2004 Houston Astros

2004 Houston Astros / Franchise: Houston Astros / BR Team Page

Record: 92-70, Finished 2nd in NL Central Division (2004 NL)

Clinched Wild Card: October 3, 2004, vs. Colorado Rockies

Managed by Jimy Williams (44-44) and Phil Garner (48-26)

Coaches: Mark Bailey, Jose Cruz, Gary Gaetti, Jim Hickey, Burt Hooton, Gene Lamont, Harry Spilman and John Tamargo

Ballpark: Minute Maid Park

History, Comments, Contributions

The 2004 Houston Astros went into the season full of anticipation following the off-season signing of free agents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Pettite was hurt and not much a factor for the majority of the year. Clemens did not disappoint, however, posting 18 wins and a sub 3.00 ERA en route to winning his 7th Cy Young Award.

The team hovered around the .500 mark before acquiring Carlos Beltran a month before the trade deadline. While Beltran played well, the team did not improve as a whole. After the All-Star break, manager Jimy Williams, who had been copiously booed at the 2004 All-Star Game held at Minute Maid Park, was fired, and Phil Garner was brought in as the interim manager. The team responded well, going 46-26 to end the year, and clinch the Wild Card on the final day of the year.

The Astros finally broke through in the playoffs, beating the Atlanta Braves for the first time in four tries in the Division Series, and extending the St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the 2004 NLCS before finally loosing.

In terms of post-season success, 2004 had been the most successful Astros season up to that point.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Roger Clemens and Jeff Kent
• NL Cy Young Award: Roger Clemens

Playoffs

NLCS vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Game	Score	Date	Pitchers
1	Houston Astros 7 at St. Louis Cardinals 10	October 13	Brandon Backe (ND) at Woody Williams (1-0)
2	Houston Astros 4 at St. Louis Cardinals 6	October 14	Peter Munro (ND) at Matt Morris (ND)
3	St. Louis Cardinals 2 at Houston Astros 5	October 16	Jeff Suppan (0-1) at Roger Clemens (1-0)
4	St. Louis Cardinals 5 at Houston Astros 6	October 17	Jason Marquis (ND) at Roy Oswalt (ND)
5	St. Louis Cardinals 0 at Houston Astros 3	October 18	Woody Williams (ND) at Brandon Backe (ND)
6	Houston Astros 4 at St. Louis Cardinals 6	October 20	Peter Munro (ND) at Matt Morris (ND)
7	Houston Astros 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 5	October 21	Roger Clemens (1-1) at Jeff Suppan (1-1)

Further Reading

• Associated Press: "Backe fills in for Clemens", ESPN.com, October 3, 2004

<< 2003 2004 Postseason 2005 >>

NL Division Series (3-1) Cardinals (NLC) over Dodgers (NLW) NL Division Series (3-1) Astros (WC) over Braves (NLE)

NL Championship Series (4-3) Cardinals over Astros

World Series (4-0) Red Sox over Cardinals

AL Championship Series (4-3) Red Sox over Yankees

AL Division Series (3-1) Yankees (ALE) over Twins (ALC) AL Division Series (3-0) Red Sox (WC) over Angels (ALW)

2004 MLB season by team