Astros win third straight championship Victory overcomes season of adversity Box Score Play-by-Play

Biggio and Hampton take a victory lap

(c) Houston Astros October 3, 1999 - In the final regular-season game played in the Astrodome, the Astros needed a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers to clinch their third straight NL Central championship. Providing the team with his typical clutch performance, Mike Hampton made a bases-loaded, first inning double by Daryle Ward stand up as the Astros won easily, 9-4. With the championship, the Astros capped an injury-filled season and held off a tough Cincinnati Reds team that had owned first place just a week earlier. Hampton's victory gave him a 22-4 record for the year, setting the franchise mark for wins. He would finish second in the NL Cy Young voting behind ex-Astro Randy Johnson. The team finished with 97 wins, the second-most in franchise history, five games behind their mark set in the previous season. Jose Cabrera pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Jay Powell added some drama to a 9-1 laugher by allowing three runs in the 9th inning. Some controversy came from Los Angeles' decision to start rookie Robinson Checo instead of pitching ace Kevin Brown on three days rest. Checo walked five of the seven batters he faced, setting up the three-run double to Ward. Most of the grumbling came from Cincinnati, which subsequently lost a one-game playoff to the Mets. In the fourth inning, Craig Biggio laced a double into the right-field corner, giving him 56 for the season and establishing the current franchise record. Clinching in the Astrodome's final game was special, no doubt. But, more importantly, the 1999 championship represented a victory over the tremendous adversity that the team faced during the season. First-base coach Jose Cruz missed time after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Hitting coach Tom McCraw missed time to undergo treatment for cancer. The team was also devastated when manager Larry Dierker nearly died in the dugout after suffering a "grand mal" seizure on June 13. After undergoing brain surgery, the beloved skipper was back to normal and managing again within a month. On the field, many key players missed time due to injury. Outfielder Moises Alou missed the entire season and catcher Mitch Meluskey played only three weeks before being sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury. Third baseman Ken Caminiti missed half of the season with a leg injury. Outfielder Richard Hidalgo missed the last two months of the season due to a knee injury. On top of all of this, the team faced a tough challenge from the Cincinnati Reds, which won 96 games and still failed to make the playoffs. 1999 certainly represented one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

Jay Powell finds himself at the bottom of the victory pile

(c) Houston Astros

For the fans, nothing beats clinching at home

(c) Houston Astros

The team's third consecutive championship was one reason to celebrate...

(c) Houston Astros





...giving a proper sendoff to the team's famous home was another reason

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The Sports Ticker summary of the game: Behind another clutch performance by Mike Hampton and a three-run double by Daryle Ward in the first inning, the Houston Astros clinched their third straight National League Central title with a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hampton (22-4) set an Astros record for wins and held the Dodgers to just one run and three singles over seven innings. He walked four and struck out eight in winning for the second time in five days. Jose Cabrera tossed a scoreless eighth before Jay Powell allowed three runs on three hits in the ninth. The Astros, who finished 97-65, avoided the possibility of a one-game playoff with Cincinnati by winning today. They will face either the Arizona Diamondbacks or Atlanta Braves in the postseason. After toying with the idea of starting ace Kevin Brown, the Dodgers opted to go with Robinson Checo, who lasted just one-third of an inning. Checo allowed four runs on five walks and Ward's double.

While Craig Biggio and Mike Hampton were motoring

around the field, the rest of the team took a

"victory lap" for the fans, sharing their third

consecutive championship with them and providing

a memorable moment for the Astrodome's final

regular-season game





(c) Houston Astros



The champagne flowed freely, celebrating a remarkable championship overcoming a season filled with adversity

(c) Houston Astros

