HOUSTON ASTROS
2016 Official Game Day Magazine
LEADING OFF
QUOTABLEBy Elizabeth Devita
We expect to win the way were
playing, which is good. We show up
the ballpark every day feeling good
about our chance to win. Weve got
to go out and produce and do some
things and prepare, but we do have
a nice little vibe about us, a little
swagger. Weve got our confidence
back and the way we show up and
performing right now, its a fun
atmosphere.
A.J. HINCH
June 29 MLB.com
A lot of times, people might think it
looks natural to [Springer], but its
because of the work hes put in. Ive
always said that hard work makes
the game look easy, and I think
thats probably some of the things
that the normal fans dont see.
GARY PETTIS
on George Springer
June 30 MLB.com
Its kind of a weight lifted off your
shoulders. Now I dont have to come
to the ballpark and think, Todays
the day. Ill go out and relax and
have fun.
A.J. REED
on getting his first
Major League hit
July 2 MLB.com
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It was a big month for us. To be
Player of the Month in a month when
the team was winning, its even
better. At the end of the day, what
matters is the way were playing.
JOSE ALTUVE
July 3 Houston Chronicle
When you have one good player,
that player can help you win a
ballgame. When you have two or
three good players, it can help you
have a good month and a good year
and a good run into the postseason.
JEFF LUHNOW on Jose Altuve,
Carlos Correa and George
Springer
July 3 Houston Chronicle
Im not going to take it for granted.
I dont know if Ill ever get another
opportunity like this again. Im going
to soak it in. Im going to have a big
smile on my face for a few days. It
should be a lot of fun.
WILL HARRIS
on his All-Star selection
July 5 Houston Chronicle
 HOUSTON ASTROS
2016 Official Game Day Magazine
LEADING OFF
THIS MONTH IN ASTROS HISTORY
By: Elizabeth Devita
On July 31, 1998, just before the trade deadline, the Houston Astros traded
three rookies to the Seattle Mariners for future Hall Of Famer Randy Johnson.
In his Astros debut shortly thereafter, Johnson struck out 12 batters over 7.0
innings en route to his first win, a 6-2 victory in Pittsburgh on August 2. Things
continued to get better with Johnson on the mound as August progressed. In
his first two games at the Astrodome in August, Johnson delivered shutout
victories over Philadelphia (August 7) and Milwaukee (August 12).
In his third home appearance and sixth overall with the club on August 28,
Johnson made history at the Astrodome. The 6-foot-10 left-handed pitcher
struck out a season-high 16 batters during his complete-game shutout versus
the Pittsburgh Pirates. It took 6.0 innings for any runs to cross the plate, but
the Astros first took the lead in the bottom of the 6th inning when Brad Ausmus
scored after Craig Biggio reached base safely on a fielders choice. Dj vu
GETTY IMAGES, VINCENT LAFORET
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was the name of the game in the 8th inning, as the Astros scored their second
run in the exact same fashion as their first. This was the last time an Astros
pitcher had 15 or more strikeouts in a game.
Johnson went 5-1 in his first six games in August, three of which were
complete game shutouts. Johnsons time with the Astros in 1998 was short
but sweet, and exactly what the team needed someone they could trust
with the ball to win critical games. In 11 starts during his few months with the
team, Johnson went 10-1 and owned a 1.28 ERA. Johnson joined the team
when they were in first place with a 67-44 record, and the team maintained
their excellence through the end of the season. With Johnsons help, the 1998
Astros went on to win the National League Central title and recorded 102
victories, which currently stands as the most victories in a single season in
franchise history.
GETTY IMAGES, STEPHEN DUNN
GETTY IMAGES, JONATHAN DANIEL