The 2003 Houston Astros season was the 42nd season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 39th as the Astros, 42nd in the National League (NL), tenth in the NL Central division, and fourth at Minute Maid Park. The Astros entered the season having finished in second place in the NL Central division with an 84–78 record.
On April 1, pitcher Roy Oswalt made his first of eight consecutive Opening Day starts for the Astros, who hosted Colorado Rockies, and won, 10–4. In the amateur draft, the Astros' top selection was in the second-round with right-handed pitcher Jason Hirsh (59th overall). On April 26, Jeff Bagwell collected his 2,000th career hit, joining teammate Craig Biggio as the second Astro to recood all 2,000 with the team.
On June 11, six Astros pitchers combined to hurl a no-hitter against the New York Yankees, establishing a major league record for most pitchers contributing to a no-hitter. The six were Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner. Moreover, Dotel became the first to strike out four batters in one inning during a no-hitter, and the 45th pitcher overall.
Wagner represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game, his third career selection. On July 10, Biggio became the 40th major leaguer to reach 500 doubles, while, Bagwell on July 20, hit his 400th career home run, becoming the 35th player in major league history to do so.
The Astros concluded the season with an 87–75 record, runners-up in the NL Central—one game behind the Chicago Cubs and two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals—after having led the division most of the season. In the NL Wild Card race, Houston also ranked second, trailing the eventual World Series champion Florida Marlins by 4 games. Hence, the Astros missed the playoffs by one game. This was the 10th winning season in the previous 11 for Houston, and the ninth time in 10 seasons since moving to the NL Central that they had finished in either first or second place.
Offseason Summary The Astros concluded the campaign with an record, as runners-up in the NL Central division runners-up, 13 games behind the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals. In the NL Wild Card race, he Astros ranked third, trailing the eventual NL-champion San Francisco Giants by games. This was the fourth time within five seasons that Houston won 84 or more games, an unprecedented feat for the team within any five-year span.
To commemorate the life and humanitarian qualities of former pitcher Darryl Kile, who had died suddenly prior to a game in Chicago on June 22, 2002, the Astros and St. Louis Cardinals—two of Kile's former teams—united to create the "Darryl Kile Good Guy Award." Intended for bestowal upon one Astros and one Cardinals player following each season, its recognition would signify that player exemplifies Kile’s qualities as "a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man." During his career, Kile posted a 133-119 win–loss record (W–L) and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.12. Jeff Bagwell became the first recipient for Houston following the 2003 season, while Mike Matheny was the first for St. Louis.
Following its issuance to Kile from 1991–1997, no other Astros have worn the uniform number 57 since.
Outfielder Richard Hidalgo survived a scare and remained largely unharmed during a carjacking attempt on him in Venezuela on November 22, 2002. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm. However, he appeared to have escaped significant injury, without signs either of fracture or ligament damage.
On March 27, 2003, starting rotation mainstay Shane Reynolds was released, surprising Astros veterans. Reynolds was soon thereafter signed by the Atlanta Braves, posting an 11–9 win–loss record for the season.
Transactions October 11, 2002: Declined team option on right-handed pitcher Shane Reynolds. December 18, 2002: Signed free agent second baseman Jeff Kent to a 2-year, $18.2 million contract.
Regular season Summary With Houston having signed second baseman Jeff Kent in free agency, franchise stalwart Craig Biggio changed positions for the second time in his career. He served as the club's primary center fielder starting in 2003.
April—May + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 7 Craig Biggio Center fielder 27 Geoff Blum Third baseman 5 Jeff Bagwell First baseman 17 Lance Berkman Left fielder 12 Jeff Kent Second baseman 15 Richard Hidalgo Right fielder 11 Brad Ausmus Catcher 4 Julio Lugo Shortstop 44 Roy Oswalt Pitcher Venue: Minute Maid Park • Houston 10, Colorado 4 Sources:
During his first at bat in an Astros uniform on Opening Day, Jeff Kent homered as the Astros downed the Colorado Rockies, 10–4. Jeff Bagwell ripped two home runs, while Geoff Blum also homered and collected three runs batted in (RBI). Starter Roy Oswalt earned the victory.
On April 2, Craig Biggio swatted a single in the bottom of the ninth for his franchise-record tying 13th career walk-off hit. Biggio's hit netted both the game-tying and walk-off runs, stunning Colorado, 8–7. This capped a five-run rally, all in the bottom of the ninth. The Astros mustered four consecutive singles, while Orlando Merced doubled to precede Biggio's heroics. Billy Wagner was the winning pitcher. Biggio tied José Cruz for most walk-off hits in club history.
Catcher Brad Ausmus smoked two home runs on April 4—including a grand slam—to bookend a 6–5, 12-inning triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit the grand slam in the first inning, while the second homer also provided the go-ahead run in the top of 12th inning. Behind the plate, Ausmus registered three runners caught stealing, including Fernando Viña for the final out of the contest. This was the only multi-homer game of Ausmus' career, while he tied his career-high with 5 RBI. Meanwhile, Brad Lidge earned his first Major League save.
On April 18, Biggio connected for his 200th career home run during the top of the eighth inning. Biggio hit the milestone blast off right-hander Luis Vizcaíno of the Milwaukee Brewers.
During a 3–2 loss to the Montreal Expos on April 26, first baseman Jeff Bagwell hit an infield single for his 2,000th career hit—all as a member of the Astros—joining teammate Craig Biggio as the only players to achieve this feat (May 4, 2001). Bagwell became the third player overall to reach 2,000 hits in Astros uniform, also joining José Cruz (September 15, 1985).
The Astros concluded April with an record.
In the first inning on May 1, Lance Berkman homered off former teammate Shane Reynolds to overtake Ken Caminiti for the club record in home runs among switch hitters.
Following a game at Minute Maid Park on May 1, shortstop Julio Lugo was arrested and charged with assaulting his wife in their vehicle while driving on the Eastex Freeway the evening before. He was then designated for assignment, subsequently cleared waivers, and given an unconditional release by the club.
From May 2 to 8, the Astros set a season-high seven-game winning streak, their first of two this season.
The Astros placed Oswalt on the disabled list (DL) on May 18 due to a right groin strain.
The Astros rebounded to produce an showing during the month of May.
June In his return from the DL on June 7, Richard Hidalgo connected for a game-winning three-run home over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays which resulted in a 5–4 score. Part of a 3-hit night, Hidalgo had been hospitalized with tonsillitis just one week prior. Meanwhile, Lance Berkman hit a ballpark-record home run, and Billy Wagner converted the 199th save of his career to tie a franchise record, first achieved by Dave Smith.
On June 8, Wagner earned his 200th career save against Tampa Bay.
Oswalt—Munro—Saarloos—Lidge—Dotel—Wagner combined no-hitter Following an early departure by starter Roy Oswalt due to a groin injury on June 11 at Yankee Stadium, five Astros relievers supervened to toss a no-hitter for the first against the New York Yankees in 45 years. Houston's early access into the bullpen segued into establishing the major league record for most pitchers contributing to such a contest during an 8–0 Astros victory. Succeeding Oswalt from the second inning on, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Wagner each delivered in this historic contest. Lidge (4–0), who worked the sixth and seventh innings, was credited with the win.
In the top of the fourth, Berkman launched a deep blast to right field that also plated Geoff Blum, capping Houston's scoring while mounting a 4–0 advantage. In addition to Berkman's home run, the Astros aggregated five doubles, including two from Hidalgo, and a triple from Orlando Merced.
Dotel assumed the mound for Houston for the eighth frame, which culminated into its own unique event. The right-hander whiffed Juan Rivera on three pitches for the first out. Next, Alfonso Soriano fouled off three consecutive offerings before swinging and missing on a wild pitch bounced in the dirt that eluded catcher Brad Ausmus for an uncaught third strike, acquiescing passage for Soriano to scamper safely to first base. Derek Jeter then coaxed a full count, but struck out swinging, and Dotel retired Jason Giambi with a swing-and-miss on a 2–2 count. Not only did Dotel became the 44th pitcher to sling a major-league record tying four-strikeout inning, but he became the first to do so during a no-hitter.
During top of the opening frame, the Astros lineup leveraged the wild pitch from Yankees starter Jeff Weaver to ignite the scoring. Biggio led the contest off with a double. Blum then flied out deep enough to center field to advance Biggio to third. Next, Bagwell grounded out to the pitcher, and Jeff Kent followed with a walk. With Berkman at the plate, Weaver's wild pitch on a 1–2 count allowed Biggio to score and Kent to go to second, while the Astros assumed a 1–0 advantage. Berkman also grounded out to Weaver to retire the side.
During the bottom of the first, Oswalt retired the Yankees in order, while concluding the frame via successive punchouts of Jeter and Giambi. Oswalt received a game score of 55 for his lone inning of work.
After Merced's triple to left-center in the top of the second, José Vizcaíno lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring him home and increase the Astros' lead to 2–0.
Munro, who replaced Oswalt, injected the bulk of the effort for Houston's bullpen. Over total frames, Munro struck out a pair, while navigating three bases on balls. They were New York's only other batters who reached base besides Soriano: Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Todd Zeile.
Wagner entered in the top of the ninth and proceeded to whiff both Posada and Bubba Trammell, who pinch-hit for Robin Ventura. The southpaw then generated a groundball tapper from Hideki Matsui back to himself, who flipped the ball to Bagwell at first to polish off the masterpiece.
Dotel further became the second Astro to complete the comeback for that fourth strikeout during a single inning, and first since Mike Scott on September 3, 1986, versus the Chicago Cubs. In all, Astros pitching induced 13 whiffs. during the club's first-ever game in The Bronx.
For Saarloos, this was the second no-hitter to which he had contributed since entering professional baseball. As a member of the Lexington Legends of the South Atlantic League, on July 30, 2001, he closed out a three-man combined effort. It was the first no-hitter in Lexington team history.
This was the first combined no-hit effort in Houston's club history, their tenth overall, and the first occasion in a major-league record 6.980 contests that the Yankees had been no-hit. The previous occurrence was on September 20, 1958, when Hoyt Wilhelm of the Baltimore Orioles hurled a no-hitter that resulted in a 1–0 decision over New York.