1988 Houston Astros season

1988 Houston Astros
LeagueNational League
DivisionWest
BallparkThe Astrodome
CityHouston, Texas
Record82–80 (.506)
Divisional place5th
OwnersJohn McMullen
General managersBill Wood
ManagersHal Lanier
TelevisionKTXH
HSE
RadioKTRH
(Bill Brown, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Bruce Gietzen, Bill Worrell)
KBUC
(Orlando Sánchez-Diago, Rolando Becerra)

The 1988 Houston Astros season was the 27th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 24th as the Astros, 27th in the National League (NL), 20th in the NL West division, and 24rd at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed a 76–86 record and in third place, 14 games behind the division champion San Francisco Giants.

On April 5, Mike Scott made his second Opening Day start for the Astros. They hosted the San Diego Padres and won, 6–3, also the 2,000th victory in franchise history. During the amateur draft, the Astros selected outfielder Willie Ansley in the first round at 7th overall, infielder Dave Silvestri in the second round, and outfielder Kenny Lofton in the 17th round.

Pitcher Bob Knepper represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game, and played for the National League, his second career selection.

The Astros concluded the season with an 82–80 record, in fifth place and 12+1⁄2 games behind the division champion and World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitcher Nolan Ryan, who led the NL in strikeouts (228) for a second consecutive and in his final season as an Astro, made for the third consecutive season an Astros hurler led the league in strikeouts for the first time in franchise history

Offseason

Regular season

Summary

April

Opening Day starting lineup[6][7]
 2 Gerald Young CF
28 Billy Hatcher LF
19 Bill Doran 2B
27 Glenn Davis 1B
29 Denny Walling 3B
14 Alan Ashby  C
21 Terry Puhl RF
16 Rafael Ramírez SS
33 Mike Scott  P
Venue: Astrodome • HOU 6, SAN 3

On April 5, the Astros hosted the San Diego Padres on Opening Day, with right-hander Mike Scott making his second consecutive Opening Day start. In the top of the eighth, he surrendered two runs to the Padres. However, in the bottom of the inning, Kevin Bass' two-run single keyed a five-run rally which stood as Houston held on for the 6–3 win. Hence, the decision for the pitching win went to Scott.[8] The Opening Day victory was also the 2,000th win in the history of the Houston Astros franchise.[Note 1][9][10]

May

Having gone more than two years since his most recent complete game, on May 13, Nolan Ryan went the distance to lead an 8–2 win over the Chicago Cubs. First baseman Glenn Davis collected four runs batted in (RBI), while Gerald Young stroked four hits to lead the Astros' offense.[11]

With strong windy conditions all around Pittsburgh on May 23, the Astros held a 3–0 advantage going into the ninth inning. However, the game was called due to debris on the field at Three Rivers Stadium, and Mike Scott, who had held the Pirates scoreless for 8 innings, got the win.[12]

June

On June 12, Mike Scott was denied a second career no-hitter when Ken Oberkfell of the Atlanta Braves laced a clean single to right field with two outs in the ninth inning. Okerkfull's single was the only blemish on an otherwise stellar evening for Scott as he fanned eight, walked none, and led the Astros to victory, 5–0. Terry Puhl, Kevin Bass and Craig Reynolds each contribute three hits.[8]

Craig Biggio made his major league debut at catcher on June 26 in a 6–0 win over the San Francisco Giants. Though he went hitless, Biggio stole second base and scored Houston's final run.[13]

July

Biggio was the starting catcher on July 9 as the batterymate for veteran Nolan Ryan's 100th career win as an Astro. It was just the 12th contest for Biggio as a major leaguer.[14]

On July 17, Glenn Davis connected for the 100th home run of his career, launching an offering from Mike Maddux deep to left field. This shot occurred in the top of the sixth at Veterans Stadium, breaking a scoreless tie.[15]

August

On August 22, Craig Biggio cranked his first major league home run, a tie-breaking solo shot served by Rich Gossage that touched off an extra-innings rally past the Chicago Cubs.[16] Later in the top of the tenth inning, Gerald Young scored on a misplay of Kevin Bass' fly ball to center field, and Davis followed with a single to score Bass and raise the score, 9–6. In the bottom of the tenth, a balk called on Juan Agosto scored Shawon Dunston; however, Agosto buckled down to record the final out and preserve a 9–7 Houston triumph.[17]

September

Bob Knepper tossed his second shutout of the season on September 21, leading a 1–0 one-hit blanking of the Atlanta Braves along with his top game score of the season at 91.[18] Knepper (14–5) faced the minimum, yielding just one hit and one walk while striking out seven. In the bottom of the eighth, Gerald Young singled in Ken Caminiti for the contest's only run off Pete Smith. Smith nearly matched Knepper pitch for pitch, earning a complete game despite an eight-inning loss.[19]

Performance overview

Nolan Ryan concluded the season as the NL leader in strikeouts (228), his second consecutive (270 in 1987), and in his final season as a Houston Astro.[a][20] Counting Mike Scott's strikeout title in 1986 (306), this was the third consecutive season that an Astros hurler had led the league in strikeouts, the first time in franchise history that this had been accomplished. It was Houston's fifth individual strikeout title in 11 seasons. Moreover, Ryan joined J. R. Richard as the second Astros hurler to win consecutive strikeout titles (303 in 1978 and 313 in 1979).[21] As it was with the season prior, Ryan became the oldest pitcher in major-league history to lead the in strikeouts.[22]

Ryan departed for the Texas Rangers during the offseason.[20]

This roster included pitchers with a portfolio of eight career no-hitters, with five (at the time) by Nolan Ryan,[b] two by Bob Forsch, and one by Mike Scott.[23]

Roster

1988 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Notable transactions

Draft picks

Game log

Regular season

Legend
  Astros win
  Astros loss
  Postponement
  Eliminated from playoff race
Bold Astros team member
1988 regular season game log: 82–80 (Home: 44–37; Away: 38–43)[28]
April: 14–7 (Home: 10–3; Away: 4–4)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
1 April 5 Padres 6–3 1–0
2 April 6 Padres 5–1 2–0
3 April 8 @ Reds 8–3 (16) 3–0
4 April 9 @ Reds 4–5 3–1
5 April 10 @ Reds 12–3 4–1
6 April 12 @ Braves 8–3 5–1
7 April 13 @ Braves 4–0 6–1
8 April 14 Reds 9–3 7–1
9 April 15 Reds 2–4 (10) 7–2
10 April 16 Reds 2–8 7–3
11 April 17 Reds 5–3 8–3
12 April 19 Braves 4–5 8–4
13 April 20 Braves 1–0 9–4
14 April 21 Braves 8–0 10–4
15 April 22 @ Padres 1–3 10–5
16 April 23 @ Padres 0–4 10–6
17 April 24 @ Padres 0–3 10–7
18 April 26 Phillies 3–1 11–7
19 April 27 Phillies 3–2 (10) 12–7
20 April 29 Expos 6–4 13–7
21 April 30 Expos 3–0 14–7 =
May: 13–14 (Home: 7–5; Away: 6–9)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
22 May 1 Expos 3–7 (14) 14–8
23 May 2 @ Phillies 1–7 14–9
24 May 3 @ Phillies 4–0 15–9
25 May 4 @ Mets 0–8 15–10
— May 5 @ Mets Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 1
26 May 6 @ Expos 5–6 (11) 15–11
27 May 7 @ Expos 3–4 15–12
28 May 8 @ Expos 7–2 16–12
29 May 9 Mets 6–2 17–12
30 May 10 Mets 2–5 17–13
31 May 11 Mets 8–9 (10) 17–14
32 May 13 Cubs 8–2 18–14
33 May 14 Cubs 3–1 19–14
34 May 15 Cubs 1–2 19–15
35 May 16 Pirates 9–2 20–15 W1
36 May 17 Pirates 3–2 21–15 W2
37 May 18 Pirates 4–2 22–15 W3
38 May 20 @ Cardinals 5–3 23–15
39 May 21 @ Cardinals 4–7 (11) 23–16
40 May 22 @ Cardinals 2–1 24–16
41 May 23 @ Pirates 3–0 25–16 W2
42 May 24 @ Pirates 4–5 25–17 L1
43 May 25 @ Pirates 3–4 25–18 L2
44 May 27 @ Cubs 2–3 25–19
45 May 28 @ Cubs 7–14 25–20
46 May 29 @ Cubs 7–1 26–20
47 May 30 Cardinals 5–4 27–20
48 May 31 Cardinals 7–9 27–21
June: 13–16 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–9)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
49 June 1 Cardinals 2–3 (13) 27–22
50 June 3 @ Giants 8–4 28–22
51 June 4 @ Giants 2–8 28–23
52 June 5 @ Giants 3–9 28–24
53 June 6 @ Dodgers 10–4 29–24
54 June 7 @ Dodgers 5–2 30–24
55 June 8 @ Dodgers 1–11 30–25
56 June 9 @ Dodgers 2–4 30–26
57 June 10 Braves 3–10 (13) 30–27
58 June 11 Braves 5–4 (11) 31–27
59 June 12 Braves 5–0 32–27
60 June 13 Braves 6–5 33–27
61 June 14 @ Reds 1–7 33–28
62 June 15 @ Reds 3–5 33–29
63 June 16 @ Reds 7–4 34–29
64 June 17 @ Braves 3–4 34–30
65 June 17 @ Braves 5–6 34–31
66 June 18 @ Braves 14–7 35–31
67 June 19 @ Braves 6–4 36–31
68 June 20 Reds 1–2 36–32
69 June 21 Reds 3–1 37–32
70 June 22 Reds 5–1 38–32
71 June 24 Giants 0–11 38–33
72 June 25 Giants 1–4 38–34
73 June 26 Giants 6–0 39–34
74 June 27 Dodgers 0–4 39–35
75 June 28 Dodgers 4–3 40–35
76 June 29 Dodgers 0–2 40–36
77 June 30 @ Mets 6–12 40–37
July: 16–12 (Home: 6–5; Away: 10–7)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
78 July 1 @ Mets 2–3 40–38
79 July 1 @ Mets 6–5 (13) 41–38
80 July 2 @ Mets 2–7 41–39
81 July 3 @ Mets 0–5 41–40
82 July 4 Expos 4–7 41–41
83 July 5 Expos 3–4 (11) 41–42
84 July 6 Expos 2–4 41–43
85 July 8 Mets 4–2 42–43
86 July 9 Mets 6–3 43–43
87 July 10 Mets 6–5 44–43
88 July 14 @ Phillies 7–5 45–43
89 July 15 @ Phillies 5–2 46–43
90 July 16 @ Phillies 6–10 46–44
91 July 17 @ Phillies 4–10 46–45
92 July 18 @ Expos 6–1 47–45
93 July 19 @ Expos 4–3 48–45
94 July 20 @ Expos 3–2 49–45
95 July 21 Phillies 2–0 50–45
96 July 22 Phillies 5–3 51–45
97 July 23 Phillies 7–6 52–45
98 July 24 Phillies 4–6 52–46
99 July 26 @ Padres 1–5 52–47
100 July 27 @ Padres 4–1 53–47
101 July 28 @ Padres 3–2 54–47
102 July 29 @ Dodgers 3–1 55–47
103 July 30 @ Dodgers 14–6 56–47
104 July 31 @ Dodgers 1–6 56–48
August: 15–14 (Home: 9–8; Away: 6–6)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
105 August 1 @ Giants 1–4 56–49
106 August 2 @ Giants 13–10 57–49
107 August 3 @ Giants 3–2 58–49
108 August 5 Dodgers 6–4 59–49
109 August 6 Dodgers 3–5 59–50
110 August 7 Dodgers 4–2 60–50
111 August 8 Dodgers 10–0 61–50
112 August 9 Giants 3–2 62–50
113 August 10 Giants 0–5 62–51
114 August 11 Giants 0–6 62–52
115 August 12 Padres 3–4 62–53
116 August 13 Padres 1–0 63–53
117 August 14 Padres 1–6 63–54
118 August 15 Padres 7–3 64–54
119 August 16 @ Cardinals 0–3 64–55
120 August 17 @ Cardinals 1–0 65–55
121 August 18 @ Cardinals 1–2 65–56
122 August 19 @ Pirates 5–1 66–56 W1
123 August 20 @ Pirates 1–2 66–57 L1
124 August 21 @ Pirates 2–1 (11) 67–57 W1
125 August 22 @ Cubs 9–7 (10) 68–57
126 August 23 @ Cubs 3–9 68–58
127 August 24 @ Cubs 2–3 68–59
128 August 26 Pirates 2–0 69–59 W1
129 August 27 Pirates 3–1 70–59 W2
130 August 28 Pirates 3–4 70–60 L1
131 August 29 Cubs 1–2 (11) 70–61
132 August 30 Cubs 7–4 71–61
133 August 31 Cubs 1–3 71–62
September: 11–16 (Home: 5–8; Away: 6–8)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
134 September 2 Cardinals 0–2 71–63
135 September 3 Cardinals 10–1 72–63
136 September 4 Cardinals 4–3 73–63
137 September 5 Reds 3–0 74–63
138 September 6 Reds 3–10 74–64
139 September 7 @ Dodgers 1–4 74–65
140 September 8 @ Dodgers 2–1 75–65
141 September 9 @ Giants 4–3 (12) 76–65
142 September 10 @ Giants 2–3 76–66
143 September 11 @ Giants 4–1 77–66
144 September 13 @ Reds 2–5 77–67
145 September 14 @ Reds 7–1 78–67
146 September 15 @ Reds 5–7 78–68
147 September 16 Giants 4–5 78–69
148 September 17 Giants 2–4 78–70
149 September 18 Giants 3–10 78–71
150 September 19 Dodgers 0–1 78–72
151 September 20 Dodgers 0–6 78–73
152 September 21 Braves 1–0 79–73
153 September 22 Braves 3–2 80–73
154 September 23 @ Padres 3–4 (12) 80–74
155 September 24 @ Padres 0–3 80–75
156 September 25 @ Padres 1–9 80–76
157 September 27 @ Braves 3–2 (10) 81–76
158 September 28 @ Braves 3–4 (17) 81–77
159 September 29 @ Braves 5–4 82–77
160 September 30 Padres 1–5 82–78
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–2; Away: 0–0)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
161 October 1 Padres 3–6 82–79
162 October 2 Padres 1–5 82–80

Detailed records

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
C Alan Ashby 73 227 54 .238 7 33
1B Glenn Davis 152 561 152 .271 30 99
2B Bill Doran 132 480 119 .248 7 53
3B Buddy Bell 74 269 68 .253 7 37
SS Rafael Ramírez 155 566 156 .276 6 59
LF Billy Hatcher 145 530 142 .268 7 52
CF Gerald Young 149 576 148 .257 0 37
RF Kevin Bass 157 541 138 .255 14 72

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Terry Puhl 113 234 71 .303 3 19
Alex Treviño 78 193 48 .249 2 13
Denny Walling 65 176 43 .244 1 20
Craig Reynolds 78 161 41 .255 1 14
Jim Pankovits 68 140 31 .221 2 12
Craig Biggio 50 123 26 .211 3 5
Chuck Jackson 46 83 19 .229 1 8
Ken Caminiti 30 83 15 .181 1 7
Steve Henderson 42 46 10 .217 0 5
Louie Meadows 35 42 8 .190 2 3
Casey Candaele 21 31 5 .161 0 1
John Fishel 19 26 6 .231 1 2
Mark Bailey 8 23 3 .130 0 0
Cameron Drew 7 16 3 .188 0 1
Harry Spilman 7 5 0 .000 0 0
Craig Smajstrla 8 3 0 .000 0 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Nolan Ryan 33 220.0 12 11 3.52 228
Mike Scott 32 218.2 14 8 2.92 190
Jim Deshaies 31 207.0 11 14 3.00 127
Bob Knepper 27 175.0 14 5 3.14 103
Bob Forsch 6 27.2 1 4 6.51 14

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Danny Darwin 44 192.0 8 13 3.84 129
Joaquín Andújar 23 78.2 2 5 4.00 35

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Dave Smith 51 4 5 27 2.67 38
Juan Agosto 75 10 2 4 2.26 33
Larry Andersen 53 2 4 5 2.94 66
Dave Meads 22 3 1 0 3.18 27
Jeff Heathcock 17 0 5 0 5.81 12
Ernie Camacho 13 0 3 1 7.64 13
Rocky Childress 11 1 0 0 6.17 24
Brian Meyer 8 0 0 0 1.46 10

Awards and achievements

Awards
NL batting leaders
NL pitching leaders

Minor league system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Bob Didier
AA Columbus Astros Southern League Tom Wiedenbauer
A Osceola Astros Florida State League Keith Bodie
A Asheville Tourists South Atlantic League Gary Tuck and Jim Coveney
A-Short Season Auburn Astros New York–Penn League Frank Cacciatore
Rookie GCL Astros Gulf Coast League Julio Linares

See also

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ Houston's milestone win that doubled this total, 4,000, was another Opening Day victory, the one that commenced the 2013 season for their first game as an American League (AL) team, hosting the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park.
  1. ^ Ryan followed up the strikeout titles in 1987 and 1988 with two more in succession in the American League (AL), while aggregating 11 total during his career.
  2. ^ Pitched a total of 7 no-hitters.
Sources
  1. ^ "Ronn Reynolds stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  2. ^ "Ed Whited stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "Joaquin Andújar stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  4. ^ "Ernie Camacho stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Robbie Wine stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  6. ^ "San Diego Padres (3) vs Houston Astros (6) box score". Baseball Almanac. April 5, 1988. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  7. ^ "1988 Houston Astros uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Hulsey, Bob. "This date in Astros history". Astros Daily. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "Astros history – Timeline". MLB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  10. ^ Mathews, Nick (March 31, 2013). "On night of firsts, Astros bag 4,000 win". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  11. ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (May 13, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 13". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  12. ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (May 23, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 23". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (June 26, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 26". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  14. ^ McTaggart, Brian (December 13, 2023). "10 moments that defined Biggio's career". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  15. ^ "Glenn Davis career home runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  16. ^ "Craig Biggio career home runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  17. ^ "Houston Astros (9) vs Chicago Cubs (7) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. August 22, 1988. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  18. ^ "Bob Knepper 1988 pitching game logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  19. ^ "Atlanta Braves (0) vs Houston Astros (1) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. September 21, 1988. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Nolan Ryan stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  21. ^ "Yearly league leaders & records for strikeouts". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  22. ^ Boston, Talmadge (January 4, 2012). "Nolan Ryan biography". Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  23. ^ "Official no-hitters in Major League Baseball". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  24. ^ "Casey Candaele stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  25. ^ "Bob Forsch stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  26. ^ Dave Silvestri page at Baseball Reference
  27. ^ Kenny Lofton page at Baseball Reference
  28. ^ "1988 Houston Astros Schedule & Results". Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  29. ^ a b c McTaggart, Brian (December 21, 2009). "Bourn highlights Astros' awards season". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  30. ^ "Lou Gehrig Memorial Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  31. ^ "MLB Players of the Week Awards". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
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