The 2002 Houston Astros season was the 41st season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 38th as the Astros, 41st in the National League (NL), ninth in the NL Central division, and third at Astros Park, renamed Minute Maid Park during the season. The Astros entered the season as defending NL Central division champions for the fourth time with a 93–69 record; however, their season ended in defeat in the National League Division Series (NLDS) to the Atlanta Braves for the third time.
The 2002 season was the first for Jimy Williams as manager, the 15th in franchise history, having replaced Larry Dierker. Opening Day for Houston occurred on April 2 in which they hosted the Milwaukee Brewers, who won, 9–3. Wade Miller was the Astros' Opening Day starting pitcher. On April 8, Craig Biggio became the fifth player and on the sixth occasion in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
Dierker, having pitched for Colt .45s/Astros for 13 seasons, broadcast for 18, and managed the club for another five, had his uniform number retired by the club on May 19. Likewise, other Houston broadcasters, Harry Kalas (Ford C. Frick Award), and René Cárdenas (Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame inductee) were honored for their career impact.
The Astros' first-round draft pick in the amateur draft was pitcher Derick Grigsby, 29th overall. On June 5, the Astros announced a new agreement reached with Minute Maid for the naming rights to their stadium, rebranding it from Astros Field to Minute Maid Park.
Outfielder Lance Berkman represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game, his second career selection.
Berkman became the second Astro to lead the league in runs batted in (RBI), collecting 128.
The Astros concluded the season with an 84–78 record, in second place in the NL Central division, and 13 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros ranked third in the NL Wild Card race, trailing the eventual NL-champion San Francisco Giants by games. However, this was the ninth winning season in the previous 10 for Houston—with 2000 being the exception—continuing an unprecedented period of success. Additionally, it was the eighth time in nine seasons since moving to the NL Central that the Astros had finished in either first or second place.
Following the season, catcher Brad Ausmus won the second Gold Glove Award of his career.
Offseason Summary The Astros concluded the 2001 campaign as National League (NL) Central division champions with a record. They tied with division rivals St. Louis Cardinals for top record in the National League but retained the tie-breaker to obtain the number-one seed. This was Houston's fourth division title in the NL Central division—and fourth in five campaigns—and seventh division title in franchise history. Jeff Bagwell extended his major league record with six consecutive seasons in which he accumulated each of a minimum of 100 runs scored, 30 doubles, 30 home runs, 100 runs batted in (RBI) and 100 base on balls (BB).. Meanwhile, Lance Berkman, having produced 55 doubles and 34 home runs in 2001, became the first switch hitter to hit 50 doubles and 30 home runs during the same season and thirteenth Major Leaguer overall.
Transactions December 11, 2001: Gregg Zaun signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros.
Regular season Summary April—May + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 7 Craig Biggio Second baseman 2 Gregg Zaun Catcher 5 Jeff Bagwell First baseman 17 Lance Berkman Center fielder 15 Richard Hidalgo Right fielder 31 Daryle Ward Left fielder 14 Morgan Ensberg Third baseman 28 Adam Everett Shortstop 52 Wade Miller Pitcher Venue: Astros Field • Final: Milwaukee 9, Houston 3 Sources:
Craig Biggio extended his club-record 14th Opening Day start. The Milwaukee Brewers routed Houston, 9 to 3. Both teams recorded 12 safeties, but the Astros struck out 13 times, left 11 runners on base, and went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Ben Sheets stymied the Astros' offense over six frames, while Wade Miley was torched for seven runs over four innings.
With his third home run of the season on April 5, Lance Berkman equaled a club record entrenched by Chris Truby the year prior by homering in each in the season's first three contests. Berkman's performance led a 6–3 win at Astros Field over Milwakee.
On April 7, Daryle Ward connected on a Luther Hackman offering for a walk-off home run, for a 7–6 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in the bottom of the 12th inning. This was the Astros' first walk-off hit of the season.
Craig Biggio's cycle On April 8 versus the Colorado Rockies, second baseman Craig Biggio became the fifth Houston Astro to hit for the cycle, and sixth time in franchise history. He singled, then tripled and connected for a home run off starter Denny Neagle within the first four innings. In the sixth, Neagle issued an intentional base on balls to Biggio, but Biggio, batting again in the eighth, stroked a double to complete the cycle. When his son, Cavan, replicated the feat in 2019 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, they became the second father–son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, following Gary (1980) and Daryle Ward (2004) The younger Ward and elder Biggio were teammates when Craig hit for the cycle (though not in the starting lineup together); in fact, Ward was a member of the Astros in his first five major league seasons, from 1998—2002.
Rest of April Berkman slugged three home runs at Cinergy Field on April 16 to ignite an 8–3 Astros win over the Cincinnati Reds, the first three-home run game of Berkman's career. The first two shots were courtesy of José Acevedo offerings during the first and second innings, and the third was off José Rijo. Moreover, the Astros chased Acevedo early with seven runs during the first two innings as Jeff Bagwell and Richard Hidalgo also went deep off the Reds starter. Dave Mlicki tossed innings pitched with six strikeouts and one run surrendered to pick up his first win of the season. Berkman had two additional opportunities to make major league history with a fourth home run but wound up short. The ninth time three-home run game in club history, it was the first since Vinny Castilla did so on July 28, 2001, and was succeeded by Hidalgo's on September 16, 2003. and remained as the only such contest of Berkman's career. Berkman delivered five runs batted in (RBi) to establish a season-high.
On April 26, reliever Brad Lidge made his major league debut, tossing two innings versus the Atlanta Braves. He allowed two runs and struck out three.
May
During the week of April 28 to May 5, Lance Berkman batted .423 / .516 on-base percentage (OBP) / .846 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.362 on-base plus slugging (OPS), 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 11 hits, and 22 total bases. He was thus recognized as National League (NL) Player of the Week.
On May 10, Jason Lane made his major league debut, becoming the 18,000th player in major league history. He took one at bat versus the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Astros erupted for a season-high in runs on May 13, for a 17–3 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies at Astros Field. Led by third baseman Geoff Blum's game-high three doubles and five RBI, the Astros piled on 10 extra-base hits among 20 total hits and four bases on balls, with two doubles by Hidalgo and a triple from Julio Lugo. Blum reached base four times, including earning a walk. Tim Redding (2–2) yielded just one run over seven innings to earn the victory.
Hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 18, starters Kris Benson and Tim Redding exchanged pitching duels for seven innings each. Deadlocked 1–1 going into the bottom of the ninth, José Vizcaíno blasted a Sean Lowe delivery for a one-out walk-off home run to ice a 2–1 Houston triumph. This triumph pulled the Astros back to the .500 mark and into a second-place tie in the division, while extending a season-high seven-game winning streak.
The Astros retired Larry Dierker's uniform number 49 on May 19 during a pre-game ceremony at Astros field.
June Accompanied with a celebration of fireworks and a locomotive steaming across the tracks beyond the left field wall carting oranges, on June 5, the Astros rechristened their stadium as Minute Maid Park. The organization announced a naming rights deal they had reached with Minute Maid, a beverage company based in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston, since 1960. Per owner Drayton McLane, the agreement covered 28 years and was worth $100 million. The Astros had also considered proposals from other Houston-area companies, including Conoco Inc., Landry's Seafood Restaurants Inc., and Gallery Furniture.
Right-handed pitcher Shane Reynolds was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 13 to undergo a season-ending microdiscectomy procedure to remove disc fragments in his back that were pressing on nerve. Reynolds' season ended after 13 starts, after going 3–6 and having posted a 4.86 earned run average (ERA).
On June 16, Craig Biggio connected for his 12th career walk-off hit, a single off John Rocker that secured a 7–6 triumph over the Texas Rangers in hte bottom of the ninth inning. Biggio passed Phil Garner for second-most walk-off hits in Astros history, and one behind José Cruz] (13) for the all-time franchise lead.
On June 20, Lance Berkman's grand slam (22) capped a seven-run fourth inning at Miller Park, as Houston toppled the Milwaukeee Brewers, 9–3. Wade Miller (3–2) cruised through six innings to earn the win, scattering seven hits and three walks. Berkmam's 5 RBI augmented his league-leading total to 62.
Former Astros pitcher Darryl Kile, then playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, was found dead in his Chicago hotel room on June 22, 2002. That same day, the bereaved Astros won in his memory against the Seattle Mariners, with first baseman Jeff Bagwell delivering the game-winning run batted in (RBI) in the 12th inning.
Inserted to pinch hit on June 27, Gregg Zaun had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning and connected for the walk-off grand slam, sealing a 7–4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lance Berkman (23) and Brad Ausmus (3) also belted home runs for Houston. Octavio Dotel (4–3) secured the final two frames to earn the victory. Zaun became just the second pinch-hitter in club history to hit a walk-off grand slam for Houston, joining Milt May on May 22, 1974, and sixth walk-off grand slam by any batter in team history, Kevin Bass on August 20, 1989.
July Lance Berkman was selected to play in his second MLB All-Star Game, during which he collected his first two RBI at the Midsummer Classic. During the bottom of the seventh inning, he pinch hit for Todd Helton and delivered a two-run single to score Mike Lowell and Damian Miller to place the National League ahead of the American League (AL), 7–6. The AL rallied to tie the contest, 7–7, which was the final score after 11 innings. Berkman was also a contestant in the Home Run Derby, placing last with one home run hit.
On July 25, Kirk Saarloos tossed his first career shutout, scattering six hits with no walks issued. Saarloos struck out six.
For the month of July, Kirk Saarloos won all three games (all starts) in which he appeared, with a 1.77 earned run average (ERA), one complete game shutout, and 0.836 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). In innings pitched, Saarloos fanned 14 and surrendered just 16 hits and one walk. Thus, Saarloos was recognized as NL Rookie of the Month. He became the second Astro so named, following Roy Oswalt in August 2001.
August
From August 10–24, Bagwell produced a season-high 15-game hitting streak, marking the 12th consecutive season with at least one double-digit hit streak, a club record, and second to Roberto Alomar with 14 among all then-active players. In September, Bagwell batted .343 with 11 multi-hit games.