The 1986 Houston Astros season was the 25th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 22nd as the Astros, 25th in the National League (NL), 18th in the NL West division, and 22nd at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season as having tied for third place in the NL West, with an 83–79 record and 12 games behind the division-champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 1986, season was the 1st for Hal Lanier as manager, the 10th in Astros' franchise history, succeeding Bob Lillis. On April 8, pitcher Nolan Ryan made his third Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the San Francisco Giants but were defeated, 8–3. During the amateur draft, the Astros selected pitcher Ryan Bowen in the first round at 13th overall, outfielder Tuffy Rhodes in the third round, and outfielder Eric Anthony in the 34th round.
The Astros hosted the MLB All-Star Game at The Astrodome for the second time, and first time since 1968. Right fielder Kevin Bass, first baseman Glenn Davis, and pitchers Mike Scott and Dave Smith each represented the Astros at the All-Star Game and played for the National League. On August 27, Nolan Ryan earned his 250th career win.
On September 25, Scott hurled the eighth no-hitter in franchise history to lead a 2–0 win over the San 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 2.22 earned run average (ERA), 306 strikeouts, 5.9 hits per nine innings, and innings pitched, among others, and posted an 18–10 win–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 third playoff appearance, all over the past seven seasons. At the time, the 96 wins set a new franchise record, surpassing their 93–69 mark in 1980, and stood until their first 100-win season in 1998. This was their final division title as members of the National League West and final playoff appearance until 1997. The Astros played the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), only to be defeated 4 games to 2, while the Mets were the eventual World Series champions. Scott, who pitched two complete games and allowed just 1 run for an 0.50 ERA, became the first NLCS Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) winner of the losing team.
Following the season, Scott became the first-ever Cy Young Award winner for Houston, won The Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year, Davis won his first career Silver Slugger Award, and Lanier was recognized as Manager of the Year by each of the Associated Press (AP), and The Sporting News.
Offseason Summary On November 5, 1985, the Astros announced the hiring of Hal Lanier as manager for his first occasion to assume the role at the major league level, replacing Bob Lillis. Lanier was a former major league infielder and had subsequently coached in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system, including winning The 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 select New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra to the coaching staff. Other candidates that general manager Dick Wagner had considered included Joe Torre, Dave Bristol, Billy Gardner, and Jim Leyland.
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.
Transactions November 13, 1985: Mike Richardt was released by the Astros.
Regular season Summary April—May + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 9 Eric Bullock Left fielder 19 Bill Doran Second baseman 29 Denny Walling Third baseman 27 Glenn Davis First baseman 6 Mark Bailey Catcher 17 Kevin Bass Right fielder 30 Tony Walker Center fielder 10 Dickie Thon Shortstop 34 Nolan Ryan Pitcher Venue: Astrodome • San Francisco 8, Houston 3 Sources:
The Astros hosted the San Francisco Giants for Opening Day on April 8, as power pitcher Nolan Ryan made his third Opening Day start for Houston. Top prospect Will Clark, a 1984 Olympian and Golden Spikes Award winner, made his major league debut for the Giants at first base on Opening Day. During his first plate appearance, Clark deposited the first offering from Ryan, a shoulder-high fastball, into the center field bleachers for his first major league home run. The Astros rebounded in the bottom of the first. With Bill Doran aboard, Glenn Davis launched a home run off Giants right-hander Mike Krukow. In the second, Kevin Bass tripled and scored on Dickie Thon's squeeze bunt. Ryan recouped some vengeance on Clark in the third via a called third strike. Jeffrey Leonard took Ryan deep for a solo home run in the fourth, and during the following frame, San Francisco tied the score when Robby Thompson—also making his major-league debut—singled in José Uribe. Astros manager Hal Lanier, another debutante in his role, pulled Ryan after loading the bases in the top of the seventh, replacing him with Jeff Calhoun. Candy Maldonado greeted Calhoun with a bases-clearing triple, putting the Giants ahead to stay, 6–3. They scored twice more for an easy 8–3 triumph over Houston. Ryan took the loss with six runs surrendered over frames, while Krukow claimed the victory.
Craig Reynolds golfed his third career grand slam on April 12, and his only grand slam in capacity as a pinch hitter. The drive came in bottom of the sixth with the Astros trailing the Atlanta Braves, 2–0. The blast supplied all the scoring to pave the way for a 4–3 Astros win and Nolan Ryan's (1–1) first victory of the season. Ryan tossed seven innings with two runs, one earned, surrendered.
On his way to a 4–0 start to the season, on May 2, Bob Knepper led the club to a 6–1 victory over the Montreal Expos, with six innings of one-run ball. Kevin Bass doubled, Reynolds tripled, and José Cruz collected two hits and two runs batted in (RBI). The Astros improved to 15–6.
After seven starts through May 4, starter Mike Scott had turned in a 3–2 win–loss record (W–L record) with a 4.03 earned run average (ERA). On the cusp of one of the most dramatic career transformations and dominant pitching performances of the season, Scott, in his next start, surrendered just one earned run over seven innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates. This outing initiated an Astros-record 20 consecutive quality starts, which surpassed the 15 set by Don Wilson in 1971, and remained until passed by Framber Valdez on August 24, 2022.
Mike Scott struck out 10 on May 25, his first career contest yielding double-figures in strikeouts. Having surrendered six hits and four walks, Scott departed after eight frames with Houston and the Chicago Cubs tied, 1–1. In the top of the 11th, catcher Mark Bailey doubled home Phil Garner and Craig Reynolds off Lee Smith (2–4) for the game-winning run. Charlie Kerfeld (4–1) retired the Cubs in order in each of the ninth and tenth innings to earn the win, while Dave Smith tossed a perfect 11th for the save (11).
June—early July Phil Garner connected for both his 100th career home run and third grand slam on the same play on June 14, to lead a 7–3 win over the San Francisco Giants. Garner hit the grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning off Jeff Robinson and also drew two walks. Jim Deshaies (3–2) tossed five innings to earn the win for Houston, Larry Andersen (3) earned a hold, and Aurelio López finished the game with one run over three innings to convert the save (2). This was Garner's first grand slam since September 15, 1978, when he had become the first National League player since 1901 and just the seventh major leaguer to hit two over consecutive games. Moreover, Garner joined teammate José Cruz as one of 36 Major Leaguers through 1986 to have recorded at least 100 home runs and 200 stolen bases during his career.
On June 23, Glenn Davis hit a two-run, walk-off home run to complete a 7–6 comeback versus the Cincinnati Reds in the bottom of the ninth inning. In the top of the ninth, Larry Andersen by proxy was the winning pitcher without a single batter faced; rather, on a wild pitch, the runner on third base sprinted home. Andersen tagged the runner out for the final out of the Reds' 9th inning at bat. The walk-off blast was the first of Davis' career.
During the month of June, Bass collected 37 hits, 5 doubles, 7 home runs, 15 RBI, 5 SB, 12 BB, and 20 runs scored for a slash line of .378 / .460 / .663 / 1.123. Hence, Bass was recognized as NL Player of the Month, with the most recent Astro being teammate José Cruz in July 1984.
Kevin Bass cranked his first career grand slam on July 7 in the top of the ninth at Olympic Stadium, which all but erased an inning-ending, botched steal of home in the top of the second. Earlier in the frame, José Cruz doubled home Glenn Davis for the first run, and tripled and scored in the sixth. It was all Astros from there, as they went on to win 12–1 over the Montreal Expos. Davis swatted two home runs off Dennis Martinez, first a tie-breaking two-run blast in the third, and another for three runs in the fifth. It was Davis' second multi-home run game of the year and third total. Mike Scott cruised over seven smooth frames for the victory, his ninth of the year.
MLB All-Star Game at the Astrodome 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. AL starting pitcher and Boston Red Sox ace Roger Clemens, who later pitched for Houston from 2004 to 2006, was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award winner.
Four Astros were selected to the All-Star Game, including first baseman Glenn Davis, right fielder Kevin Bass, and pitchers Mike Scott and Dave Smith. The quartet matched the 1979 squad for most Astros selected to an All-Star Game, and in 1994, five players went to break the club record. Both Davis and Bass went hitless in pinch hit appearances. Meanwhile, Scott pitched in relief in the seventh inning and fanned his first two hitters swinging, Cal Ripken Jr., and Jesse Barfield, prior to yielding a home run to Frank White. Smith did not enter the game.
Later July—August Having just made his first All-Star appearance, Kevin Bass opened a 20-game hitting 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 .383 batting average.
On July 22, one of the great pitching duels of Nolan Ryan's career transpired at the Astrodome. Ryan and Floyd Youmans (10–6) traded nine-inning shutout masterpieces prior to transitioning to extra innings. Ryan struck out 14 Montreal Expos through nine, and led off of the tenth by issuing a base on balls to Tim Wallach. Next, he induced a fly ball from Wayne Krenchicki to center field. However, Ryan surrendered another walk to Mike Fitzgerald. After innings, Ryan had surrendered one hit with four bases on balls for a game score of 95. Dave Smith (3–6) was summonsed and got the final two outs, retiring Vance Law via the 15th punchout from Houston pitching. Leading off the bottom of the tenth, Davis crushed a Youmans offering (still in the game) for his second walk-off home run of the season as Houston triumphed, 1–0. Also, during his career, Ryan pitched more contests to a game score of 90 or higher than any major leaguer, at 31. The next closest achievers were Walter Johnson and Randy Johnson at 20 each.