The 2000 Houston Astros season was the 39th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 36th as the Astros, 39th in the National League (NL), seventh in the NL Central division, and first at Enron Field, later christened as Minute Maid Park. The Astros entered the season as three-time defending NL Central champions with a 97–65 record in their final season at The Astrodome. However, their season ended in a 3-games-to-1 defeat by the Atlanta Braves in the 1999 National League Division Series (NLDS), also the NL pennant winners.
The season commenced for the Astros on April 4 at Three Rivers Stadium, where pitcher Shane Reynolds made his fifth of five consecutive Opening Day starts for the Astros, who defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5–2. The Astros hosted the Philadelphia Phillies on April 7 for the first regular season game played at Enron Field, but lost, 4–1. In the amateur draft, their first round selection was right-handed pitcher Robert Stiehl, at 27th overall, and in the second round, right-hander Chad Qualls.
Reynolds also represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game and played for the National League, his only career selection. On August 19, first baseman Jeff Bagwell connected for his 300th home run, becoming the 87th major leaguer to reach the milestone. On September 12, Richard Hidalgo became the 11th major leaguer to log an extra-base hit in 10 consecutive games.
With a 72–90 finish in fourth place and 23 games behind the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals, it ended eight consecutive seasons with a record of .500 or better, and seven consecutive winning seasons, both the longest runs in franchise history. Between 1992 and 2008, Houston's only other regular season record below .500 occurred in 2007.
In spite of the downturn of 25 wins from the season prior, a number franchise records records fell during the inaugural season of Enron Field, including both in runs scored (938) and runs allowed (944), home runs hit (249) and attendance, among others. For the first time in Astros history, fans surpassed 3 million in attendance at 3.056,139, and the team exceeded the 900-run threshold in either category. The 249 home runs hit also established an NL record, which stood until 2019, when it was eclipsed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Offseason Summary The Houston Astros concluded the 1999 season with a record and NL Central division champions, while having played their final game at the Astrodome after 35 seasons. This Astros team established then-club records with 168 home runs and 728 bases on balls, and scored 823 runs which, at the time, had ranked second to the 1998 squad (856). They also set a then all-time team attendance record for a second successive campaign, at 2,706,017.
First baseman Jeff Bagwell slugged 42 home runs and stole 30 bases to become a repeat entrant into the 30–30 club, following 1997 campaign. Second baseman Craig Biggio became the first Major League since George Kell (Detroit Tigers) in 1950 to amass 56 or more doubles, and twelfth overall. Southpaw Mike Hampton and righty José Lima became Houston's first 20-game winner duo during the same campaign, while Hampton was recognized with The Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year. Moreover, Bagwell and Hampton both won Silver Slugger Awards, while closer Billy Wagner won the Rolaids Relief Man Award.
Having consummated their final contest as tenants of the Astrodome, Houston would experience play in not one, but two, stadiums for the first time prior to Opening Day in 2000.
International play
For the first time, Major League Baseball expanded their presence of game play into the Dominican Republic, showcasing the Astros versus the Boston Red Sox. On March 11, Houston dropped Boston, 4–3, at Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo. Jeff Bagwell scalded two home runs to pace the Houston victory. The next day, native-born right-hander José Lima thrilled his countrymen to lead a 3–2 Astros triumph.
On March 12, two gunmen robbed six Astros minor leaguers at a motel in Kissimmee, Florida. One of the perpetrators was apprehended at the scene while the other jumped out the window from the second storey to flee. One of the players suffered bite wounds to the neck.
Exhibition opening game at Enron Field In accordance with the manner that the Astros opened play for the first time at the Astrodome in 1965, they hosted the defending World Series-champion New York Yankees in an exhibition contest for the inaugural game at Enron Field on March 30, 2000, with over 40,000 fans in attendance. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while Dwight Gooden, who made his major league debut at the Astrodome as a New York Met, was the starting pitcher for Houston. Roger Clemens, a future Astro, was the starting pitcher for the Yankees. In the bottom of the first inning, Jeff Bagwell singled for the first hit at the stadium. Gooden lasted 5 innings for Houston. Ricky Ledee, who pinch hit for Clemens, hit the first home run at Enron. In the eighth inning, Houston scored four to rally for the win, capped by Daryle Ward's home run, the first for an Astros player at Enron. The Astros won, 6–5, as closer Billy Wagner registered two strikeouts for the save.
Two years later, with the corporation Enron embroiled in legal controversy, bankruptcy and eventual collapse, the Astros bought out their contract with Enron for $2.1 million. Minute Maid, headquartered in nearby Sugar Land, purchased the naming rights to the stadium during the 2002 season.
Transactions December 13, 1999: Johan Santana was drafted from the Astros by the Florida Marlins in the 1999 rule 5 draft. December 14, 1999: Traded outfielder Carl Everett to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Adam Everett (minors). December 23, 1999: Traded outfielder Derek Bell and left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton to the New York Mets for outfielder Roger Cedeño, right-handed pitcher Octavio Dotel, and minor league left-handed pitcher Kyle Kessel. January 6, 2000: Signed free agent pitcher Dwight Gooden.
Regular season Summary Early April + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 7 Craig Biggio Second baseman 12 28 Bill Spiers Left fielder 1 5 Jeff Bagwell First baseman 10 11 Ken Caminiti Third baseman 8 18 Moisés Alou Right fielder 2 20 Tony Eusebio Catcher 2 15 Richard Hidalgo Center fielder 3 27 Tim Bogar Shortstop 1 37 Shane Reynolds Pitcher 5 Venue: Three Rivers Stadium • Final: Houston 5, Pittsburgh 2 Sources:
During the regular season Opening Day at Three Rivers Stadium on April 4, center fielder Richard Hidalgo connected for the first grand slam on an Opening Day in franchise history to cap a 5–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hidalgo connected for the historic drive in the seventh off Pittsburgh's Opening Day starter, Jason Schmidt. Astros hitters also coaxed six bases on balls from Schmidt (0–1) as he surrendered each of the five Astros runs, who were all driven in by Hidalgo. Meanwhile Astros starter Shane Reynolds (1–0) tossed seven strong innings to earn the win in his fifth consecutive Opening Day start. Doug Henry followed and pitched a shutout eighth to earn the hold, and Wagner recorded his first official save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Hidalgo's slam was the only home run of this type during his major league career. This was the final MLB Opening Day hosted at Three Rivers Stadium; in 2001, the Pirates moved to PNC Park.
A number of Opening Day milestones were realized. Craig Biggio extended his club-record 12th opening day start, including the ninth as the second baseman, following his first three as catcher, also his 1,700th career game in the lineup. Biggio passed José Cruz for most Opening Day starts, who made 11 through the 1987 campaign. Jeff Bagwell made his 10th Opening Day start to become the fourth Astro to do so, also joining César Cedeño (1981), as well as extending his all-time club lead at first base. Meanwhile, Ken Caminiti's eighth start broke the club record for third basemen, jointly held by Bob Aspromonte, who started each of the first seven in club history (1962 to 1968), and Doug Rader, who started each of the following seven (1969 to 1975). Meanwhile, Reynolds' five Opening Day starts tied him with J. R. Richard and Mike Scott for most by an Astros pitcher, until the record was broken by Roy Oswalt, who logged eight consecutive (2003 to 2010).
The following day, April 5, Biggio opened a career-best 16-game hitting streak. He slashed .313 / .429 / .438 /.866 and accrued three stolen bases during that stretch.
Inaugural game at Enron Field Like the regular season home opener of the Astrodome in 1965 when Houston hosted the Philadelphia Phillies, the Astros hosted Philadelphia on April 7 for the first regular season game at Enron Field and 2000 home opener. Octavio Dotel was the starting pitcher for the Astros, while the Phillies countered with Randy Wolf. Phillies center fielder Doug Glanville collected both of the first at bat and first hit in regular season play at Enron Field, while Scott Rolen connected in the top of the seventh off Dotel for the first home run. Second baseman Craig Biggio led off the bottom half of the first with a single to center field for the Astros' first regular season base hit in their new stadium, and in the seventh, Hidalgo connected off Wolf for the first Astros home run at Enron. Philadelphia won, 4–1. Wolf (1–0) was the winning pitcher while Dotel (0–1) took the loss.
Rest of April On April 11, Thomas Howard of the St. Louis Cardinals crushed the first-ever grand slam at Enron. Hit during the seventh inning off Chris Holt, Howard's drive was instrumental in securing a 10–6 win for St. Louis, who exploded for seven runs total in the seventh. It was St. Louis' 7th win of 8 games to start the campaign, while the Astros dropped to 3–5.
On April 14 at Qualcomm Stadium, Reynolds worked five innings, allowed 10 hits, one walk, three runs and struck out three. He helped out his own cause in the fifth inning with by connecting for his fourth career home run, a solo shot that tied the score at 3–3. During the sixth, Bagwell took southpaw Kevin Walker deep for his third career grand slam. Moisés Alou also slugged his fourth home run.
From April 27—May 14, Moisés Alou was on the disabled list (DL) with a right calf strain.
Chris Holt fired a one-hit shutout of the Milwaukee Brewers on April 28, while Bagwell, Hidalgo and Ward all backed him with long balls. A second-inning single by Ron Belliard became Milwaukee's only team hit in Holt's brilliant performance, the only one-hitter of his career. Astros hitters worked 11 walks. Holt earned a game score of 86.
On April 29, the Astros drew another 14 bases on balls, which set a club record for a nine-inning game. They defeated Milwaukee, 10 to 3.
For the month of April, Reynolds sported a 4–0 record and 3.35 earned run average (ERA) over innings pitched (IP).
May On May 7, Roger Cedeño's three-run home run capped a seven-run tenth inning that sunk the Los Angeles Dodgers, 14-8. Rookie Mitch Meluskey connected for five hits while Ken Caminiti and Hidalgo added deep blasts.
At Coors Field on May 8, Biggio hit second in the batting order for the first time since September 29, 1996, breaking a string of 497 starts as Houston's leadoff hitter. The following game, May 9, Biggio collected a season-high four runs batted in (RBI) versus the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of the fifth, Caminiti drilled a Scott Karl offering for a grand slam to deep left field, slicing the Astros' deficit to 7–6. The drive was Caminiti's sixth career grand slam and third in an Astros uniform. The next frame, Biggio lined a bases-clearing triple deep to left-center field, giving the Astros the lead for good, 9–7. inning to lead a 13–8 come-from-behind win over Rockies.