Summary Inaugural game in the American League Houston's first-ever
Opening Day as an American League club took place on March 31, where they hosted in-state
rivals, the
Texas Rangers, at Minute Maid Park, and claimed victory, 8–2. Former Astro
Lance Berkman, starting as the Rangers' designated hitter (DH), was recognized during the
pre-game ceremony.
Texans defensive end
J. J. Watt threw the
ceremonial first pitch to catcher
J. D. Martinez, who promptly obliged Watt by
autographing a baseball.
Bud Norris was the Astros' choice as the first
Opening Day starting pitcher for the AL era, thus delivering the first pitch. The Astros' first hit as AL team came via Altuve's groundball single in the first inning.
Justin Maxwell connected for a two-
run batted in (RBI)
triple during the bottom fourth to break a scoreless tie. The first
pinch-hitting decision arrived in the sixth inning for manager
Bo Porter, with runners on first and second and two outs. The actor in Porter's move became
Rick Ankiel, substituted for Brandon Barnes, and Ankiel launched Houston's first
home run as an AL team, a three-run blast to right field, to give the Astros a lead of 7–2. The Astros' first victory as an American League club was also the 4,000th in franchise history.
April For the third time in a single game on April 9, the Astros concentrated as many as 40
total bases during a 16–9 route of the
Seattle Mariners. A quartet of Astros went deep for the first time on the season
Chris Carter (twice),
J. D. Martinez,
Marwin González, and
Jose Altuve. Seven of nine starters assembled multi-hit efforts as the Astros collected 22 hits, eight going for
extra bases. Right-hander
Paul Clemens (1–0) earned the victory with four innings of relief though he surrendered five
earned runs and three home runs. Carter attained both his first career multi-homer and four-hit games, while for Altuve, it was his third career four-hit game and first with four
runs batted in. González reached base five times via three hits and two walks and scored thrice. The 40 total bases ranked, at the time third-most in club history (44 accumulated on September 9,
2000; and 42 one month earlier on August 13, 2000). The Astros' next bout attaining this threshold was on August 10,
2019, when they set a new franchise record with 50.
May Jason Castro honered twice on May 25, he second career mult-home run game. Castro attained his first career four-hit game on May 24. Hence, Castro was named AL
Player of the Week. On May 27, J. D. Martinez became the second Astro to earn the
platinum sombrero, a mythical award for striking out five times in one game. His followed
Preston Wilson on April 17,
2006, a nine-inning game. Martinez' was during a 12-inning victory over the
Colorado Rockes, 3–2.
Brandon Barnes sliced a
ground rule double to deep right field to score
Ronny Cedeño during the bottom of the 12th inning for the walk-off victory.
June On June 23, Chris Carter attained his second career four-hit game—and second of the campaign—while realizing his first with three doubles.
Brandon Barnes' cycle On July 19, outfielder
Brandon Barnes hit for the cycle, the eighth in franchise history, including a 5-for-5 performance and an
inside-the-park home run in the second inning during a 10–7 loss to the
Seattle Mariners. Barnes followed up the home run with a
triple in the fourth,
single in the sixth, and
double in the eighth. In the ninth, he singled for the fifth hit of the day. This was the only cycle in club history featured as portion of a five-hit game, and just the third five-hit game in club history also accentuated by 10 or more
total bases. The seventh Astro to hit for the cycle, the only player to do so twice was
César Cedeño. Barnes' feat was preceded by
Luke Scott on July 28,
2006, and Barnes' then-teammate
Jose Altuve succeeded him on August 28,
2023. 2–1. The Astros scored their lone run during the bottom of the fourth inning when
Chris Carter drove home
Jose Altuve on a groundout.
J. D. Martinez doubled for the only
extra-base hit off Pettitte. Pettitte whiffed
Brandon Barnes in the eighth for his final major league strikeout. During the bottom of the ninth, Carter singled for the final hit off Pettitte, and Pettitte retired Martinez on a ground out to third base for his final batter of the contest and major league career. The Astros concluded the 2013 season on a 15-game
losing streak, qualifying as the longest-ever in franchise annals.
Performance overview During an up-and-down first season as members of the American League, the Astros' 15-game losing streak, plunging their performance to a club-worst 111 losses. On the season, Houston won just 12 series, two of which were sweeps, and none outside of the AL West. They were swept 18 times, finishing 45 games out of first place, winning just two games against the rival Texas Rangers and four games against the
Oakland Athletics, getting shut out 14 times (twice in a row against the Rangers and the Rays). They surrendered 10 runs or more in 17 games. who claimed an incredible record along with that year's
World Series. However, several young players had breakout seasons. Catcher Jason Castro hit .276 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI in just 120 games. Second baseman
Jose Altuve hit .284, 52 RBI, and 35 stolen bases. Third baseman
Matt Dominguez ranked second on the club to
Chris Carter in home runs (21) and RBI (77) while being recognized for his superlative defense at third base with the
Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for the Astros.
Season standings American League West American League Wild Card Record vs. opponents Game log Roster ==Player stats==