houston trailed the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–0 heading into the ninth inning. The tied the score thanks in part to two bases-loaded wallsk, and in the 10th inning, Preston Wilson hit the walk-off single to win the game for the Astros.
The Astros and right-hander Roger Clemens agreed to terms on May 31 that brought him back to Houston for the final four months of the season. The total value of the contract amounted to $22 million. Clemens started 19 games and posted a 2.30 earned run average (ERA).
Lance Berkman connected for his 200th career home run on June 21, a solo shot in the bottom of the first at Minute Maid Park off Carlos Silva. During the bottom of the eighth, Jason Lane singled in Preston Wilson for the go-ahead run. Dan Wheeler (1–4) tossed a scoreless eighth to earn his first victory of the season while, in the ninth, Brad Lidge struck out the side to close out his 19th save and preserve the Astros' 4–3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
On June 25, the Chicago White Sox nearly completed a comeback with Houston ahead, 9–2, after eight strong innings from Roy Oswalt. The Astros won, 10–9 in the 13th inning via an RBI triple from Adam Everett. Tadahito Iguchi, who belted a three-run home run, started the comeback for Chicago.
July: Pre-All-Star break On July 3, Lance Berkman homered from both sides of the plate, becoming just the second Astro do so twice during the same season, succeeding Kevin Bass on August 3 and September 2, 1987.
MLB All-Star Game
Astros manager Phil Garner, who piloted the National League for the All-Star Game, was himself formerly a three-time All-Star as a player. He appeared in the 1976, 1980, and 1981 Midsummer Classics, the latter of which was hosted just weeks prior to his trade from the Pirates to the Astros in 1981.
Lance Berkman competed in the Home Run Derby, lasting only through the first round with three home runs, to place seventh overall. This was his third career Derby appearance, first in 2002, and again in 2004. Ryan Howard of Philadelphia, who won the tournament, pulled ahead of runner-up David Wright of the New York Mets in the final round, 5–4, to edge Wright for a 23–22 final tally.
Berkman and Roy Oswalt also represented Houston as players fortify the National League roster for the Mid-Summer Classic, hosted at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. It was the fourth selection for Berkman, and second consecutive for Oswalt. Oswalt entered in relief of NL All-Star starter Brad Penny and tossed one scoreless inning. Berkman substituted for NL starting first baseman Albert Pujols and was hitless in one at bat. During the top of the ninth, Michael Young swatted a two-run triple off right-hander Trevor Hoffman (blown save, loss), allowing the American League (AL) to overtake the NL for the lead, 3–2. Mariano Rivera retired the National League in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win for the AL and earn the save. B. J. Ryan was the winning pitcher, and Young was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
July