Major League Baseball team season
The Houston Astros ' 2008 season[1]
Off Season
On October 29, all six eligible Astros players filed for free agency. The list includes catcher Brad Ausmus , infielder Mike Lamb , infielder Mark Loretta , outfielder Orlando Palmeiro , left-handed reliever Trever Miller and right-handed reliever Brian Moehler .
On October 30, the Astros signed catcher Brad Ausmus to a 1-year, $2 million contract.
On November 8, The Astros acquired outfielder Michael Bourn , third baseman Michael Costanzo, and right-handed reliever Geoff Geary from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett . The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.[2]
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Óscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson . On the same day, the Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez as a free agent.
On November 20, the Astros signed free agent utilityman Geoff Blum to a one-year deal including a club option for a second year.
On November 26, the Astros signed free agent relief pitcher Doug Brocail to a one-year deal.
On November 30, the Astros and free agent Kazuo Matsui agreed to a 3-year, $16.5 million deal. Matsui played second base for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies in the 2007 season.[3]
On December 12, the Astros acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for five players. The Astros traded outfielder Luke Scott , pitchers Matt Albers , Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate and third baseman Mike Costanzo to Baltimore for Tejada. Adam Everett , the Astros shortstop at the time, had to deal with a double-whammy: not only did the Astros trade for Tejada, they also non-tendered Everett, leaving him without a team as of 11 p.m. CT.
On December 14, The Houston Astros' offseason of dealing continued on Friday when the club traded Chris Burke , Chad Qualls and Juan Gutiérrez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer José Valverde .
In January, Brandon Backe , Ty Wigginton , and Dave Borkowski were signed to a one-year contract.
On February 20, Shawn Chacón signed a one-year deal.
On March 29, the Astros released Woody Williams .
On March 30, the contracts of OF José Cruz Jr. and RHP Brian Moehler were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock .
Spring training
In spring training the Astros posted a 13–18 record culminating with a 9–4 win in the final spring training game at Minute Maid Park .
Regular season
March/April
After losing the first two games of the 2008 campaign, the Astros were trailing 6-5 in the top of the 9th with 2 outs of game 3 against Trevor Hoffman , on April 2. The Astros put two on base when Hunter Pence hit a line drive off of Adrián González 's glove into right to tie it up. Lance Berkman came up next and smashed a 3-run home run to deep center making it a 9–6 game. Valverde then closed out the Astros first '08 win.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Source: [1]
Team
ARI
ATL
CHC
CIN
COL
FLA
HOU
LAD
MIL
NYM
PHI
PIT
SD
SF
STL
WSH
AL
Arizona –
3–5
2–4
2–4
15–3
2–7
4–2
8–10
2–5
3–3
3–4
4–3
10–8
11–7
3–4
4–2
6–9
Atlanta 5–3
–
0–6
3–3
4–3
10–8
3–3
4–2
3–6
11–7
4–14
2–5
5–1
2–5
2–5
6–12
8–7
Chicago 4–2
6–0
–
8–7
5–1
4–3
8–9
5–2
9–7
4–2
3–4
14–4
5–2
4–3
9–6
3–3
6–9
Cincinnati 4–2
3–3
7–8
–
1–5
6–2
3–12
1–7
10–8
3–4
3–5
6–9
4–3
5–1
5–10
4–3
9–6
Colorado 3–15
3–4
1–5
5–1
–
5–3
3–3
8–10
4–3
3–6
0–5
5–2
9–9
11–7
3–4
4–3
7–8
Florida 7–2
8–10
3–4
2–6
3–5
–
4–2
3–4
5–1
8–10
10–8
3–2
4–2
3–3
2–5
14–3
5–10
Houston 2–4
3–3
9–8
12–3
3–3
2–4
–
4–3
7–8
5–2
3–4
8–8
3–3
7–1
7–8
4–2
7–11
Los Angeles 10–8
2–4
2–5
7–1
10–8
4–3
3–4
–
4–2
3–4
4–4
5–2
11–7
9–9
2–4
3–3
5–10
Milwaukee 5–2
6–3
7–9
8–10
3–4
1–5
8–7
2–4
–
2–4
1–5
14–1
4–3
6–0
10–5
6–2
7–8
New York 3–3
7–11
2–4
4–3
6–3
10–8
2–5
4–3
4–2
–
11–7
4–3
2–5
5–1
4–3
12–6
9–6
Philadelphia 4–3
14–4
4–3
5–3
5–0
8–10
4–3
4–4
5–1
7–11
–
4–2
4–2
3–3
5–4
12–6
4–11
Pittsburgh 3–4
5–2
4–14
9–6
2–5
2–3
8–8
2–5
1–14
3–4
2–4
–
3–4
4–2
10–7
3–4
6–9
San Diego 8–10
1–5
2–5
3–4
9–9
2–4
3–3
7–11
3–4
5–2
2–4
4–3
–
5–13
1–6
5–1
3–15
San Francisco 7–11
5–2
3–4
1–5
7–11
3–3
1–7
9–9
0–6
1–5
3–3
2–4
13–5
–
4–3
7–0
6–12
St. Louis 4–3
5–2
6–9
10–5
4–3
5–2
8–7
4–2
5–10
3–4
4–5
7–10
6–1
3–4
–
5–1
7–8
Washington 2–4
12–6
3–3
3–4
3–4
3–14
2–4
3–3
2–6
6–12
6–12
4–3
1–5
0–7
1–5
–
8–10
Roster
2008 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Other batters
Manager
Coaches
Game log
Home Game
Away Game
† = Interleague Game
All games, dates and times are subject to change
2008 Game Log
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
1
March 31
@ Padres
0–4
Peavy (1–0)Oswalt 44,965
0–1
[2]
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
2
April 1
@ Padres
1–2
Young (1–0)Backe Hoffman (1)20,825
0–2
[3]
3
April 2
@ Padres
9–6
Valverde Hoffman (0–1)18,714
1–2
[4]
4
April 3
@ Padres
2–3
E. González (1–0)Villareal Hoffman (2)24,432
1–3
[5]
5
April 4
@ Cubs
4–3
Wright Lieber (0–1)Valverde 37,812
2–3
[6]
6
April 5
@ Cubs
7–9
Hart (1–0)Oswalt Wood (2)40,707
2–4
[7]
7
April 6
@ Cubs
2–3
Zambrano (1–0)Villarreal Wood (3)40,929
2–5
[8]
8
April 7
Cardinals 5–3
Valverde McClellan (0–1)43,483
3–5
[9]
9
April 8
Cardinals 3–5
Reyes Geary (0–1)Isringhausen (4)30,184
3–6
[10]
10
April 9
Cardinals 4–6
Looper (2–0)Sampson Isringhausen (5)29,187
3–7
[11]
11
April 11
Marlins 6–10
Nolasco (1–0)Oswalt 34,191
3–8
[12]
12
April 12
Marlins 5–0
Backe Miller (0–2)34,336
4–8
[13]
13
April 13
Marlins 5–1
Rodríguez Badenhop (0–1)29,766
5–8
[14]
14
April 15
@ Phillies
3–4
Seánez (1–1)Valverde 34,609
5–9
[15]
15
April 16
@ Phillies
2–1
Oswalt Kendrick (1–2)Brocail 31,644
6–9
[16]
16
April 17
@ Phillies
2–10
Myers (2–1)Backe 33,526
6–10
[17]
17
April 18
Rockies 11–5
Morales (1–1)Sampson 34,272
6–11
[18]
18
April 19
Rockies 2–3
Cook (2–1)Villarreal Corpas (4)34,540
6–12
[19]
19
April 20
Rockies 6–4
Wright Fuentes (0–1)Valverde 35,286
7–12
[20]
20
April 21
Padres 10–3
Oswalt Germano (0–2)28,600
8–12
[21]
21
April 22
Padres 11–7
Valverde Bell (0–2)33,434
9–12
[22]
22
April 23
@ Reds
9–3
Sampson Arroyo (0–3)16,017
10–12
[23]
23
April 24
@ Reds
5–3
Cassel Cueto (3)Valverde 17,403
11–12
[24]
24
April 25
@ Cardinals
3–2
Wright Isringhausen (1–2)Valverde 41,193
12–12
[25]
25
April 26
@ Cardinals
3–4
Wainwright (3–1)Borkowski 43,040
12–13
[26]
26
April 27
@ Cardinals
1–5
Lohse (3–0)Backe McClellan (1)44,222
12–14
[27]
27
April 28
@ D-backs
3–5
Haren (4–1)Sampson Lyon (8)19,868
12–15
[28]
28
April 29
@ D-backs
6–4
Brocail González (1–2)Valverde 20,241
13–15
[29]
29
April 30
@ D-backs
7–8
Medders (1–0)Borkowski Lyon (9)21,519
13–16
[30]
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
30
May 2
Brewers 7–4
Oswalt Villanueva (1–3)Valverde 39,715
14–16
31
May 3
Brewers 6–2
Backe Parra (1–2)35,002
15–16
32
May 4
Brewers 8 – 6 (12)
Byrdak Stetter (1–1)38,301
16–16
33
May 6
Nationals 6–5
Brocail Ayala (1–2)Valverde 30,335
17–16
34
May 7
Nationals 4–3
Valverde Hanrahan (0–2)30,432
18–16
35
May 8
Nationals 8–3
Lannan (3–3)Backe 33,433
18–17
36
May 9
@ Dodgers
7–1
Moehler Lowe (2–3)52,658
19–17
37
May 10
@ Dodgers
5–0
Sampson Billingsley (2–5)45,212
20–17
38
May 11
@ Dodgers
8–5
Geary Broxton (1–1)Valverde 40,217
21–17
39
May 12
@ Giants
7–3
Oswalt Chulk (0–1)Valderde 30,165
22–17
40
May 13
@ Giants
4–2
Cain (2–3)Backe Wilson (12)30,858
22–18
41
May 14
@ Giants
6–3
Villarreal Taschner (2–1)Valverde 33,070
23–18
42
May 15
@ Giants
8–7
Byrdak Chulk (0–2)Valverde 33,771
24–18
43
May 16
@ Rangers †
16–8
Wright (2–1)Wright 32,117
24–19
44
May 17
@ Rangers †
6–2
Padilla (6–2)Oswalt 38,534
24–20
45
May 18
@ Rangers †
5–4
Backe Gabbard (1–1)Valverde 33,561
25–20
46
May 19
Cubs 7–2
Lilly (5–4)Moehler 32,458
25–21
47
May 20
Cubs 4–2
Sampson Dempster (5–2)Valverde 33,339
26–21
48
May 21
Cubs 5–3
Chacón Gallagher (1–1)33,251
27–21
49
May 22
Phillies 7–5
Durbin (1–1)Wright Lidge (12)29,263
27–22
50
May 23
Phillies 4–3
Backe Eaton (0–3)Valverde 41,152
28–22
51
May 24
Phillies 4–3
Moehler Myers (2–6)Brocail 42,660
29–22
52
May 25
Phillies 6–15
Seánez (3–3)Nieve 43,079
29–23
53
May 27
@ Cardinals
8–2
Chacón Looper (6–4)41,104
30–23
54
May 28
@ Cardinals
1–6
Wainwright (5–2)Rodríguez 41,114
30–24
55
May 29
@ Cardinals
2–3
Lohse (5–2)Oswalt Franklin (4)41,786
30–25
56
May 30
@ Brewers
5–1
Parra (3–2)Backe 32,039
30–26
57
May 31
@ Brewers
4–1
Sheets (6–1)Moehler Torres (5)42,913
30–27
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
58
June 1
@ Brewers
10–1
Bush (2–5)Chacón 44,613
30–28
59
June 3
@ Pirates
2–0
Rodríguez Dumatrait (2–3)Valverde 13,183
31–28
60
June 4
@ Pirates
5–2
Duke (3–4)Oswalt Capps (12)9,392
31–29
61
June 5
@ Pirates
4–3
Maholm (4–5)Backe Capps (13)10,728
31–30
62
June 6
Cardinals 6–1
Moehler Looper (7–5)38,596
32–30
63
June 7
Cardinals 8–4
Wainwright (6–3)Chacón 39,811
32–31
64
June 8
Cardinals 5–4
Lohse (7–2)Rodríguez Franklin (8)39,923
32–32
65
June 10
Brewers 6–1
Oswalt McClung (3–3)35,058
33–32
66
June 11
Brewers 10–6
Parra (5–2)Backe 33,806
33–33
67
June 12
Brewers 9–6
Sheets (7–1)Moehler 35,709
33–34
68
June 13
Yankees †2–1
Veras (1–0)Brocail Farnsworth (1)43,095
33–35
69
June 14
Yankees †8–4
Mussina (10–4)Rodríguez 43,409
33–36
70
June 15
Yankees †13–0
Wang (8–2)Oswalt 43,165
33–37
71
June 17
@ Orioles †
6–5
Johnson (2–2)Brocail Sherrill (23)21,535
33–38
72
June 18
@ Orioles †
2 – 1 (10)
Bradford (3–2)Valverde 21,112
33–39
73
June 19
@ Orioles †
7–5
Burres (6–5)Chacón Sherrill (24)31,480
33–40
74
June 20
@ Rays †
4–3
Oswalt Garza (5–4)Valverde 14,741
34–40
75
June 21
@ Rays †
4–3
Wheeler (2–3)Brocail 29,953
34–41
76
June 22
@ Rays †
3–2
Backe Kazmir (6–3)Valverde 19,778
35–41
77
June 24
Rangers †4–3
Moehler Hurley (0–1)Valverde 40,052
36–41
78
June 25
Rangers †3–2
Mendoza (1–2)Oswalt Wilson (16)32,567
36–42
79
June 26
Rangers †7–2
Rodríguez Millwood (5–4)36,506
37–42
80
June 27
Red Sox †6–1
Matsuzaka (9–1)Hernández Papelbon (24)42,327
37–43
81
June 28
Red Sox †11–10
Brocail Delcarmen (0–2)Valverde 43,073
38–43
82
June 29
Red Sox †3–2
Brocail Aardsma (2–2)Valverde 42,066
39–43
83
June 30
Dodgers 4–1
Oswalt Stults (2–1)Valverde 28,827
40–44
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
84
July 1
Dodgers 7 – 6 (11)
Park (4–2)Wright Saito (13)31,914
40–44
85
July 2
Dodgers 4–1
Kuroda (4–6)Hernández 34,058
40–45
86
July 3
Dodgers 5–2
Billingsley (8–7)Backe Saito (14)35,696
40–46
87
July 4
@ Braves
6–2
Hudson (9–6)Moehler 48,045
40–47
88
July 5
@ Braves
6–1
Sampson Reyes (3–7)37,049
41–47
89
July 6
@ Braves
7 – 6 (17)
Ring (2–1)Byrdak 24,169
41–48
90
July 7
@ Pirates
10–7
Bautista (2–2)Hernández Marte (2)13,323
41–49
91
July 8
@ Pirates
4–3
Grabow (5–2)Brocail Marte (3)17,867
41–50
92
July 9
@ Pirates
6–4
Moehler Burnett (0–1)Valverde 13,884
42–50
93
July 11
@ Nationals
10–0
Redding (7–3)Paronto Shell (1)33,653
42–51
94
July 12
@ Nationals
6–4
Rodríguez Balester (1–2)Valverde 30,682
43–51
95
July 13
@ Nationals
5–0
Backe Pérez (2–7)31,463
44–51
96
July 18
Cubs 2–1
Geary Howry (3–3)42,368
45–51
97
July 19
Cubs 4–1
Rodríguez Zambrano (10–4)Valverde 43,129
46–51
98
July 20
Cubs 9–0
Dempster (11–4)Backe 41,161
46–52
99
July 21
Pirates 9–2
Valverde Yates (4–2)34,624
46–53
100
July 22
Pirates 8–2
Maholm (7–6)Cassel 33,996
46–54
101
July 23
Pirates 8–7
Osoria (4–3)Geary Marte (5)36,091
46–55
102
July 25
@ Brewers
3–1
Rodríguez Parra (9–3)Valverde 41,357
47–55
103
July 26
@ Brewers
6–4
Gagné (4–2)Brocail Torres (20)43,489
47–56
104
July 27
@ Brewers
11–6
Sampson Suppan (5–7)31,565
48–56
105
July 28
Reds 5–4
Oswalt Cueto (7–10)Valverde 31,783
49–56
106
July 29
Reds 6–2
Moehler Arroyo (9–8)Wright 34,015
50–56
107
July 30
Reds 9–5
Vólquez (13–4)Rodríguez 30,272
50–57
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
108
August 1
Mets 7–3
Brocail Heilman (1–5)41,083
51–57
109
August 2
Mets 5–4
Valverde Heilman (1–6)39,152
52–57
110
August 3
Mets 4–0
Wolf Pérez (7–7)38,602
53–57
111
August 4
@ Cubs
2 – 0 (8)
Moehler Dempster (12–5)Hawkins 40,867
54–57
112
August 5
@ Cubs
11–7
Howry (4–4)Sampson 40,416
54–58
113
August 6
@ Cubs
11–4
Marquis (7–7)Backe 41,107
54–59
114
August 7
@ Reds
7–4
Oswalt Fogg (2–4)27,378
55–59
115
August 8
@ Reds
9 – 5 (10)
Sampson Cordero (4–4)25,652
56–59
116
August 9
@ Reds
3–1
Moehler Arroyo (10–9)Valverde 26,044
57–59
117
August 10
@ Reds
13–4
Rodríguez Harang (3–12)30,789
58–59
118
August 11
Giants 3–1
Backe Sánchez (8–9)Valverde 28,220
59–59
118
August 12
Giants 12–4
Oswalt Walker (4–7)29,451
60–59
120
August 13
Giants 6–2
Wolf Zito (6–15)30,330
61–59
121
August 14
Giants 7–4
Hawkins Yabu (3–5)Valverde 33,612
62–59
122
August 15
Diamondbacks 12–2
Webb (18–4)Rodríguez 36,035
62–60
123
August 16
Diamondbacks 11–5
Petit (2–3)Backe 33,612
62–61
124
August 17
Diamondbacks 3–0
Oswalt Johnson (10–9)Valverde 42,619
63–61
125
August 18
@ Brewers
9–3
Sabathia (14–8)Wolf 41,991
63–62
126
August 19
@ Brewers
5–2
Moehler Sheets (11–7)Valverde 41,662
64–62
127
August 20
@ Brewers
5–2
Parra (10–6)Rodríguez Torres (24)41,419
64–63
128
August 22
@ Mets
5–2
Santana (12–7)Oswalt Ayala (1)52,008
64–64
129
August 23
@ Mets
8–3
Backe Maine (10–8)51,766
65–64
130
August 24
@ Mets
6–4
Hawkins Feliciano (2–4)Valverde 49,758
66–64
131
August 25
@ Mets
9–1
Pelfrey (13–8)Moehler 41,419
66–65
132
August 26
Reds 2–1
Arroyo (12–10)Geary 30,395
66–66
133
August 27
Reds 4–1
Oswalt Fogg (2–7)Valverde 30,741
67–66
134
August 28
Reds 3–2
Backe Harang (4–14)Valverde 30,028
68–66
135
August 29
Cardinals 3–2
Brocail Springer (2–1)33,347
69–66
136
August 30
Cardinals 8–5
Moehler Looper (12–11)Valverde 37,569
70–66
137
August 31
Cardinals 3–0
Rodríguez Wellemeyer (11–6)Valverde 35,638
71–66
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Wrapup
138
September 1
@ Cubs
3–0
Oswalt Marquis (9–8)Valverde 40,670
72–66
139
September 2
@ Cubs
9–7
Wright Wood (4–3)Valverde 39,846
73–66
140
September 3
@ Cubs
4–0
Wolf Dempster (15–6)40,163
74–66
141
September 5
@ Rockies
5–3
Jiménez (10–12)Moehler Fuentes (27)26,163
74–67
142
September 6
@ Rockies
2–0
Oswalt Francis (4–9)32,352
75–67
143
September 7
@ Rockies
7–5
Brocail Buchholz (6–5)Valverde 30,509
76–67
144
September 8
Pirates 3–2
Arias Snell (6–11)Valverde 26,526
77–67
145
September 9
Pirates 9–3
Wolf Ohlendorf (1–2)30,034
78–67
146
September 10
Pirates 7–4
Moehler Bautista (4–4)Valverde 26,859
79–67
147
September 11
Pirates 6–0
Oswalt Duke (5–14)31,101
80–67
–
September 12
Cubs Postponed (Hurricane Ike ) Rescheduled for September 14 @ Miller Park .
–
September 13
Cubs Postponed (Hurricane Ike ) Rescheduled for September 15 @ Miller Park .
–
September 14
Cubs Postponed (Hurricane Ike ) Cancelled due to the Astros being eliminated from the Playoff Contention.
148
September 14
Cubs *5–0
Zambrano (14–5)Wolf 23,441
80–68
149
September 15
Cubs *6–1
Lilly (15–9)Moehler 15,158
80–69
150
September 16
@ Marlins
5–1
Volstad (5–3)Oswalt 12,232
80–70
151
September 17
@ Marlins
2–14
Nolasco (15–7)Backe 14,124
80–71
152
September 18
@ Marlins
1-8
Olsen (8-10)Arias 14,219
80-72
153
September 19
@ Pirates
5-1
Wolf Snell (6-12)26,301
81-72
154
September 20
@ Pirates
4-6
Davis (2-4)Brian Moehler Capps (20)36,621
81-73
155
September 21
@ Pirates
6-2
Oswalt Ohlendorf (1-4)20,311
82-73
156
September 23
Reds 2-1
Volquez (17-6)Rodríguez Cordero (34)27,561
82-74
157
September 24
Reds 5-0
Wolf Ramírez (1–1)26,103
83-74
158
September 25
Reds 8-7
Oswalt Cueto (9-14)José Valverde 31,204
84-74
159
September 26
Braves 5-4
José Valverde Tavárez (1-5)33,477
85-74
160
September 27
Braves 5-11
Vladimir Núñez (1-2)Backe 37,491
85-75
161
September 28
Braves 3-1
Rodríguez Hampton (3-4)José Valverde 37,113
86-75
*At Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts