The 2001 Houston Astros season was the 40th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 37th as the Astros, 40th in the National League (NL), eighth in the NL Central division, and second at Enron Field, later christened as Minute Maid Park. The Astros entered the season with a 72–90 record, in fourth place and 23 games behind the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals.
On April 3, pitcher Scott Elarton made his only Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the Milwaukee Brewers and prevailed, 11–3. On May 4, Craig Biggio became the first player in franchise history to attain 2,000 career hits. In the amateur draft, the Astros' first round selection was second baseman Chris Burke, at 10th overall. On June 8, Houston played their first interleague game against their in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers, initiating the annual competition to win the Silver Boot trophy.
Outfielders Moisés Alou (fourth selection) and Lance Berkman (first), and pitcher Billy Wagner (second) each represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game.
On July 18 versus St. Louis, Jeff Bagwell became the fourth player in Astros history to hit for the cycle, and fifth time overall. During the season, Bagwell also became first player in major league history to produce six consecutive seasons each with 30 home runs, 100 runs batted in (RBI), 100 runs scored, and 100 bases on balls (BB).
Berkman set the major league record for extra-base hits by a switch hitter (94) while becoming the 16th major leaguer to log at least 55 doubles in one season. Three Astros produced hitting streaks of 18 games or more, including Alou (23), Berkman (21), and Biggio (18), while a fourth, Richard Hidalgo hit in 17 consecutive dating to the prior season.
In the regular season finale on October 7, Houston defeated St. Louis, with the two teams sporting identical 93–69 win–loss records for best in the National League. However, the Astros retained the tiebreaker by virtue of claiming the season series, 9–7. Hence, the Cardinals were situated as the NL Wild Card winners.
For the fourth time in five seasons, the Astros claimed the NL Central title, their seventh division title and seventh playoff appearance in franchise history. For the third time in five seasons, the Astros faced the Atlanta Braves in a National League Division Series (NLDS). The Braves defeated them for the third time in a three-game sweep. Days later, manager Larry Dierker resigned. The Astros, forestalled in all their attempts to win a playoff series, would not do so until 2004. This was also Houston's final division title in the National League until 2017.
Following the season, catcher Brad Ausmus won his first career Gold Glove Award. Starter Roy Oswalt was chosen as The Sporting News NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year, and to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team. Also, the Houston Astros were also recognized as Organization of the Year by the Baseball America and other outlets.
Offseason Summary The Astros concluded the 2000 campaign at , ranking fourth of six clubs in the NL Central division and 23 games behind (GB) the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals, also Houston's first season at Enron Field. For the first time in team history, the Astros drew more than 3 million fans. This was Houston's first losing season since 1991, establishing a then-club record eight consecutive seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or higher.
During a Houston Baseball Dinner on February 8, Craig F. Cullinan Jr., one of the key organizers along with R. E. "Bob" Smith, Judge Roy Hofheinz and George Kirksey to expand Major League Baseball into Houston, was honored at a Houston Baseball Writers dinner with a lifetime achievement award. Cullinan later served as the Colt .45s first team president in 1962.
Transactions January 2, 2001: Charlie Hayes signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros. January 3, 2001: Kent Bottenfield signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros.
Regular season Summary Opening Day + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 4 Julio Lugo Shortstop 7 Craig Biggio Second baseman 5 Jeff Bagwell First baseman 17 Lance Berkman Left fielder 15 Richard Hidalgo Center fielder 31 Daryle Ward Right fielder 11 Brad Ausmus Catcher 6 Chris Truby Third baseman 50 Scott Elarton Pitcher Venue: Enron Field • Final: Houston 11, Milwaukee 3 Sources:
The Astros hosted their first Opening Day at Enron Field on April 3, which featured Daryle Ward—substituting for an injured Moisés Alou—belting the first grand slam during an Opening Day at home in franchise annals. Meanwhile, Craig Biggio, returning from knee surgery, achieved his first career five-hit game. Ward's blast reprised that of teammate Richard Hidalgo's just one year earlier, who hit the first grand slam on any Opening Day for Houston on the road at Three Rivers Stadium.
Biggio singled in the bottom of the first off Milwuakee Brewers Opening Day starter, Jimmy Haynes for the first hit of the season for the club, and Jeff Bagwell drew a base on balls. Hidalgo, meanwhile, again started the season off strong, slashing a two-run triple during the bottom of the first to score Biggio and Bagwell for Houston's first two tallies of the brand-new season. In the bottom of the third frame, Lance Berkman received a hit by pitch from Haynes with the bases loaded for his first run batted in (RBI) of the year. One out later, Ward cleared the bases with his big fly. Another out later, Chris Truby joined the fireworks with his first blast of the season, staking Houston to a 8–1 lead.
The Astros' Opening Day starter, Scott Elarton, tossed six solid innings with two runs allowed to pick up the victory. Hidalgo also doubled in Biggio during the bottom of the seventh and Ward continued his big with day with a single that scored Berkman and Hidalgo. Biggio scored thrice.
Ward's 6 RBI set a career high, while also tying the Opening Day club record, set during the inaugural game in franchise history by Román Mejías in 1962. It was also Ward's first career grand slam.
Rest of April On April 4, Richard Hidalgo swatted his first career walk-off home run, while Daryle Ward produced his first career four-hit game in the major leagues, and sliced his first two doubles of the season. The game-ender was Hidalgo's second blast of the game and season, among five RBI, while Truby added another longball. Biggio, Bagwell, Hidalgo, Berkman and Truby each collected two hits to lead an 8–6 win over Milwaukee. It was the seventh multi-homer game for Hidalgo, whose 5 RBI matched his career high set exactly one year earlier on Opening Day 2000.
By slugging a home run in each of the first three games of the season, Truby established a franchise record. Meanwhile, Hidalgo who had concluded the previous season with an active hitting streak which commenced on September 15, collected hits in the first three games of the season to extend to 17 up to April 5.
Right-hander Wade Miller earned NL Pitcher of the Month honors for April. Miller went 4–1 over 5 games, all starts, with one complete game, a 2.15 earned run average (ERA), and 0.929 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). Over innings pitched, he surrendered 22 hits, 13 walks, and whiffed 44 batters. Miller became the first Astros hurler to garner the accolade since Randy Johnson in August and September, 1998.
May After a back-and-forth skirmish on May 2 with the New York Mets, the Astros finally came back to finish off the contest in 11 innings. Successive home runs from Lance Berkman and Moisés Alou got the Astros to a 6–5 win. Craig Biggio and Daryle Ward also homered for the Astros.
With an infield single on May 4, Biggio realized his 2,000th career hit, doing so at Olympic Stadium. The milestone knock came off Javier Vázquez. Biggio became the first Astro to attain the entirety of his 2,000 hits with the franchise, and the second to attain this career milestone with the club, following José Cruz on September 15, 1985. Biggio later singled aagain and scored ahead of a three-run home by Jeff Bagwell, which capped a four-run fifth frame. Wade Miller (5–1) also collected his first double of the season, while allowing three runs over eight frames to pick the victory. Lance Berkman and Brad Ausmus also doubled, while Daryle Ward and Julio Lugo also homered.
On May 6, right-hander Roy Oswalt made his major league debut at Olympic Stadium, as a relief appearance to close out a 13–7 Astons win over the Montreal Expos. Jeff Bagwell was 4-for-5 with a grand slam and 5 runs batted in (RBI). Bagwell's slam was the fourth of his career, which he hit off Anthony Telford, while the four-ht game was the 23rd of Bagwell's career. Julio Lugo produced his second career five-hit game and scored three runs. Additionally, Hidalgo and Alou homered, and Berkman went 3-for-4 with a triple and a stolen base. Scott Elarton earned the win for Houston in spite of allowing nine hits and six runs over five innings. Mike Jackson and Octavio Dotel followed Elarton with three scoreless innings. Oswalt pitched the ninth and got Vladimir Guerrero for the first strikeout of his career. Next, José Vidro hit a line drive for a single, and former Astro Geoff Blum, who was 4-for-5, doubled to deep left center to score Vidrio. Finally, Oswalt retired Milton Bradley on a ground ball to Bagwell to limit the damage to one run surrendered that day and close out the game. Additionally, Lugo became the seventh Astro to log multiple five-hit bouts.
By connecting for a triple on May 7 against the Chicago Cubs, Bagwell achieved the 700th extra base hit of his career.
New acquisition Vinny Castilla slugged his first home run in an Astros uniform on May 15, off Manny Aybar of the Chicago Cubs. Moreover, Castilla and Richard Hidalgo both doubled twice among 10 total extra-base hits for the Astros. In the top of the twelfth inning, pinch hitter Tony Eusebio golfed a two-run home run off Todd Van Poppel deep to center field that scored Castilla for the game-winning runs, 9–7.
Bagwell cranked his fifth career grand slam on May 21, but Ryan Klesko and the San Diego Padres proved too much, winning a 7–6 decision over Houston. Kesko tripled and homered twice, getting 11 total bases. Meanwhile, Berkman was 3-for-6 and a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
Biggio initiated a hitting streak on May 29 that lasted until June 18, during which he hit .338, and spanned a career-best 18 games. Due to the timing and those later produced by teammates Berkman and Moisés Alou, at least one of the three remained within a current streak until July 18, a span of 45 games. This trio of overlapping hitting streaks mirrored a similar fulfillment that transpired April 17–May 11, 1979. Between those dates, one or more of each of Craig Reynolds, José Cruz, and Enos Cabell piloted their own hitting streak—each had a duration of exactly 15 games.
While tossing six innings with three runs surrendered on May 30, Wade Miller also helped himself at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance to earn his seventh win and lead Houston to a 7–4 win over the Padres. The win also ended an eight-game losing streak that had plunged the Astros below .500.
June Richard Hidalgo slugged the walk-off home run and his fourth hit of the night on June 1, in the bottom of the ninth against the Los Angeles Dodgers for Houston's 10–9 win. Hidalgo’s effort was augmented by Vinny Castilla, who collected three hits and a home run.