1986 Houston Astros: Strikeout Machines

1986 Houston Astros: Strikeout Machines

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1986 Houston Astros: Strikeout Machines

The Houston Astros had the right kind of combination on their team. They had great all-around hitters who could put the bat on the ball, and they also had flamethrowers for pitchers who were strikeout machines. The 1980’s saw much of what the Houston Astros became to be known for as an organization, which was clutch pitching and timely hitting.

In 1986 the Astros went 96-66, winning the National League West division by 10 games over the Cincinnati Reds. The Astros went 14-4 against the Reds in head-to-head play. The Astros went 52-29 at home and 44-37 on the road. With the exception of June, the Astros had success for every month of the regular season as they went 14-6 in April, 13-13 in May, 16-11 in July, 16-12 in August, 18-9 in September, and had a perfect 5-0 record in October.

Led by National League and Associated Press Manager of the Year Hal Lanier, the Astros went through most of their competition without experiencing much trouble. The Astros went 13-5 against the Atlanta Braves, 8-4 against the Chicago Cubs, 10-8 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-4 against the Montreal Expos, 6-6 against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-8 against the San Diego Padres, 9-9 against the San Francisco Giants, and 7-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals. The only exception to success in head-to-head play for the Astros would be the New York Mets as the Astros went 5-7 against them.

Third baseman Danny Walling batted .312 with 13 home runs, 119 hits and 23 doubles. Right fielder Kevin Bass batted .311 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI’s off 184 hits, 33 doubles, 5 triples and 22 stolen bases. Bass caught fire at the plate during the course of the regular season as he had a 20-game hitting streak. Left fielder Jose Cruz batted .278 with 10 home runs and 72 RBI’s off 133 hits, 22 doubles and 4 triples.

Second baseman Bill Doran batted .276 with 152 hits, 29 doubles, 3 triples and 42 stolen bases. Catcher Alan Ashby had 81 hits and 15 doubles in 120 games. Shortstop Richard “Dickie” Thon had 69 hits and 13 doubles in 106 games. Third baseman Phil Garner had 9 home runs, 83 hits, 14 doubles and 12 stolen bases in 107 games. Shortstop Craig Reynolds had 78 hits and 7 doubles in 114 games. Center fielder Tony Walker had 11 stolen bases in 84 games.

Starting pitcher Mike Scott was undeniably one of the most influential parts on the team as his pitching spoke for itself. Scott went 18-10 with a whopping 306 strikeouts and a 2.22 ERA, recording 7 complete games and 5 shutouts. Scott would win the National League Cy Young Award and he would be the one to clinch the National League West division for the Astros on September 25 as he pitched a complete game no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in a 2-0 win at the Astrodome. With this great performance Scott made history as the very first National League pitcher to clinch a pennant by throwing a no-hitter. Scott was only the second to accomplish this feat in MLB history as he followed New York Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds and his pennant-clinching no-hitter on September 18, 1951.

Scott had some help in the starting rotation. Bob Knepper went 17-12 with 143 strikeouts and a 3.14 ERA, recording 8 complete games and 5 shutouts. Nolan Ryan, who went by the nickname of the “Ryan Express”, went 12-8 with 194 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA, recording 1 complete game. Jim Deshaies went 12-5 with 128 strikeouts and a 3.25 ERA, recording 1 complete game and 1 shutout. Danny Darwin went 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA, recording 1 complete game.

Closer Dave Smith set a club record with 33 saves while recording a 2.73 ERA. Relief pitcher Charlie Kerfeld went 11-2 with 7 saves and a 2.59 ERA. Aurelio Lopez went 3-3 with 7 saves and a 3.46 ERA. Larry Andersen went 2-1 with 1 save and a 2.78 ERA.

The 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game would be held on July 15 at the Astrodome, and 4 Astros would make the National League All-Star Team. Kevin Bass, Glenn Davis, Mike Scott and Dave Smith all made it to the Mid-Summer Classic as reserves.

The enjoyable ride that was the 1986 season came to an end in postseason play as the Astros fell to the eventual World Series Champion New York Mets 4 games to 2. For the games they did win in this series, Mike Scott had something to say in both Houston victories through his pitching. In Game 1 on October 6 at the Astrodome, the Astros blanked the Mets 1-0. Scott pitched a complete game, giving up 5 hits and 1 walk, but he would record a remarkable 14 strikeouts. Dwight Gooden of the Mets opposed Scott and pitched very well in his own right, going 7 innings deep and giving up 7 hits, 3 walks and 1 run while recording 5 strikeouts. The only run the Astros needed to score to win came in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Glenn Davis hit a solo home run.

The other Houston victory in the NLCS came in Game 4 on October 12 at Shea Stadium in Queens. The Astros won by the score of 3-1. Mike Scott did another great job on the mound as he pitched another complete game, giving up 3 hits and 1 run while recording 5 strikeouts. In the top of the 2nd inning Alan Ashby launched a 2-run home run, and then in the top of the 5th Dickie Thon hit a solo home run. Pinch hitting outfielder and first baseman Danny Heep of the Mets did have a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 8th, but he wouldn’t be able to spark a New York rally.