1971 Houston Astros season

April

Hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers for Opening Day on April 5, Denis Menke tripled in runs (RBI) of Joe Morgan and Bob Watson off Los Angeles' Bill Singer for a 2–0 lead. The Astros never looked back, winning 5–2, backed by complete game execution from Larry Dierker. Dierker diffused 10 hits, issued one base on balls and struck out four.^[5] Making his third Opening Day start for the Astros, Dierker at the time remained the only pitcher to start more than once on Opening Day for the club.^[6]

On April 28, César Gerónimo chipped in a walk-off triple, just the second in club history. This scored Jim Wynn during the bottom of the tenth frame for a decision of Houston 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3.^[a][7] Rader drove in six, and Larry Dierker (6–1) earned the win and quality start spite of yielding 13 hits in six innngs,

May

On May 16, Doug Rader hit a record third career grand slam inside the Astrodome—which would be matched by one other player during its 35 years of hosting baseball.^[b] At that point, Rader had been the only player to hit more than one in the Astrodome.^[8] Larry Dierker (6–1) earned the victory and quality start, escaping 13 hits surrendered over six innings. The Astros won, 12–4, while Dierker himself collected two hits at the plate. Jim Ray (1) pitched the final three innings to earn the save.^[9]

During a doubleheader on May 26 at San Diego Stadium, the Padres started Al Santorini for both contests, though during the first game, Santorini was deployed as an opener. Facing an order assembled with seven lefties, Santorini got the leadoff hitter out and was replaced by Dave Roberts. The Astros won, 2–1, behind Wade Blasingame's effort.^[2] Bob Watson pinch hit for Blasingame (3–5) in the top of the ninth and singled home Doug Rader for the game-winning run.^[10]

In the May 26 nightcap, Larry Dierker cruised to his first career one-hitter^[11] while outpitching Santorini–who, this time, hurled six innings–in an 8–0 Astros triumph. Ollie Brown's broken-bat single in the seventh foiled Dierker's bid for a no-hitter.^[2] Dierker issued three base on balls and struck out five to earn a game score of 87. Catcher Johnny Edwards tripled and collected three runs batted in (RBI). The Astros piled on 11 hits and worked 6 walks.^[12] It was also Dierker's fourth career complete game effort of two hits or fewer.^[11]

June

On June 6, for the first time in club history, the Astros logged 10 extra-base hits in a single game.^[c][13] Though Astros stacked eight doubles and two home runs, they fell short to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9–8. Bob Watson homered (4), doubled (9) and collected four RBI. John Mayberry (2) also homered. Jesús Alou doubled twice, while Jack Hiatt, Doug Rader, and Johnny Edwards also doubled.^[14]

July

The Astros exploded for a season-high 18 runs on July 7,^[15] en route to an 18–4 drubbing of the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.^[16] Jimmy Wynn became the first player to attain 1,000 hits as a member the Houston Astros, also the 1,000th hit of his career,^[17][18] with a seventh inning double off left-hander Steve Hamilton. During an all-round memorable day, Wynn was 2-for-4 with 2 runs batted in (RBI), 2 runs scored, one stolen base and one base on balls.^[16]

On July 16, the Astros executed the first triple play in franchise history—and first at the Astrodome—during the top of the third inning,^[d][19] capping a 9–4 triumph over Nolan Ryan and the New York Mets. Shortstop Roger Metzger scooped a tapper hit by Cleon Jones, stepped on second base to force out Tommie Agee, then tossed to Denis Menke at first base ahead of Jones for the putout. Menke then fired to Doug Rader after Ken Boswell hesitated on his dash to third base, where Rader completed the trifecta. The Astros scored three in the bottom of the first inning, and once each every inning through the fifth. Metzer scored three times and Bob Watson had three this. Jack Billingham (5–8) worked 8+1⁄3 innings to earn the win.^[20]

September

On September 2, César Cedeño hit the first Inside-the-park grand slam at the Astrodome, one of two all-time.^[e][8] He stepped to the plate to face Claude Osteen with the bases loaded in the fifth in a 3–2 deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and hit a blooper to shallow right field between Bill Buckner and Jim Lefebvre. They while attempting to make the catch, and the ball dribbled into the corner. Meanwhile, the bases cleared ahead of Cedeño, who raced home for the 170 feet (52 m) inside the-park grand slam.^[2] The first of his career, Cedeño had blasted his first major league home run off Osteen on July 6 of the prior year.^[21] On the day, Cedeño was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and a double. Astros starter Don Wilson (13–8) went the distance to pick up the victory, a 9–3 score.^[22]

Strikeout records in a doubleheader: J. R. Richard's 15-strikeout debut

Astros pitching fired a record performance on September 5 during a doubleheader at Candlestick Park.^[2] In the opener, Jack Billingham tossed a five-hit, 1–0 shutout with 11 strikeouts and a game score of 86 over the Giants.^[23] Making his major league debut during the second game on September 5, J. R. Richard^[2] struck out 15 Giants on the way to firing another complete game. Richard's final strikeout victim was Hal Lanier, also the final out of the contest, to finish off a 5–3 Astros triumph. This contest garnered a 75-game score for Richard.^[24] His 15-strikeout effort remained his permanent career-high,^[f][25] while tying a record for a Major League debut first established in 1954 by Karl Spooner of the Brooklyn Dodgers.^[26] The 26 combined strikeouts by Billingham and Richard during the twinbill set a new MLB record.^[2]

Rest of September

Facing a 4–1 deficit to the Atlanta Braves on September 15, manager Harry Walker inserted right-handed prospect Larry Yount to pitch the ninth inning. His major league debut, Félix Millán was the first batter of the inning. Before he could throw his first pitch, Yount's elbow became sore, whom Walker replaced with veteran Jim Ray. Yount, who never made another major league appearance, became the first to appear in a game without any officially scored plays being completed.^[27] Atlanta prevailed over Houston, 4 to 2, led by Phil Niekro (14–12), who tossed a four-hit complete game, defeating Houston's Jack Billingham (8–15). Billingham surrendered Hank Aaron's 44th home run of the season.^[28]

The Astros turned their second triple play of the season on September 17, during the second inning while hosting the Cincinnati Reds.^[19]

On September 24, Ken Forsch established an individual club record by working 13 innings. Forsch surrendered six hits, one run, and struck out eight.^[g][29]

Performance overview

With a 79–83 (.488) record, Houston terminated the 1971 campaign tied for fourth place in the NL West with the Cincinnati, 11 games behind the division-champion San Francisco Giants.^[30]

The Astros played 75 games that were decided by a one run margin, which is an all-time MLB record. In those games, the team had a record of 32–43.^[31]

Third baseman Doug Rader, who won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award, became the first Astro to win more than once.^[32]

As the Astrodome was reputed for suppressing the home run,^[33] three Astros combined to lead the league in extra-base hit categories. With 40 doubles, César Cedeño led the major leagues. He joined Rusty Staub in 1967 as the second Astro to lead both theNatioal League in doubles as well as all of baseball.^[34] Meanwhile, Houston's first-ever triples leaders—Roger Metzger and Joe Morgan jointly led the major leagues with 11 each—forged a three-way tie with Freddie Patek of the Kansas City Royals in the American League.^[35]

Morgan also became first player in club history to record three 40-stolen base season, all consecutively. This was also the third of a franchise-record nine successive campaigns featuring at least one baserunner with 40 or more stolen bases.^[h][36]

Don Wilson became the first Astros pitcher to lead the NL in hits per nine innings (6.549 H/9).^[37]

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

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

Major League debuts