Editing Houston Astros (section)

===1986–1990: A deep run, and building for the future===
After finishing fourth in 1985, the Astros fired general manager [[Al Rosen]] and manager [[Bob Lillis]]. The former was supplanted by [[Dick Wagner (baseball)|Dick Wagner]], the man whose [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]] defeated the Astros to win the 1979 NL West title. The latter was replaced by [[Hal Lanier]] who, like his manager mentor in St. Louis, [[Whitey Herzog]], had a hard-nosed approach to managing and espoused a playing style that focused on pitching, defense, and speed rather than home runs to win games. This style of baseball, known as [[Whiteyball]], took advantage of stadiums with deep fences and artificial turf, both of which were characteristics of the Astrodome. Lanier's style of baseball took Houston by storm. Before Lanier took over, fans were accustomed to Houston's occasional slow starts, but with Lanier leading the way, Houston got off to a hot start, winning 13 of their first 19 contests.<ref name=AstrosDaily/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lanieha01.shtml |title=Hal Lanier Statistics and History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207113348/http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lanieha01.shtml |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/whitey-ball/ |title=Whitey Ball |date=March 15, 2006 |publisher=Hardballtimes.com |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129022031/http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/whitey-ball/ |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to the start of the season the Astros acquired outfielder [[Billy Hatcher]] from the Cubs for [[Jerry Mumphrey]]. Lainer also made a change in the pitching staff, going with a three-man rotation to start the season.  This allowed Lanier to keep his three starters ([[Nolan Ryan]], [[Bob Knepper]], and [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]]) sharp and to slowly work in rookie hurler [[Jim Deshaies]]. [[Bill Doran (second baseman)|Bill Doran]] and [[Glenn Davis (baseball)|Glenn Davis]] held down the right side of the field but Lainer rotated the left side.  [[Denny Walling]] and [[Craig Reynolds (baseball)|Craig Reynolds]] faced the right-handed pitchers while [[Phil Garner]] and [[Dickie Thon]] batted against left-handers.  Lanier knew the Astros had talent and he put it to work.<ref name=AstrosDaily/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1986.shtml |title=1986 Houston Astros Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025200659/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1986.shtml |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Mike Scott Astros.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]] won the 1986 NL [[Cy Young Award]] and [[NLCS MVP]]]]
The Astrodome was host to the [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986 All-Star Game]] in which Astros [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]], [[Kevin Bass]], [[Glenn Davis (baseball)|Glenn Davis]], and [[Dave Smith (pitcher, born 1955)|Dave Smith]] represented the host field.  The Astros kept pace with the NL West after the All-Star break. They went on a streak of five straight come-from-behind wins. Houston swept a key 3-game series over the [[San Francisco Giants]] in late September to clinch the division title.  [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]] took the mound in the final game of the series and pitched a no-hitter – the only time in MLB history that any division was clinched via a no-hitter.  Scott would finish the season with an 18–10 record and a [[Cy Young Award]].<ref name=AstrosDaily/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/moments/ |title=Real Insight. Real Fans. Real Conversations |magazine=Sporting News |access-date=November 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409091709/http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/moments/ |archive-date=April 9, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=1986&t=HOU |title=1986 Houston Astros Schedule by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025121156/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=1986&t=HOU |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[1986 National League Championship Series]] against the [[New York Mets]] was noted for its drama and is considered to be one of the greatest postseason series. In Game 3, the Astros were ahead at [[Shea Stadium]], 5–4, in the bottom of the 9th when closer [[Dave Smith (pitcher, born 1955)|Dave Smith]] gave up a two-run home run to [[Lenny Dykstra]], giving the Mets a dramatic 6–5 win.

However, the signature game of the series was Game 6. Needing a win to get to [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]] (who had been dominant in the series) in Game 7, the Astros jumped off to a 3–0 lead in the first inning but neither team would score again until the 9th inning. In the 9th, starting pitcher [[Bob Knepper]] would give up two runs, and once again the Astros would look to Dave Smith to close it out. However, Smith would walk [[Gary Carter]] and [[Darryl Strawberry]], giving up a sacrifice fly to [[Ray Knight]], tying the game. Despite having the go-ahead runs on base, Smith was able to escape the inning without any further damage.

There was no scoring until the 14th inning when the Mets would take the lead on a [[Wally Backman]] single and an error by left fielder [[Billy Hatcher]]. The Astros would get the run back in the bottom of the 14th when Hatcher (in a classic goat-to-hero-conversion-moment) hit one of the most dramatic home runs in [[National League Championship Series|NLCS]] history, off the left-field foul pole. In the 16th inning, Darryl Strawberry doubled to lead off the inning and Ray Knight drove him home in the next at-bat. The Mets would score a total of three runs in the inning to take what appeared an insurmountable 7–4 lead. With their season on the line, the Astros would nonetheless rally for two runs to come to within 7–6. Kevin Bass came up with the tying and winning runs on base; however [[Jesse Orosco]] would strike him out, ending the game. At the time the 16-inning game held the record for the longest in MLB postseason history.  The Mets won the series, 4–2.

After the 1986 season, the team had difficulty finding success again. Several changes occurred. The "rainbow" uniforms were phased out, the team electing to keep a five-stripe "rainbow" design on the sleeves. Team favorites [[Nolan Ryan]] and [[José Cruz]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://astrosdaily.com/history/1987/ |title=Houston Astros history – 1987 season |publisher=Astrosdaily.com |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514193551/http://astrosdaily.com/history/1987/ |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> moved on and the team entered a rebuilding phase.  [[Craig Biggio]] debuted in June 1988, joining new prospects [[Ken Caminiti]] and [[Gerald Young (baseball)|Gerald Young]]. Biggio would become the everyday catcher by 1990.  A trade acquiring [[Jeff Bagwell]] in exchange for [[Larry Andersen]] would become one of the biggest deals in Astros history. Glenn Davis was traded to [[Baltimore]] for [[Curt Schilling]], [[Pete Harnisch]] and [[Steve Finley]] in 1990.