| FOR OPENERS: The Houston Astros open the 2010 | | | | A Round Rock...the 40-man roster now stands at 40. |
| season tonight at 6:05 p.m. against the San Francisco | | | | SPRING TRAINING WRAP-UP: Houston finished the |
| Giants...tonight's game is the 1st of a three-game series | | | | 2010 Spring season at 13-15-1...Chris Johnson led the |
| against the Giants at home...after an off-day on | | | | Majors with 8 HR while hitting .323 with 22 RBI...Pedro |
| Thursday, the Astros host the defending NL Champion | | | | Feliz (.356), Carlos Lee (.333) and Hunter Pence (.373) |
| Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game set over the | | | | also had solid Springs at the plate...RHP Matt Lindstrom |
| weekend. | | | | (0.84) did not allow a run until his 10th and final app. on |
| HOUSTON OPENING DAY HISTORY | | | | Saturday (1ER/10.2IP). |
| *Tonight marks the 49th Opening Day in Houston | | | | MEDICAL UPDATES: The Astros begin the 2010 |
| franchise history. | | | | season with three players on the 15-day Disabled |
| *Houston is 23-25 overall on Opening Day, with an | | | | List...Lance Berkman underwent arthroscopic surgery |
| 18-17 mark at home. | | | | on his left knee on 3/13...RHP Alberto Arias (rot. cuff |
| *The Astros are 3-5 when opening the season at | | | | impingement) and RHP Yorman Bazardo (shoulder |
| Minute Maid Park. | | | | strain) each were injured while pitching in a game this |
| *2010 is the 9th time in the last 11 seasons that the | | | | Spring...all three players are eligible to come off the DL |
| Astros have opened at home. | | | | on 4/10. |
| *Tonight is the 8th time the Astros have opened the | | | | HOME COOKIN': Tonight's game is the start of a |
| season vs. SF...they are just 1-6 thus far vs. SF on OD. | | | | 6-game homestand for the Astros...after this 3-game |
| *April 5, 2004 was last time Houston opened the | | | | series vs. SF, the Astros begin a 3-game set over the |
| season vs. SF, also at MMP (5-4 loss). | | | | weekend vs. PHI...despite their 74-88 overall record, the |
| *Tonight marks Roy Oswalt's 8th consecutive Opening | | | | Astros were 44-37 at home in ‘09, giving them nine |
| Day start for Houston. | | | | consecutive winning seasons at Minute Maid Park. |
| 45TH ANNIVERSARY: 2010 marks the 45th | | | | WINNING WAYS: Since 1993, the Astros rank 3rd in |
| anniversary of the Houston Astros...after debuting as | | | | the NL and 6th in the Majors in winning percentage...the |
| the Colt 45s in 1962, the Houston franchise changed | | | | club's .530 winning percentage (1424-1264) in the last 17 |
| their name to the Astros in 1965, playing their first | | | | seasons trails only the Yankees (.597), Braves (.581), |
| game that season on April 12 in the newly-opened | | | | Red Sox (.554), Cardinals (.534) and Indians (.532). |
| Astrodome. | | | | Click Here to Watch MLB Baseball San Francisco |
| ROY WONDER: With his start tonight, Roy Oswalt will | | | | Giants vs Houston Astros Online |
| extend his franchise-record of Opening Day starts to | | | | GRAND OPENING!: The Grand Opening for the |
| eight (all consecutive)...he and Roy Halladay entered | | | | Astros brand-new Urban Youth Academy will be held |
| this season tied with the longest active streaks in the | | | | on Saturday, April 10 at 11 a.m. at Sylvester Turner |
| Majors...Oswalt is 2-3 with a 3.35 ERA (18ER/48.1IP) in | | | | Park...several Astros players and front office personnel |
| his seven previous Opening Day starts, pitching | | | | will participate in the Grand Opening. |
| 7.0-or-more innings in five of those seven | | | | TURNING BACK THE CLOCK: April 10 will be"Turn |
| outings...Taming the West: Oswalt was a perfect 7-0 | | | | Back The Clock Night" at Minute Maid Park as the |
| vs. the Western Division in 2009 with a 1.98 ERA...his | | | | Astros and Phillies wear their respecitive 1965 uniforms |
| seven wins vs. the NL West were tops in the NL and | | | | as part of the Astros celebration of their 45th |
| his .755 (37-12) career winning pct. vs. NL West clubs | | | | anniversary...the game will also feature a free 1965 |
| is the highest in the Majors among active pitchers (min. | | | | Astros replica jersey for the first 10,000 fans, special |
| 50 app.). | | | | 1965 pricing on select concession items and other |
| MORE ROY: Roy Oswalt's 137 wins since entering the | | | | promotions related to that season...visit for more details. |
| Majors in 2001 are tops in baseball...additionally, Oswalt | | | | FANFEST A SUCCESS: The Astros Annual FanFest |
| is T-2nd in wins in franchise history with Larry Dierker, | | | | event, held on Friday and Saturday at Minute Maid |
| just seven wins shy of leader Joe Niekro (144). | | | | Park, raised over $50,000 for the Astros In Action |
| OPENING DAY LINEUP: Carlos Lee starts in LF for | | | | Foundation...Each year, FanFest features player |
| Houston for the 4th consecutive season...CF Michael | | | | autographs, interactive baseball discussions with |
| Bourn, and RF Hunter Pence are each making their 3rd | | | | broadcasters and executives, game-used memorabilia |
| consecutive Opening Day start...1B Geoff Blum is | | | | and and a variety of activities for children. |
| making his 3rd career Opening Day start, all coming as | | | | EL CABALLO: Carlos Lee enters this season as one |
| an Astro, while 2B Kazuo Matsui makes his 2nd with | | | | of six players to reach 100 RBI in each of the last five |
| Houston. | | | | seasons...the other five are: Bobby Abreu (2003-09), |
| OPENING DAY ROOKIES: Tommy Manzella will | | | | Miguel Cabrera (2004-09), Albert Pujols (2001-09), Alex |
| become the first Astros rookie to start at shorstop on | | | | Rodriguez (1998-2009) and Mark Teixeira |
| Opening Day since Adam Everett on April 2, 2002 | | | | (2004-09)...Lee has hit .300 with 20-plus HR and |
| (2x4 in 9-3 loss)...Prior to this season, CF Willy Taveraz | | | | 100-plus RBI in all three of his seasons with the Astros. |
| and LF Luke Scott were the last rookies to start on | | | | CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Lance Berkman enters the |
| Opening Day, both doing so five years ago today (4/5 | | | | 2010 season ranked 2nd in franchise history in HR |
| 05). | | | | (313), 3rd in total bases (2923) and doubles (359), 5th in |
| NATIONAL ANTHEM: Will be performed by country | | | | AB (5262) and 6th in games (1507)...Roy Oswalt |
| music artist Jack Ingram...Ingram, who grew up in | | | | currently ranks T-2nd in wins (137), 4th in innings (1803.1) |
| Houston, won the 2008 Academy of Country Music | | | | and starts (271) and 10th in app. (283). |
| award for "Best New Male Vocalist." | | | | 2009 REVISITED |
| UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT: 53-year-old Brad Mills, | | | | SEASON WRAPUP: Houston finished the 2009 |
| who has over 30 years of experience in professional | | | | season 74-88 and in 5th-place in the National League |
| baseball, was officially named Astros manager on 10 | | | | Central Division...2009 marked just the 3rd time in the |
| 27/09...pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, first base coach | | | | last 18 seasons that the Astros have finished below |
| Bobby Meacham and bullpen coach Jamie Quirk are | | | | .500. |
| also new additions to the coaching staff, which returns | | | | BREAKOUT SEASON: Michael Bourn led the NL in SB |
| third-base coach Dave Clark and hitting coach Sean | | | | with 61 and captured his first Rawlings Gold Glove |
| Berry...Al Pedrique, who spent the final month of ‘09 | | | | Award in 2009...Bourn's 56-point increase in his batting |
| as the 3rd base coach after Clark replaced Cecil | | | | average (.229-285) was the highest in the Majors (min. |
| Cooper as interim manager, is Mills' bench coach in | | | | 300 AB). |
| 2010. | | | | GUNSLINGER: 2009 All-Star Hunter Pence led the NL |
| RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Following Saturday's | | | | in assists with 16, and in the process became the first |
| game, the Astros purchased the contract of OF Cory | | | | OF in franchise history to lead the NL in this category |
| Sullivan and reassigned OF Jason Bourgeois to Triple | | | | in back-to-back seasons. |