Using the awesome Baseball Reference Play Index tool, let's look at some of the best Opening Day performances in Astros history.
Single Game
Batters
Runs - 3. Done five times, most recently 2001 when both Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman helped Houston beat the Milwaukee Seligs 11-3.
Hits - 5. Craig Biggio, 2001.
Doubles - 3. Derek Bell, 1998.
Triples - 2. Justin Maxwell, 2013.
Home Runs - 2. Twice. Most recently Jeff Bagwell, 2003. Roman Mejias was the other, in Houston's first Opening Day in 1962.
RBI - 6. Twice. Most recently Daryle Ward, 2001. Mejias also ties for this one, 1962.
Walks - 3. Brad Ausmus, 1998.
Strikeouts - 3. Five times, most recently Carlos Pena and Brett Wallace in 2013.
Stolen Bases - 2. Michael Bourn, 2008.
Pitchers
Innings Pitched - 9. This has been done seven times, including 5 complete games. Most recently by J.R. Richard in 1977, though it was not a complete game.
Hits Allowed - 11. Twice, most recently by Roy Oswalt, 2008.
Runs Allowed - 7. Twice, most recently by Wade Miller, 2002.
Walks - 4. Four times, most recently by Mike Scott, 1989.
Strikeouts - 13. J.R. Richard, 1980.
Pitches - 122. Shane Reynolds, 1997. (data up to 1987 seems to be missing)
Astros Career Leaders
Batters
Hits - 23. Craig Biggio.
Doubles - 5. Cesar Cedeno.
Triples - 2. Justin Maxwell.
Home Runs - 5. Jeff Bagwell.
RBI - 12. Richard Hidalgo.
Walks - 18. Jeff Bagwell.
Strikeouts - 18. Craig Biggio.
Pitchers
Innings Pitched - 54.1. Roy Oswalt
Hits Allowed - 55. Roy Oswalt.
Walks - 12. Mike Scott.
Strikeouts - 35. J.R. Richard.
Wins - 4. Larry Dierker
Losses - 4. Roy Oswalt
Complete Games - 3. Larry Dierker
Saves - 3. Billy Wagner
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
