The1986Houston Astros season was the25th season for theMajor League Baseball (MLB) franchise located inHouston,Texas, their 22nd as the Astros, 25th in theNational League (NL), 18th in theNL West division, and 22nd at TheAstrodome. The Astros entered the season as having tied for third place in the NL West, with an 83–79record and 12games behind the division-championLos Angeles Dodgers.

The 1986 season was the first forHal Lanier asmanager, the tenth in Astros' franchise history, succeedingBob Lillis. On April 8, pitcherNolan Ryan made his thirdOpening Day start for the Astros, who hosted theSan Francisco Giants but were defeated, 8–3. During theamateur draft, the Astros selected pitcherRyan Bowen in thefirst round at 13th overall, outfielderTuffy Rhodes in the third round, and outfielderEric Anthony in the 34th round.

The Astros hosted theMLB All-Star Game at The Astrodome for the second time, andfirst time since1968. Right fielderKevin Bass, first basemanGlenn Davis, and pitchersMike Scott andDave Smith each represented the Astros at the All-Star Game and played for the National League.^{[Note 1]} On August 27, Nolan Ryan earned his 250th career win.

On September 25, Scott hurled the eighthno-hitter in franchise history to lead a 2–0 win over theSan Francisco Giants, which simultaneously clinched the NL West division title. This was the first no-hitter thrown that secured a playoff spot in the major leagues since 1951. Scott led the National League in numerous categories, including a 2.22earned run average (ERA), 306strikeouts, 5.9hits per nine innings, and275+1⁄3innings pitched, among others, and posted an 18–10win–loss record (W–L).

The Astros concluded their regular season with a 96–66 record. For the third time in franchise history, Houston won the NL West division, also their thirdplayoff appearance, all over the past seven seasons. At the time, the 96 wins set a new franchise record, surpassing their 93–69 mark in1980, and stood until their first 100-win season in1998. This was their final division title as members of the National League West and final playoff appearance until1997. The Astros played theNew York Mets in theNational League Championship Series (NLCS), only to be defeated 4 games to 2, while the Mets were the eventualWorld Series champions. Scott, who pitched twocomplete games and allowed just 1 run for an 0.50 ERA, became the firstNLCS Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) winner of the losing team.

Following the season, Scott became the first-everCy Young Award winner for Houston, won theThe Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year,^[a] Davis won his first careerSilver Slugger Award, and Lanier was recognized as Manager of the Year by each of theAssociated Press (AP),BBWAA[b] andThe Sporting News.^[c]

Summary

On November 5, 1985, the Astros announced the hiring ofHal Lanier as manager for his first occasion to assume the role at the major league level, replacingBob Lillis. Lanier was a former major leagueinfielder and had subsequentlycoached in theSt. Louis Cardinals'minor league system, including winningThe Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year Award in 1980, prior to coaching for the Cardinals at the major league level. Lanier also announced that he would selectNew York Yankees Hall of Fame catcherYogi Berra to the coaching staff. Other candidates that general managerDick Wagner had considered includedJoe Torre,Dave Bristol,Billy Gardner, andJim Leyland.^[1]

Prior to the 1986 season,Sports Illustrated released a ranking of all major league teams and had assessed the Astros as the 22nd best team in the league.^[2]

Transactions

• November 13, 1985:Mike Richardt was released by the Astros.^[3]

Opening Day starting lineup^[4][5]

Pursuant to a 4–0 start to the season, on May 2,Bob Knepper led the club to a 6–1 victory over theMontreal Expos,^[6] with six innings of one-run ball.Kevin Bass doubled,Craig Reynolds tripled, andJosé Cruz collected two hits and tworuns batted in (RBI). The Astros improved to 15–6.^[7]

After seven starts through May 4, starterMike Scott had turned in a 3–2win–loss record (W–L record) with a 4.03earned run average (ERA). On the cusp of one the most dramatic career transformations and dominant pitching performances of the season, Scott, in his next start, surrendered just oneearned run over seven innings to thePittsburgh Pirates.^[8] This outing initiated an Astros-record 20 consecutivequality starts,^[9] which surpassed the 15 set byDon Wilson in1971, and remained until passed byFramber Valdez on August 24,2022.^[10][11]

On June 23,Glenn Davis belted a two-run,walk-off home run to complete a 7–6 comeback versus theCincinncati Reds in the ninth inning. In the top of the ninth,Larry Andersen was the winner without a singlebatter faced; rather, on awild pitch, the runner on third base sprinted home. Andersen tagged the runner out for the final out of the Reds' 9th inning at bat.^[12]

The1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 57th playing of the midsummer classic between theall-stars of theAmerican League (AL) andNational League (NL), the two leagues comprisingMajor League Baseball. The game was held on July 15, 1986, at theAstrodome inHouston, Texas, the home of the Astros. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 3–2. AL starting pitcher andBoston Red Sox aceRoger Clemens, who later pitched for Houston from2004 to2006, was named theAll-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award winner.^[13]

Four Astros were selected to the All-Star Game, including first basemanGlenn Davis, right fielderKevin Bass, and pitchersMike Scott andDave Smith. The quartet matched the1979 squad for most Astros selected to anAll-Star Game, and in1994, five players went to break the club record.^[14]

Having just made his first All-Star appearance,Kevin Bass opened a 20-gamehitting streak starting July 22 and ending August 13. On July 24, Bass achieved his first career five-hit game. On August 5 and 11, he also realized 3-hit games. Bass hit safely in 31 of 81 at bats for a .383batting average.^[15]

On August 8,José Cruz celebrated his 39th birthday by driving in his 1,000th career run, whileMike Scott tossed ashutout to lead a 5–0 blanking of theSan Diego Padres. Cruz' two-run single capped a four-run sixth inning, while Scott tossed his third shutout of the season and ended the day leading the leading the league inearned run average (2.16 ERA) andstrikeouts (217).^[16]

During his August 13 start, Scott yielded 5 earned runs on 7 hits over 5 innings to theLos Angeles Dodgers, losing, 5–3. This problematic outing interrupted a then-club record of 20 successive quality starts. His performance was rated with agame score of 36, the lowest since May 4, which had received a score of 28. That May 4 start had also been his most recent non-quality start. In those 20 starts, Scott registered a 1.62 ERA over155+2⁄3innings pitched, yielding a 1.74fielding independent pitching (FIP) rate, 9 home runs, 36 bases on balls and 174 strikeouts.^[9]

On August 27,Nolan Ryan suppressed theChicago Cubs for one hit over six innings to earn his 250th career win via a 7–1 score, prior to turning it over toCharlie Kerfeld.Phil Garner collected four hits while the Astros stole six bases.^[16]

AtWrigley Field on September 3, Mike Scott (15–9) whiffed fourChicago Cubs batters during the fifth inning an 8–2 win, among 12 strikeouts total. The four batters struck out in the same inning tied the major league record. He became the first Houston Astro to strike out more three batters in one inning, just the 12th National League pitcher and 18th major leaguer overall.^[17]

Billy Hatcher's two-run single on September 12 proved to be the game-winning hit in an Astros uprising over Padres, 5–3, capping a three-run ninth.Terry Puhl coaxed a bases-loaded walk fromGoose Gossage that effected the tying run. Finally,Dave Smith converted his 30thsave, the first Houston pitcher to attain this milestone.^[16] Seventeen years earlier in1969,Fred Gladding amassed 29.^[18]

From September 23–25, the Astros'starting rotation put on display one of the great three-day pitching masterpieces in major league history. On September 23,Jim Deshaies set a major league record by commencing the game with 8 consecutive strikeouts of the Dodgers, which led a 4–0 shutout.^{[Note 2][20]} The following day,Nolan Ryan silenced the bats of theSan Francisco Giants via six innings of no-hit ball until aMike Aldrete single halted the bid.Charlie Kerfeld took over for the ninth, and surrendered just one hit to polish off a second consecutive two-hit shutout to succeed Deshaies. Ryan hurled eightshutout innings with 12strikeouts to lead the Astros' 6–0 win and clinch a tie of the NL West division crown. Meanwhile, Glenn Davis launched his 30th home run of the campaign, becoming just the second Astro to realize the milestone, and first sinceJimmy Wynn in1969.^[16]

Finally, on September 25, Mike Scott threw ano-hitter against the Giants to lead the Astros, which simultaneously clinched the National League West division title.^[13] The final score was 2–0 and Scott struck out 13 Giants batters. He became the first pitcher in National League history and the second overall to throw a no-hitter which clinched aplayoff berth. The first was byAllie Reynolds, whose no-hitter on September 18,1951, clinched theAmerican League pennant for theNew York Yankees.^[21]

For the portion of the season ensuing his May 4 start, Scott tossed a 15–8 record with a 1.87 ERA. Encompassing his final five starts, he struck out 55 and issued fourbases on balls.^[8]

The Astros played the Giants throughextra innings on October 2. Despite Mike Scott's seven inning effort with eight strikeouts and just one run allowed, San Francisco maintained a 1–0 advantage. However, in the top of the ninth, Kevin Bass bolted home on awild pitch to tie the score, 1–1. In the top of the tenth, Bill Doran smacked a solo shot for the go-ahead run, and the lead stood. Matt Keough (5–4) earned the victory, while Dave Smith locked down the 2–1 lead in 10th for his 33rd save.^[22] Their 93rd victory of the season, this Astros edition tied their1980 counterparts for most wins in a single season in club history.^[23][24]

Dave Smith set a club record with 33saves in one season.

Mike Scott, who led the major leagues in numerous categories, including a 2.22earned run average (ERA) and 306 strikeouts, became the third Astros pitcher to lead the NL in ERA, followingJ. R. Richard (2.71 in1979) and Ryan (1.69 in1981).^[25] Scott also joined Richard as the second Astros pitcher to lead the NL strikeouts (303 in1978 and 313 in 1979) for the third 300-strikeout season overall by an Astros pitcher.^[26] Hence, following J. R. Richard in 1979, Scott became the second Houston Astro to lead the league in two-thirds of the pitchingTriple Crown.^[e][27]

Further, Scott was the major-league leader inhits per nine innings surrendered (5.949 H/9), marking the eighth instance in that an Astros hurler had led the league. He was preceded byDon Wilson (once),J. R. Richard (thrice) and Nolan Ryan (thrice).^[28]

First basemanGlenn Davis won his first careerSilver Slugger Award, the fourth overall in club history, and the first at the position.^[29]

Following the season, Mike Scott was recognized with the NLCy Young Award to become the first Houston Astro to win this award.^[30] Moreover, Scott joined Niekro (1979) as the second Astro to be recognized as theThe Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year.^[a][31]

• June 2, 1986:1986 Major League Baseball draft
  • Ryan Bowen was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round.^[32]
  • Karl Rhodes was drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round. Player signed June 10, 1986.^[33]
  • Trenidad Hubbard was drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1986.^[34]
  • Ed Whited was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 1986 amateur draft.^[35]
  • Eric Anthony was drafted by the Astros in the 34th round. Player signed June 7, 1986.^[36]
• June 30, 1986:Matt Keough was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[37]

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

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

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

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

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

October 8 (Astrodome,Houston, Texas)

In Game 1, Scott allowed just 5singles while reriting an LCS record-tying 14 batters via strikeout.^[8]

October 9 (Astrodome,Houston, Texas)

October 11 (Shea Stadium,Flushing, New York)

October 12 (Shea Stadium,Flushing, New York)

October 14 (Shea Stadium,Flushing, New York)

October 15 (Astrodome,Houston, Texas)

Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS still ranks as one of the most memorable baseball games of the 1980s, if not baseball (and certainly baseball postseason) history. Played at The Astrodome, 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 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 faceMike 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 tiredBob Ojeda in the bottom of the first. Ojeda settled down after that, however, and the Astros wouldn't score again for the next 12 innings. Meanwhile, Astros starterBob Knepper was brilliant from the very first pitch, and the game headed to the 9th with Houston still seemingly comfortably ahead 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. Starting with aLenny Dykstra lead off triple that barely evaded the glove of Hatcher in right center field, Knepper 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 firmly established as one of the best closers in the National League, but he had blown a save earlier in the series, taking both the blown save and the loss in Game 3 thanks to Dykstra's walkoff homer.

When Smith finally did appear, he was ineffective, walking two batters to load the bases and then allowing the tying run to score on asacrifice fly byRay 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. AfterGary Carter opened with a single, a walk toDarryl Strawberry put two runners on with nobody out. After Knight forced Carter at third,Wally Backman drove a single to right. WhenKevin Bass' throw to the plate sailed high overAlan 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 andBill 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 byLenny 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 outCraig Reynolds to open the inning, but a walk and two singles later, Houston had a run in and the tying run on base. Orosco inducedDenny Walling to hit into aforce play at second for the second out, butGlenn 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 theBoston 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.

Scott's masterful performance in the series was, such that, in spite of pitching for the losing side, he was recognized with the NLCSMost Valuable Player Award (MVP), the first time in the 10-year history of the award history that a member of the losing team was so honored. Hence, Scott also became the first Astros player to receive a playoff award.^[40][8]

Awards

• Associated Press (AP) Manager of the Year:^[41]Hal Lanier
• Cy Young Award:^[30]Mike Scott
• Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball:^[42] Fred Hartman
• Houston AstrosMost Valuable Player (MVP) Award:^[42]Mike Scott
• MLB All-Star Game^[43]
  • Kevin Bass, outfielder, reserve
  • Glenn Davis, first baseman, reserve
  • Mike Scott, starting pitcher, reserve
  • Dave Smith, relief pitcher, reserve
• NLCSMost Valuable Player (MVP):^[40]Mike Scott
• NL Manager of the Year (BBWAA):Hal Lanier
• NLPlayer of the Month^[44]—June:Kevin Bass
• NL Player of the Week,^[45]
  • April 20—Phil Garner
  • June 26—Kevin Bass
  • September 28—Mike Scott
• Silver Slugger Award atfirst base:^[29]Glenn Davis
• The Sporting News NL Manager of the Year:^[c][46]Hal Lanier
• The Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year:^[a][31] Mike Scott
• The Sporting News^[47] NL All-Star—P: Mike Scott

Pitching achievements

NL fielding leaders

• Total Zone Runs as RF (13):Kevin Bass
• Total Zone Runs as LF (7):José Cruz

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Columbus

Footnotes

Sources

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

• Houston Astros seasons
• 1986 Major League Baseball season
• National League West champion seasons
• 1986 in sports in Texas

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