Summary April The Astros played
Opening Day on April 6 at
Atlanta Stadium, where they defeated the
Braves, 2–1. In the top of the 13th inning,
César Cedeño doubled home
Tommy Helms for the game-winning
run batted in (RBI), one of his three
extra-base hits.
Jimmy Wynn slammed a game-tying
home run in the sixth. Astros Opening Day starter
Dave Roberts lasted the first nine innings, scattered eight hits, and allowed one run. Starting April 9,
Bob Watson authored a career-high 19-game
hitting streak,
batting .388. The streak lasted until April 27. The first-ever
Player of the Week Award was presented for the National League by
president Chub Feeney to Astros left fielder
Jimmy Wynn for the week ended April 16, 1973. Considering the 11 games played since Opening Day on April 6, Wynn connected for 6 home runs, 10 RBI, one
double, one
triple, and had carried a batting average of .313 (15-for-48).
May Displeased with the result of a contest on May 15, Houston GM
Spec Richardson resorted to sending his message through the
scoreboard of the Astrodome, blaming umpires
Augie Donatelli and
Bruce Froemming for blown calls in a 4–1 loss to the
Atlanta Braves. He charged the missed calls changed the outcome of the game; however, this instead resulted in a $500 fine. Down 7–0 on May 20, the
San Francisco Giants came all the way back to tie, 7–7. However, a solo home run from
Jimmy Wynn gave Houston an 8–7 win, while also allowing them to take sole possession of first place. Beginning May 30, and until June 21,
Lee May put together a 21-game hitting streak to set a franchise record, punctuated by his performance during the final four days from June 17–21. On June 17, May went 3-for-5, including his 1,000th career hit. on the way to career day. It was the only three-home run game and four-run contest of May's career, and his only four-hit game of the campaign. Meanwhile,
Ken Forsch hurled a
complete game to lead a 12–2 win over the
San Diego Padres. May delivered 5 RBI and
Tommy Helms also connected for a
grand slam. During the final four games of Lee's hitting streak he collected 13 RBI. Over the entirety of the steak, Lee batted .407, going 35-for-86. One curiosity emerged as Lee did not draw any
bases on balls from the streak's start to finish. His record displaced
Rusty Staub's 20-game streak from June 30 to July 21,
1967, and remained until surpassed by teammate
César Cedeño from August 25 to September 21,
1977, when Cedeño hit in 22 contests consecutively. On June 22, 1973, the day that Lee's streak ended, he went 0-for-2 while drawing two walks. Cedeño collected a single and an RBI in three at bats while Watson was inserted as a defensive replacement in left field as the National League defeated the
American League, 7–1.
August A harbinger of their fortunes against this moundsman,
J. R. Richard chucked his first major league
shutout on August 1, a 5–0 triumph over the
Los Angeles Dodgers. Shaking a deep slump, On August 20, Richard stymied the
Pittsburgh Pirates on a complete game two-hitter as Houston bombed to a 10-2 triumph. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh until
Al Oliver singled with two outs By that point,
Lee May had blasted a three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth and
Bob Watson followed up in the fifth by launching a
grand slam. Richard ended up with nine strikeouts and a
game score of 81.
September At the Astrodome on September 22,
Hank Aaron hoisted a
Dave Roberts offering into the left field stands during the sixth inning for his 712th career home run. The enormous outfield
scoreboard commemorated Aaron's blast with, “712!” adding, “Aaron is now two away from tying mark + 3 from 715!” Aaron received one more
at bat that evening, fouling out to first baseman
Lee May. The Astros and Braves faced each other for four of the final six bouts of the season. During the penultimate day of the season on September 29, Hank Aaron hammered a
Jerry Reuss offering for his 40th home runs of the campaign during the fifth inning, and 713th of his career, placing Aaron just one home run away from
Babe Ruth for the
all-time Major League lead.
Performance overview Houston concluded the season with an record, in fourth place and trailing the division-champion Reds by 17 games. Though the Astros' record slipped from a then-franchise best by two victories and from second to fourth place, the 1972–1973 campaigns distinguished the first time in franchise annals with consecutive winning seasons. This was their third season of 81 wins or more (also
1969). Moreover, the 82 wins signified a fifth consecutive season of winning a minimum of 79 bouts, after having lost 90 or more contests in each of the first seven campaigns. Cedeño proceeded to repeat the
20–50 club for the second consecutive season, with 25 home runs and 56
stolen bases, Cedeño became the first player in major league history to repeat over consecutive seasons. Also for the first time, the Astros headlined three
Gold Glove awardees. Third baseman
Doug Rader captured a third sequential to extend his club record. Cedeño was recognized among outfielders for a second season, joining Rader as Astros who had won in multiplex seasons. Meanwhile,
Roger Metzger drew his first, also becoming the first Astro to win for the position of shortstop. • August 18, 1973: Tommie Agee was traded by the Astros to the
St. Louis Cardinals for
Dave Campbell and cash. •
Mike Davey was drafted by the Astros in the 18th round, but did not sign.
Roster == Player stats ==