Houston Astros: Top five moments in franchise history

2. Craig Biggio‘s 3,000th hit

This could’ve been just any other game in late June. There was no division title or postseason series on the line. The Astros wouldn’t even make the playoffs that year. But this day was the culmination of a 20-year relationship between player and team.

Craig Biggio came into this game with 2,997 career hits, needing three to reach the vaunted 3,000-hit milestone. Reaching it would punch his ticket to the Hall of Fame and cement his status as an all-time great. To do it all in a Houston uniform would make it even more special.

Biggio got his first hit with a single to left-center in the third inning and followed that with an infield single down the third base line in the fifth. Then he stepped to the plate in the seventh and hit a sharp line drive to right-center field for No. 3,000 as he tied the game and sent Minute Maid Park into a frenzy. Bill Brown‘s call of that moment will be forever ingrained in my memory.

The night would get even more special. Biggio added a single in the ninth for his fourth hit, and then started a two-out rally with an infield single in the 11th. With the team trailing 5-4 and down to their last out, the same hustle that Biggio displayed his whole career helped turn the tide.

Hunter Pence followed with a double, and Berkman was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Carlos Lee. El Caballo launched a grand slam to left to win the game, capping off one of the single most incredible games in franchise history.