Top 10 Astros stories of 2013 (numbers 6 through 10)

For the Houston Astros, 2013 was another difficult season. In the franchise’s first year in the American League, there were plenty of ups and downs. Mostly downs. The 111-loss season wasn’t without its highlights. Brandon Barnes became the first Astros player to hit for the cycle since Luke Scott did it in 2006. The team put together a 6-game winning streak in Colorado and Anaheim as May turned to June.

But heartbreak was more of the norm. Barnes’ cycle couldn’t secure the Astros a win and, before the season was over, the team had experienced seven losing streaks of six or more games. Along the way, we said goodbye to another fan favorite as Bud Norris was dealt to the Orioles at the trade deadline.

The offseason brought hope as the Astros aggressively sought to upgrade the roster by bringing in some proven players. Outfielder and leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler was acquired from Colorado to improve the offense. Free Agent right-hander Scott Feldman was signed to bolster the rotation and the club also added a number of bullpen arms. These were all big stories, but not big enough to crack my top ten. So, without further ado, here is my rundown of the top ten Astros stories of 2013.