1986 Houston Astros season

The 1986 Houston Astros season was the 25th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. For the second time in team history, the Astros won the National League West; it was their third postseason appearance the past seven seasons, and it would be their last for eleven years.

1986 Houston stros
National League West Champions
League	National League
Division	West
Ballpark	The Astrodome
City	Houston, Texas
Record	96–66 (.593)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	John McMullen
General managers	Dick Wagner
Managers	Hal Lanier
Television	KTXH–TV 20 (Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker) HSE (Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Bill Worrell)
Radio	KTRH–AM 740 (Gene Elston, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Jerry Trupiano)

Offseason

• November 13, 1985: Mike Richardt was released by the Astros.

Regular season

• Kevin Bass had a 20-game hit streak during the season.
• Dave Smith set a club record with 33 saves in one season.
• September 23, 1986: Jim Deshaies set a record for the most strikeouts to start a game. Deshaies started the game with 8 strikeouts versus the Los Angeles Dodgers
• September 25, 1986: Mike Scott threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants to help the Astros win the National League West. The final score was 2–0 and Scott struck out 13 Giants batters.

Scott was the first pitcher in the National League and the second overall to throw a no-hitter to clinch a pennant. The first was New York Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds, who accomplished the feat on September 18, 1951.

Opening Day starters

• Mark Bailey
• Kevin Bass
• Eric Bullock
• Glenn Davis
• Bill Doran
• Nolan Ryan
• Dickie Thon
• Tony Walker
• Denny Walling

All-Star Game

The 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 57th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 15, 1986, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, the home of the Astros. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 3–2.

1st place in National League leaders

• ERA (2.22): Mike Scott
• WAR (8.2): Mike Scott
• WHiP (0.923): Mike Scott
• Strikeouts (306): Mike Scott
• Shutouts (5): Mike Scott
• WPA/LI (6.5): Mike Scott
• Total Zone Runs as RF (13): Kevin Bass
• Total Zone Runs as LF (7): José Cruz
• Hit By Pitch (8): Glenn Davis
• cWPA (6.0): Glenn Davis
• Caught stealing (19): Bill Doran
• Wild Pitches (15): Nolan Ryan

Season standings

NL West

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Houston Astros	96	66	.593	—	52‍–‍29	44‍–‍37
Cincinnati Reds	86	76	.531	10	43‍–‍38	43‍–‍38
San Francisco Giants	83	79	.512	13	46‍–‍35	37‍–‍44
San Diego Padres	74	88	.457	22	43‍–‍38	31‍–‍50
Los Angeles Dodgers	73	89	.451	23	46‍–‍35	27‍–‍54
Atlanta Braves	72	89	.447	23½	41‍–‍40	31‍–‍49

Record vs. opponents

1986 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	9–3	6–12	5–13	10–8	4–7	4–8	4–8	5–7	12–6	7–11	6–6
Chicago	3–9	—	5–7	4–8	6–6	8–10	6–12	9–8	7–11	6–6	6–6	10–7
Cincinnati	12–6	7–5	—	4–14	10–8	7–5	4–8	7–5	10–2	9–9	9–9	7–5
Houston	13–5	8–4	14–4	—	10–8	8–4	5–7	6–6	6–6	10–8	9–9	7–5
Los Angeles	8–10	6–6	8–10	8–10	—	5–7	3–9	5–7	8–4	6–12	8–10	8–4
Montreal	7–4	10–8	5–7	4–8	5–7	—	8–10	8–10	11–7	4–8	5–7	9–9
New York	8–4	12–6	8–4	7–5	9–3	10–8	—	8–10	17–1	10–2	7–5	12–6
Philadelphia	8-4	8–9	5–7	6–6	7–5	10–8	10–8	—	11–7	6–6	9–3	6–12
Pittsburgh	7–5	11–7	2–10	6–6	4–8	7–11	1–17	7–11	—	8–4	4–8	7–11
San Diego	6–12	6–6	9–9	8–10	12–6	8–4	2–10	6–6	4–8	—	8–10	5–7
San Francisco	11–7	6–6	9–9	9–9	10–8	7–5	5–7	3–9	8–4	10–8	—	5–7
St. Louis	6–6	7–10	5–7	5–7	4–8	9–9	6–12	12–6	11–7	7–5	7–5	—

Notable transactions

• June 2, 1986: 1986 Major League Baseball draft
  • Ryan Bowen was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round.
  • Karl Rhodes was drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round. Player signed June 10, 1986.
  • Trenidad Hubbard was drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1986.
  • Ed Whited was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 1986 amateur draft.
  • Eric Anthony was drafted by the Astros in the 34th round. Player signed June 7, 1986.
• June 30, 1986: Matt Keough was signed as a free agent by the Astros.

Roster

1986 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers 47 Larry Andersen 49 Jeff Calhoun 44 Danny Darwin 43 Jim Deshaies 11 Frank DiPino 42 Tom Funk 38 Manny Hernández 46 Matt Keough 37 Charlie Kerfeld 39 Bob Knepper 41 Mark Knudson 35 Aurelio López 53 Mike Madden 51 Rafael Montalvo 34 Nolan Ryan 33 Mike Scott 45 Dave Smith 52 Julio Solano		Catchers 14 Alan Ashby  6 Mark Bailey  4 John Mizerock  7 Robbie Wine Infielders 27 Glenn Davis 19 Bill Doran 23 Dan Driessen  3 Phil Garner 20 Jim Pankovits  1 Bert Peña 12 Craig Reynolds 10 Dickie Thon 29 Denny Walling		Outfielders 17 Kevin Bass  9 Eric Bullock 25 José Cruz 24 Ty Gainey 28 Billy Hatcher 11 Davey Lopes 26 Louie Meadows 21 Terry Puhl 30 Tony Walker		Manager 22 Hal Lanier Coaches  8 Yogi Berra 48 Matt Galante 15 Denis Menke 55 Les Moss 18 Gene Tenace

Game log

Regular season

1986 regular season game log: 96–66 (Home: 52–29; Away: 44–37)
April: 14–6 (Home: 6–4; Away: 8–2) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 1 April 8 7:35 p.m. CST Giants L 3–8 Krukow (1–0) Ryan (0–1) Davis (1) 2:20 22,935 0–1 L1 2 April 9 7:35 p.m. CST Giants L 1–4 Garrelts (1–0) Scott (0–1) Minton (1) 2:33 6,875 0–2 L2 3 April 10 7:35 p.m. CST Giants W 4–0 Knepper (1–0) Blue (0–1) — 2:27 6,070 1–2 W1 4 April 11 7:35 p.m. CST Braves W 2–1 Kerfeld (1–0) Palmer (0–1) Smith (1) 2:14 9,357 2–2 W2 5 April 12 7:35 p.m. CST Braves W 4–3 Ryan (1–1) Mahler (1–1) Smith (2) 2:30 19,803 3–2 W3 6 April 13 2:05 p.m. CST Braves L 7–8 Johnson (1–0) Scott (0–2) Garber (1) 2:56 8,739 3–3 L1 7 April 15 3:05 p.m. CST @ Giants W 8–3 Knepper (2–0) Blue (0–2) Kerfeld (1) 3:01 46,638 4–3 W1 8 April 16 2:05 p.m. CST @ Giants W 4–1 Ryan (2–1) Mason (0–1) Smith (3) 2:45 3,590 5–3 W2 9 April 18 6:35 p.m. CST @ Reds W 6–4 Scott (1–2) Soto (1–1) Smith (4) 2:38 26,126 6–3 W1 10 April 19 1:15 p.m. CST @ Reds W 4–3 Knepper (3–0) Browning (0–1) Smith (5) 2:26 17,564 7–3 W2 11 April 20 1:15 p.m. CST @ Reds W 6–4 adden (1–0) Gullickson (0–1) Kerfeld (2) 2:45 17,878 8–3 W3 12 April 21 6:40 p.m. CST @ Braves L 2–8 Johnson (2–0) Ryan (2–2) — 2:36 5,361 8–4 L1 13 April 22 6:40 p.m. CST @ Braves W 4–3 Kerfeld (2–0) Ward (0–1) — 2:18 6,316 9–4 W1 14 April 23 4:40 p.m. CST @ Braves W 3–2 Solano (1–0) Smith (1–1) Smith (6) 2:27 7,666 10–4 W2 15 April 24 7:35 p.m. CST Reds L 0–3 Soto (2–1) Madden (1–1) — 2:35 10,245 10–5 L1 16 April 25 7:35 p.m. CST Reds W 3–1 Ryan (3–2) Browning (0–2) — 2:07 16,296 11–5 W1 17 April 26 7:35 p.m. CST Reds W 1–0 Scott (2–2) Gullickson (0–2) — 2:06 38,442 12–5 W2 18 April 27 2:05 p.m. CDT Reds W 6–0 Knepper (4–0) Denny (1–2) — 2:06 12,185 13–5 W3 19 April 29 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 4–12 Rawley (3–1) Ryan (3–3) — 2:48 16,313 13–6 L1 20 April 30 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies W 1–0 Scott (3–2) Gross (1–3) Smith (7) 2:38 17,134 14–6 W1
May: 13–13 (Home: 6–6; Away: 7–7) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 21 May 2 2:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos W 6–3 Knepper (5–0) Youmans (0–3) Smith (8) 2:38 6,781 15–6 W2 22 May 3 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos L 6–7 (10) Reardon (3–2) DiPino (0–1) — 3:45 11,769 15–7 L1 23 May 4 2:05 p.m. CDT @ Expos L 6–7 Reardon (4–2) Smith (0–1) — 3:01 13,810 15–8 L2 24 May 6 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 0–4 Gooden (5–0) Knepper (5–1) — 2:36 41,722 15–9 L3 25 May 7 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 2–3 Fernandez (4–0) Ryan (3–4) Orosco (6) 2:42 26,956 15–10 L4 26 May 9 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates W 3–2 Kerfeld (3–0) Winn (1–1) Smith (9) 2:27 17,296 16–10 W1 27 May 10 6:05 p.m. CDT @ Pirates W 6–3 Knepper (6–1) Rhoden (2–2) DiPino (1) 2:56 13,344 17–10 W2 28 May 11 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates L 3–4 (12) DeLeón (1–0) Kerfeld (3–1) — 3:39 13,170 17–11 L1 29 May 12 7:35 p.m. CDT Phillies L 1–5 Rawley (4–3) Deshaies (0–1) — 2:18 8,354 17–12 L1 30 May 13 7:35 p.m. CDT Phillies W 3–2 (11) Solano (2–0) Rucker (0–1) — 2:51 7,087 18–12 W1 31 May 14 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 6–2 Knepper (7–1) Ojeda (5–1) — 2:23 11,626 19–12 W2 32 May 15 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets L 2–6 Darling (4–0) Ryan (3–5) — 2:42 13,856 19–13 L1 33 May 16 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 9–6 Solano (3–0) Baller (1–2) Smith (10) 2:50 17,802 20–13 W1 34 May 17 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 5–1 Scott (4–2) Trout (2–1) — 2:40 37,483 21–13 W2 35 May 18 2:05 p.m. CDT Cubs L 2–5 Hoffman (1–1) Knepper (7–2) Smith (5) 3:02 14,483 21–14 L1 36 May 20 7:35 p.m. CDT Pirates L 2–4 Walk (2–0) Ryan (3–6) — 2:38 8,711 21–15 L2 37 May 21 7:35 p.m. CDT Pirates L 1–2 Rhoden (3–3) Scott (4–3) — 2:22 6,990 21–16 L3 38 May 22 3:35 p.m. CDT Pirates W 4–0 Knepper (8–2) Reuschel (3–4) — 2:29 4,784 22–16 W1 39 May 23 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Cubs L 1–4 Sutcliffe (2–6) Solano (3–1) — 2:23 20,532 22–17 L1 40 May 24 12:20 p.m. CDT @ Cubs L 3–4 Frazier (2–3) Smith (0–2) Smith (6) 2:50 33,355 22–18 L2 41 May 25 1:20 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 3–1 (11) Kerfeld (4–1) Smith (0–2) Smith (11) 3:02 36,000 23–18 W1 42 May 26 5:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals W 4–1 Deshaies (1–1) Forsch (3–3) DiPino (2) 2:43 20,099 24–18 W2 43 May 27 7:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals W 5–4 Smith (1–2) Dayley (0–3) — 2:48 20,146 25–18 W3 44 May 28 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals W 4–3 (11) Kerfeld (5–1) Worrell (3–3) — 3:18 17,582 26–18 W4 45 May 30 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos L 0–1 Smith (4–4) Scott (4–4) Reardon (12) 2:14 13,854 26–19 L1 46 May 31 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos W 4–3 DiPino (1–1) Burke (2–1) Smith (12) 2:30 25,831 27–19 W1
June: 14–15 (Home: 9–6; Away: 5–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 47 June 1 2:05 p.m. CDT Expos W 8–4 Knepper (9–2) Hesketh (3–4) — 2:38 13,325 28–19 W2 48 June 2 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals L 2–9 Tudor (5–3) Madden (1–2) — 2:45 11,669 28–20 L1 49 June 3 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals L 1–3 Mathews (1–0) Deshaies (1–2) Worrell (8) 2:20 6,430 28–21 L2 50 June 4 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals W 4–2 Scott (5–4) Burris (2–2) Smith (13) 2:33 11,396 29–21 W1 51 June 5 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 0–1 Honeycutt (3–3) Hernández (0–1) Howell (3) 2:25 32,545 29–22 L1 52 June 6 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 2–3 Howell (2–2) Knepper (9–3) — 2:52 38,991 29–23 L2 53 June 7 2:20 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers W 7–5 López (1–0) Howell (2–3) Smith (14) 3:27 32,902 30–23 W1 54 June 8 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers W 3–2 Scott (6–4) Valenzuela (8–4) Smith (15) 2:44 47,404 31–23 W2 55 June 9 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 5–3 Deshaies (2–2) Show (3–4) López (1) 2:42 19,167 32–23 W3 56 June 10 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 12–1 Knepper (10–3) Dravecky (5–6) — 2:31 13,966 33–23 W4 57 June 11 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres L 7–11 McCullers (2–1) DiPino (1–2) — 2:47 13,686 33–24 L1 58 June 12 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 4–1 Hernández (1–1) Krukow (8–4) Smith (16) 2:37 16,342 34–24 W1 59 June 13 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants L 1–3 Davis (2–3) Scott (6–5) — 2:22 23,352 34–25 L1 60 June 14 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 7–3 Deshaies (3–2) Mulholland (0–1) López (2) 2:48 32,477 35–25 W1 61 June 15 2:05 p.m. CDT Giants L 2–7 Blue (4–3) Knepper (10–4) — 2:56 22,958 35–26 L1 62 June 17 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds L 4–5 Welsh (2–1) Hernández (1–2) Franco (11) 2:33 16,824 35–27 L2 63 June 18 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds L 2–3 Robinson (5–0) Smith (1–3) — 2:20 17,426 35–28 L3 64 June 19 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds W 6–2 Deshaies (4–2) Soto (3–7) — 2:54 25,920 36–28 W1 65 June 20 10:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants 1–3 Blue (5–3) Knepper (10–5) Berenguer (2) 2:18 25,116 36–29 L1 66 June 21 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants 1–2 Garrelts (6–6) Knudson (0–1) Berenguer (3) 2:51 24,927 36–30 L2 67 (1) June 22 2:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants 2–4 Krukow (9–4) Hernández (1–3) — 2:22 N/A 36–31 L3 68 (2) June 22 5:02 p.m. CDT @ Giants 2–3 Berenguer (1–0) Smith (1–4) Hensley (1) 2:42 47,030 36–32 L4 69 June 23 7:35 p.m. CDT Reds W 7–6 Anderson (1–0) Power (3–5) — 2:57 12,953 37–32 W1 70 June 24 7:35 p.m. CDT Reds W 8–4 Ryan (4–6) Browning (5–7) — 2:44 17,487 38–32 W2 71 June 25 7:35 p.m. CDT Reds L 3–4 (10) Franco (1–4) López (1–1) — 3:00 13,313 38–33 L1 72 June 27 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 5–0 Scott (7–5) Reuss (2–6) — 2:06 25,760 39–33 W1 73 June 28 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 6–4 Deshaies (5–2) Welch (3–6) Aurelio López (3) 2:35 34,252 40–33 W2 74 June 29 2:05 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 2–1 Hernández (2–3) Valenzuela (10–5) DiPino (3) 2:23 32,723 41–33 W3 75 June 30 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres L 2–9 Dravecky (7–7) Knepper (10–6) — 2:22 11,141 41–34 L1
July: 16–11 (Home: 11–5; Away: 5–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 76 July 1 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres L 4–7 Show (7–4) Knudson (0–2) Gossage (14) 2:46 13,866 41–35 L2 77 July 2 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 8–1 Scott (8–5) Hawkins (5–5) — 2:18 10,148 42–35 W1 78 July 3 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 5–6 (10) Orosco (4–4) DiPino (1–3) — 3:08 48,839 42–36 L1 79 July 4 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 1–2 Gooden (10–3) Smith (1–5) — 2:39 28,557 42–37 L2 80 July 5 6:05 p.m. CDT @ Mets W 2–1 Kerfeld (6–1) McDowell (7–1) — 2:24 50,939 43–37 W1 81 July 6 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 3–5 Fernandez (11–2) Knudson (0–3) McDowell (8) 3:08 31,017 43–38 L1 82 July 7 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos W 12–1 Scott (9–5) Martínez (0–1) — 2:40 17,694 44–38 W1 83 July 8 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos W 4–1 Ryan (5–6) Tibbs (4–5) Kerfeld (3) 2:29 16,382 45–38 W2 84 July 9 6:05 p.m. CDT @ Expos L 1–2 Youmans (9–5) Knepper (10–7) — 2:08 15,316 45–39 L1 85 July 10 7:35 p.m. CDT Phillies W 11–4 Knudson (1–3) Hudson (4–9) — 2:39 18,289 46–39 W1 86 July 11 7:35 p.m. CDT Phillies L 1–4 Carman (4–2) Scott (9–6) Bedrosian (11) 2:22 18,047 46–40 L1 87 July 12 12:50 p.m. CDT Phillies W 4–3 Ryan (6–6) Rawley (11–5) Smith (17) 2:51 17,491 47–40 W1 88 July 13 2:05 p.m. CDT Phillies L 4–5 (11) Bedrosian (6–3) Smith (1–6) — 3:01 20,597 47–41 L1 57th All-Star Game in Houston, Texas 89 July 17 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets L 2–13 Ojeda (11–2) Ryan (6–7) — 3:10 21,536 47–42 L2 90 July 18 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 3–0 Knepper (11–7) Darling (9–3) — 2:25 22,906 48–42 W1 91 July 19 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 5–4 Smith (2–6) McDowell (7–3) — 2:38 44,502 49–42 W2 92 July 20 2:05 p.m. CDT Mets W 9–8 (15) Knepper (12–7) McDowell (7–4) — 5:29 23,900 50–42 W3 93 July 21 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos W 8–7 Kerfeld (7–1) Reardon (6–5) — 3:03 13,753 51–42 W4 94 July 22 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos W 1–0 (10) Smith (3–6) Youmans (10–6) — 2:43 19,271 52–42 W5 95 July 23 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos W 4–3 (11) López (2–1) Burke (7–4) — 3:07 15,364 53–42 W6 96 July 24 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies W 9–3 Scott (10–6) Rawley (11–7) — 2:37 31,094 54–42 W7 97 July 25 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 2–4 Hudson (6–9) Deshaies (5–3) Bedrosian (13) 2:28 23,387 54–43 L1 98 July 26 6:05 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 2–3 Carman (5–2) Knudson (1–4) Schatzeder (2) 2:24 34,075 54–44 L2 99 July 27 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies W 3–2 Ryan (7–7) Gross (6–8) López (4) 2:14 33,192 55–44 W1 100 July 28 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves W 4–2 Knepper (13–7) Alexander (6–7) Smith (18) 2:19 24,597 56–44 W2 101 July 29 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves L 0–1 Palmer (7–8) Scott (10–7) Garber (13) 2:31 26,610 56–45 L1 102 July 30 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves W 4–2 Deshaies (6–3) Acker (3–5) Smith (19) 2:50 34,102 57–45 W3
August: 16–12 (Home: 8–4; Away: 8–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 103 August 1 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 6–3 Knepper (14–7) Hoyt (5–7) Smith (20) 2:39 22,108 58–45 W2 104 August 2 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 5–4 Scott (11–7) Show (7–5) Smith (21) 2:40 28,612 59–45 W3 105 August 3 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres L 1–5 Hawkins (8–7) Knudson (1–5) Gossage (18) 2:20 21,850 59–46 L1 106 August 4 7:05 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 3–7 Valenzuela (15–6) Kerfeld (7–2) — 2:54 32,182 59–47 L2 107 August 5 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers W 10–2 López (3–1) Howell (4–7) Smith (22) 3:21 45,525 60–47 W1 108 August 6 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 4–7 Honeycutt (8–6) Keough (2–3) Neidenfuer (7) 3:06 40,709 60–48 L1 109 August 8 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 5–0 Scott (12–7) McCullers (5–6) — 2:15 31,142 61–48 W1 110 August 9 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 6–2 Deshaies (7–3) Hawkins (8–8) Kerfeld (4) 2:28 38,169 62–48 W2 111 August 10 2:05 p.m. CDT Padres L 3–5 Dravecky (8–9) Knepper (14–8) Gossage (19) 2:30 20,839 62–49 L1 112 August 11 7:05 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 7–6 Smith (4–6) Howell (4–8) — 3:31 23,206 63–49 W1 113 August 12 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 3–0 Ryan (8–7) Honeycutt (8–7) Kerfeld (5) 2:25 37,973 64–49 W2 114 August 13 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers L 3–5 Hershiser (12–8) Scott (12–8) Niedenfuer (8) 2:40 33,327 64–50 L1 115 August 14 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 3–2 Andersen (2–0) Valenzuela (15–8) Smith (23) 2:15 42,118 65–50 W1 116 August 15 6:40 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 3–0 Knepper (15–8) Acker (4–6) — 2:14 26,625 66–50 W2 117 August 16 6:40 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 7–4 Keough (3–3) Mahler (11–12) Smith (24) 2:43 31,862 67–50 W3 118 August 17 1:10 p.m. CDT @ Braves L 3–4 Speck (2–0) Andersen (2–1) Garber (18) 2:54 17,618 67–51 L1 119 August 18 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates W 3–0 Scott (13–8) Walk (5–7) — 2:24 7,965 68–51 W1 120 August 19 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates W 1–0 Deshaies (8–3) Bielecki (6–9) Smith (25) 2:31 9,128 69–51 W2 121 August 20 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates L 1–4 Rhoden (14–7) Knepper (15–9) — 2:12 16,997 69–52 L1 122 August 22 7:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals L 5–6 Tudor (13–6) Ryan (8–8) Worrell (28) 2:44 33,918 69–53 L2 123 August 23 7:05 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals L 1–7 Cox (8–10) Scott (13–9) — 2:28 40,944 69–54 L3 124 August 24 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals W 5–1 Deshaies (9–3) Conroy (3–8) López (5) 2:50 33,687 70–54 W1 125 August 25 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 3–2 Kerfeld (8–2) Smith (8–8) Smith (26) 2:40 24,211 71–54 W2 126 August 26 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs L 3–5 Lynch (4–3) Darwin (6–9) Smith (25) 2:33 22,579 71–55 L1 127 August 27 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 7–1 Ryan (9–8) oyer (5–4) Kerfeld (6) 2:39 24,198 72–55 W1 128 August 29 7:35 p.m. CDT Pirates W 3–2 Scott (14–9) Reuschel (8–15) Smith (27) 2:37 22,801 73–55 W2 129 August 30 7:35 p.m. CDT Pirates L 3–13 Rhoden (15–7) Deshaies (9–4) — 2:46 30,598 73–56 L1 130 August 31 2:05 p.m. CDT Pirates L 2–8 Walk (7–7) Knepper (15–10) — 2:17 25,405 73–57 L2
September: 18–9 (Home: 9–3; Away: 9–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 131 September 1 1:20 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 6–4 Darwin (7–9) Lynch (4–4) Smith (28) 3:01 25,547 74–57 W1 132 September 2 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 8–7 (18) Darwin (8–9) Maddux (0–1) — 5:14 10,501 75–57 W2 133 September 3 1:20 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 8–2 Scott (15–9) Sanderson (7–11) — 2:48 7,051 76–57 W3 134 September 5 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals L 5–8 Soff (2–0) López (3–2) — 2:50 23,547 76–58 L1 135 September 6 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals W 7–6 Kerfeld (9–2) Worrell (8–10) — 2:58 21,802 77–58 W1 136 September 7 2:05 p.m. CDT Cardinals W 6–3 Calhoun (1–0) Mathews (10–5) Smith (29) 2:50 20,773 78–58 W2 137 September 8 7:35 p.m. CDT Reds W 3–1 Ryan (10–8) Welsh (5–6) Kerfeld (7) 2:26 26,997 79–58 W3 138 September 9 7:35 p.m. CDT Reds W 9–2 Scott (16–9) Browning (12–12) — 2:11 22,711 80–58 W4 139 September 10 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 1–5 Hershiser (13–10) Deshaies (9–5) — 2:56 27,534 80–59 L1 140 September 11 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 6–14 Valenzuela (19–9) Knepper (15–11) — 2:51 34,816 80–60 L2 141 September 12 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 5–3 Kerfeld (10–2) McCullers (8–8) Smith (30) 2:35 11,319 81–60 W1 142 September 13 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres L 3–4 Lefferts (8–7) Smith (4–7) — 2:42 32,729 81–61 L1 143 September 14 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres L 2–3 Lefferts (9–7) Scott (16–10) — 2:35 13,279 81–62 L2 144 September 16 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds W 6–1 Knepper (16–11) Gullickson (13–11) Andersen (1) 2:34 16,927 82–62 W1 145 September 17 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds W 6–1 Darwin (9–9) Welsh (6–7) — 2:26 15,195 83–62 W2 146 September 18 11:35 a.m. CDT @ Reds W 5–3 Keough (4–3) Browning (13–13) López (6) 2:16 11,825 84–62 W3 147 September 19 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 5–4 Kerfeld (11–2) LaPoint (4–9) Smith (31) 2:47 23,805 85–62 W4 148 September 20 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 10–6 Scott (17–10) Hayward (0–1) — 2:33 36,878 86–62 W5 149 September 21 2:05 p.m. CDT Padres L 0–5 Jones (1–0) Knepper (16–12) — 2:24 23,385 86–63 L1 150 September 22 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers L 2–9 Valenzuela (20–10) Darwin (9–10) — 2:35 27,641 86–64 L2 151 September 23 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 4–0 Deshaies (10–5) Powell (2–7) — 2:44 27,734 87–64 W1 152 September 24 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 6–0 Ryan (11–8) LaCoss (10–13) — 2:39 37,611 88–64 W2 153 September 25 3:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 2–0 Scott (18–10) Berenguer (2–3) — 2:24 32,808 89–64 W3 154 September 26 6:40 p.m. CDT @ Braves L 4–5 Alexander (11–10) Keough (4–4) Smith (1) 2:15 6,754 89–65 L1 155 September 27 1:20 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 4–0 Darwin (10–10) Palmer (11–10) — 2:22 13,545 90–65 W1 156 September 28 1:10 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 2–0 Deshaies (11–5) Acker (5–11) Smith (32) 2:22 6,280 91–65 W2 157 September 30 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Giants L 5–6 Davis (5–7) López (3–3) — 2:34 13,358 91–66 L1
October: 5–0 (Home: 3–0; Away: 2–0) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 158 October 1 2:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 5–0 Darwin (11–10) Krukow (19–9) — 2:41 9,881 92–66 W1 159 October 2 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 2–1 Keough (5–4) Robinson (6–3) Smith (33) 3:07 8,656 93–66 W2 160 October 3 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves W 6–2 Ryan (12–8) Acker (5–12) — 2:22 25,068 94–66 W3 161 October 4 1:20 p.m. CDT Braves W 3–2 Deshaies (12–5) Smith (8–16) López (7) 2:18 17,314 95–66 W4 162 October 5 2:05 p.m. CDT Braves W 4–1 Knepper (17–12) Mahler (14–18) — 1:50 37,531 96–66 W5
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

Postseason Game log

1986 Postseason game log: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–2)
NL Championship Series: vs. New York Mets 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–2) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/ Streak 1 October 8 7:25 p.m. CDT Mets W 1–0 Scott (1–0) Gooden (0–1) – 2:56 44,131 HOU 1–0 W1 2 October 9 7:20 p.m. CDT Mets L 1–5 Ojeda (1–0) Ryan (0–1) – 2:40 44,391 Tied 1–1 L1 3 October 11 11:10 a.m. CDT @ Mets L 5–6 Orosco (1–0) Smith (0–1) – 2:55 55,052 NYM 2–1 L2 4 October 12 7:20 p.m. CDT @ Mets W 3–1 Scott (2–0) Fernandez (0–1) – 2:23 55,038 Tied 2–2 W1 – October 13 @ Mets Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: October 14) 5 October 14 12:05 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 1–2 (12) Orosco (2–0) Kerfeld (0–1) – 3:45 54,986 NYM 3–2 L1 6 October 15 2:05 p.m. CDT Mets L 5–6 (16) Orosco (3–0) López (0–1) – 4:42 45,718 NYM 4–2 L2
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

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	120	315	81	.257	7	38
1B	Glenn Davis	158	574	152	.265	31	101
2B	Bill Doran	145	550	152	.276	6	37
SS	Craig Reynolds	114	313	78	.249	6	41
3B	Denny Walling	130	382	119	.312	13	58
LF	José Cruz	141	479	133	.278	10	72
CF	Billy Hatcher	127	419	108	.258	6	36
RF	Kevin Bass	157	591	184	.311	20	79

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
Phil Garner	107	313	83	.265	9	41
Dickie Thon	106	278	69	.248	3	21
Terry Puhl	81	172	42	.244	3	14
Mark Bailey	57	153	27	.176	4	15
Jim Pankovits	70	113	32	.283	1	7
Davey Lopes	37	98	23	.235	1	13
Tony Walker	84	90	20	.222	2	10
John Mizerock	44	81	15	.185	1	6
Ty Gainey	26	50	15	.300	1	6
Bert Peña	15	29	6	.207	0	2
Dan Driessen	17	24	7	.292	1	3
Eric Bullock	6	21	1	.048	0	1
Robbie Wine	9	12	3	.250	0	0
Louie Meadows	6	6	2	.333	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
Mike Scott	37	275.1	18	10	2.22	306
Bob Knepper	40	258.0	17	12	3.14	143
Nolan Ryan	30	178.0	12	8	3.34	194
Jim Deshaies	26	144.0	12	5	3.25	128
Mark Knudson	9	42.2	1	5	4.22	20

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	12	54.1	5	2	2.32	40
Mike Madden	13	39.2	1	2	4.08	30
Matt Keough	10	35.0	3	2	3.09	25
Manny Hernández	9	27.2	2	3	3.90	9

Relief pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Dave Smith	54	56.0	4	7	33	2.73	46
Charlie Kerfeld	61	93.2	11	2	7	2.59	77
Aurelio López	45	78.0	3	3	7	3.46	44
Larry Andersen	38	64.2	2	1	1	2.78	33
Frank DiPino	41	40.1	1	3	3	3.57	27
Julio Solano	16	32.0	3	1	0	7.59	21
Jeff Calhoun	20	26.2	1	0	0	3.71	14
Tom Funk	8	8.1	0	0	0	6.48	2
Rafael Montalvo	1	1.0	0	0	0	9.00	0

National League Championship Series

Main article: 1986 National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 8 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Houston	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	7	1
WP: Mike Scott (1–0)  LP: Dwight Gooden (0–1)
HR: NYM – None.; HOU – Glenn Davis (1)

Game 2

October 9 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	0	0	5	10	0
Houston	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	10	2
WP: Bob Ojeda (1–0)  LP: Nolan Ryan (0–1)
HR: NYM – None.; HOU – None.

Game 3

October 11 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston	2	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	8	1
New York	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	2	6	10	1
WP: Jesse Orosco (1–0)  LP: Dave Smith (0–1)
HR: HOU – Bill Doran (1); NYM – Darryl Strawberry (1), Lenny Dykstra (1)

Game 4

October 12 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	4	1
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	0
WP: Mike Scott (2–0)  LP: Sid Fernandez (0–1)
HR: HOU – Alan Ashby (1), Dickie Thon (1); NYM – None.

Game 5

October 14 (Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Houston	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	9	1
New York	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	4	0
WP: Jesse Orosco (2–0)  LP: Charlie Kerfeld (0–1)
HRs: HOU – None. NYM – Darryl Strawberry (2)

Game 6

October 15 (Astrodome, Houston, Texas)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	7	11	0
Houston	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	6	11	1
WP: Jesse Orosco (3–0)  LP: Aurelio López (0–1)
HRs: NYM – None. HOU – Billy Hatcher (1)

Game 6 was one for the ages, in more ways than one. The game went 16 innings with the Mets coming out on top 7–6. It was the highest scoring game of the series; in fact, the 16th inning alone featured more runs than three of the previous five games had in their entirety.

The Astrodome hosted what some consider to be one of the greatest games of all time that October and it will forever be remembered.

The big story of Game 6 was that it was most nearly a must-win for both teams. The Astros obviously had to have it because they were facing elimination. Even though they were up 3–2 in the series, the Mets regarded it as a must-win because they were scheduled to face Mike Scott again in Game 7. Scott had given up a grand total of 1 run in his first two starts of the series, and had dominated the Mets so completely that even the most optimistic Mets fans knew their chances of beating him in a potential Game 7 were small. The end result was one of the greatest games in baseball history.

The Astros broke through first, and for a low scoring series like this, they broke through big, scoring three runs off a possibly tired Bob Ojeda in the bottom of the first. He settled down after that, however, and the Astros wouldn't score again for the next 12 innings. Meanwhile, Astros starter Bob Knepper was brilliant from the very first pitch, and the game headed to the 9th still 3–0.

Just when it looked like the Mets would have to face the mighty Scott, however, their bats suddenly came to life. After pitching almost perfectly for the first eight innings, Knepper clearly tired in the 9th. He allowed three hits and recorded only one out, and left with the Astros clinging to a 3–2 lead. The decision by Lanier not to bring in Smith to start the inning was talked about for years to come. Smith was their closer, but had blown a save earlier in the series. When Smith finally did appear, he was ineffective, walking two batters to load the bases and then allowing the tying run to score on a sacrifice fly by Ray Knight. In a matter of minutes, the previously raucous crowd of 45,718 had been almost completely silenced and extra innings had soon begun.

In the 14th, the Mets made their first bid to win. After Gary Carter opened with a single, a walk to Darryl Strawberry put two runners on with nobody out. After Knight forced Carter at third, Wally Backman drove a single to right. When Kevin Bass' throw to the plate sailed high over Alan Ashby's head to the screen, Strawberry scored. It looked like the end for the Astros, as Orosco came in to close them down.

With one out in the bottom of the 14th and the Houston fans with their heads in their hands, Billy Hatcher shocked everyone with a line drive home run off the left field foul pole. It was the first earned run allowed by the Mets bullpen in the entire series. Hatcher went 3 for 7 in the game, and his homer meant the Astros would be kept alive for at least one more inning. Both teams failed to score in the 15th, and the game went to the 16th inning, the most innings in playoff history at that time.

The 16th inning would be the deciding factor, and it was not an easy 16th for either pitching staff. The Mets appeared to take control of the game once again, this time coming up with 3 runs in the top half of the inning. The rally began with Strawberry receiving a gift double when Billy Hatcher and Bill Doran misplayed his towering fly ball with one out. When Knight followed with a single to right, a poor throw to the plate by Kevin Bass allowed the tiebreaking run to score, just as it had in the 14th. A walk, two wild pitches, and a single by Lenny Dykstra brought in two more runs, putting the Mets up 7–4. This sent some of the Houston faithful for the exits; those who stayed, however, almost witnessed the unthinkable.

Orosco struck out Craig Reynolds to open the inning, but a walk and two singles later, Houston had a run in and the tying run on base. Orosco induced Denny Walling to hit into a force play at second for the second out, but Glenn Davis singled home another run, bringing the Astros within a run. People everywhere were quiet as they watched Orosco face right fielder Kevin Bass with two outs and the tying run on second, and the winning run on first.

It was all up to Bass to drive in a run and tie the game. Orosco threw Bass six straight sliders; when Bass swung and missed the last of them, the epic series was over. Orosco was awarded the victory, marking the first time in postseason history a reliever won three games in a series. It would be a long winter for the Astros, but for the Mets, an even bigger trial awaited them. After taking two days off to recover from the exhausting series against Houston, the Mets began a legendary World Series against the Boston Red Sox, a series in which they would pull off one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

The Mets had won the series with a .189 batting average, the lowest average recorded by a winning team in a postseason series. Their pitching had been the key.

Awards and honors

• Kevin Bass – National League Player of the Month, June
• Mike Scott – National League Leader ERA Champion (2.22)
• Mike Scott – National League Leader in Innings Pitched (275.1)
• Mike Scott – National League Leader in Shutouts (5)
• Mike Scott – National League Leader in Strikeouts (306)
• Mike Scott – NLCS Most Valuable Player
• Mike Scott – The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year, National League
• Mike Scott – Cy Young Award, National League
• Hal Lanier – National League Manager of the Year
• Hal Lanier, Associated Press Manager of the Year

All-Star Game

• Kevin Bass, outfield, reserve
• Glenn Davis, first baseman, reserve
• Mike Scott, starting pitcher, reserve
• Dave Smith, relief pitcher, reserve

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Tucson Toros	Pacific Coast League	Carlos Alfonso
AA	Columbus Astros	Southern League	Dave Cripe, Chuck Taylor and Gary Tuck
A	Osceola Astros	Florida State League	Tom Wiedenbauer
A	Asheville Tourists	South Atlantic League	Ken Bolek
A-Short Season	Auburn Astros	New York–Penn League	Keith Bodie
Rookie	GCL Astros	Gulf Coast League	Julio Linares

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Columbus

External links

• 1986 Houston Astros at Baseball Reference
• 1986 Astros team at baseball-almanac.com