Houston Astros Tickets : The Astros Opened Up Their Season In San Diego Without Baseman Kazuo Matsui

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the Central Division of the National League. Since 2000, they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, formerly known as Enron Field. Their current majority owner is Drayton McLane, Jr.

The Astros were established as the Houston Colt .45s in 1962. They changed to their current name three years later, when they moved into the iconic Astrodome, the world's first domed sports stadium. The name references Houston's role as the center of the U.S. astronaut program.

The Astros are the oldest MLB franchise to have never won the World Series while remaining in the same city over their history. After heart-breaking playoff losses in 1980, 1981, and 1986, and more playoff appearances in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Astros finally appeared in their first and only World Series, in 2005 against the Chicago White Sox.

On January 11, the Astros started off 2008 by signing Brandon Backe to a one-year deal. During the rest of the month, they also signed Ty Wigginton and Dave Borkowski to one-year deals.In February, the Astros signed Shawn Chacon to a one-year contract.The Astros started off their Spring Training campaign with a loss to the Cleveland Indians on February 28.

Spring Training ended with a loss to the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park before the Astros went on to face the San Diego Padres. Manager Cecil Cooper and General Manager Ed Wade had a tough decision to make before the trip. Astros pitcher Woody Williams had a bad spring, going 0/4 throughout the stay in Florida. They released him on March 30 with which he immediately retired.

The Astros also announced their starting pitching rotation. As usual, Roy Oswalt was given the ball on opening day. With Jason Jennings in Texas and Williams retired, the Astros named Brandon Backe to the second spot. Wandy Rodriguez would get the ball in the third spot with Shawn Chacon and Chris Sampson following them in the #4 and 5 spots, respectively.The Astros opened up their season in San Diego without second baseman Kazuo Matsui.

Matsui, who had been injured in Spring Training, was completing a Minor League rehab assignment. The game that day was bad for Houston with Roy Oswalt giving up four runs in six innings of work. The final was 4/0 for the Padres. As well, the Astros lost the second game of the series with Mark Loretta and Geoff Blum in the starting lineup.

On Wandy Rodriguez's start, the Astros won their first game with a 9/6 victory over the Padres. Lance Berkman hit a game-winning, three-run home run in the 9th. In the final game of the series, Shawn Chacon pitched a solid game but the Astros lost after Chacon exited with the score tied 2/2.

In May, the Astros have made some roster moves by sending rookie catcher J. R. Towles to the Triple A Round Rock Express and calling up center fielder Reggie Abercrombie. Dave Borkowski was sent down earlier in the month, Chris Sampson was demoted to the bullpen and Brian Moehler was promoted into the starting rotation.

On June 25, Shawn Chacon was suspended indefinitely for insubordination. The next day the Astros placed him on waivers.On June 28, the Astros beat the Boston Red Sox for the first time in team history. They have played Boston previously in 2003, but they were swept when they played in Fenway Park.On September 14, the Astros lost a no hitter to the Chicago Cubs while playing in Milwaukee due to the effects of Hurricane Ike.