国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

  Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Astros on verge of first-ever NL Pennant
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-18 09:00

To fans of the Chicago White Sox and other teams that think they've had long, excruciating waits to get back to the World Series, Houston Astros supporters have a message: At least you've been there.

Houston Astros Luke Scott, right, shakes hands with St. Louis Cardinals' relief pitcher Jason Marquis during the teams' warm-ups before Game 5 of their National League Championship Series in Houston, Monday, Oct. 17, 2005.
Houston Astros Luke Scott, right, shakes hands with St. Louis Cardinals' relief pitcher Jason Marquis during the teams' warm-ups before Game 5 of their National League Championship Series in Houston, Monday, Oct. 17, 2005. [AP]
No franchise has been in the same city without ever reaching the World Series — much less, winning it! — longer than the Colt .45s-turned-Astros.

And loyal Houstonians have tearstained rainbow jerseys to remind them of all the close calls.

Now in their 44th season, and ninth postseason, the Astros again were on the verge of breaking through Monday night. Houston went into Game 5 of the NL championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

"I just think it would be electric for the city," said manager Phil Garner, who played on the '86 team that came tantalizingly close to the World Series. "People are just so wound up."

Their chances this time are pretty good, with Andy Pettitte starting Game 5 at home, and Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens ready to go if the series shifts back to St. Louis.

Yet lessons learned the hard way, primarily in 1980, '86 and 2004, have taught fans to believe it when they see it.

Here's a quick trip through the Astros' agonizing playoff history:

? 1980, NLCS vs. Philadelphia.

After signing future Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Joe Morgan, the Astros overcame ace J.R. Richard's career-ending stroke to win the NL West for the first time. Then Houston discovered how tense, exciting and frustrating the playoffs can be.
Page: 123



The tattoos of stars
Van der Vaart's wife voted Bundesliga's prettiest
Chelsea thrash Bolton 5-1 in Premiership
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

China promises more flexible exchange rate system

 

   
 

Stage set for bigger space push

 

   
 

Koizumi's shrine visit draws rage, protests

 

   
 

Bush to visit China in November

 

   
 

Migrant examinees attract cheating suspicion

 

   
 

Taiwan farmers attend Beijing trade fair

 

   
  Astros on verge of first-ever NL Pennant
   
  Milan beat Cagliari to keep Juventus in sight
   
  Alonso wins Chinese GP to seal title for Renault
   
  Wie suffers nightmare debut with disqualification
   
  Kenyan goes wrong way but still wins; a runner dies
   
  Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier dead at 28
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
White Sox even up ALCS with contentious victory
   
Sanders maintains streak to lead Cards past Astros
   
China to keep baseball and softball as National Games event
   
Astros overcome Braves in 18, clinches series
   
Do or die for Yankees
   
Baseball plans to seek reinstatement
   
Yankees win division title for eighth straight year
Advertisement
         
万山特区| 岚皋县| 漾濞| 灌云县| 休宁县| 明光市| 本溪市| 翼城县| 朝阳区| 碌曲县| 瑞丽市| 北海市| 社旗县| 南京市| 图片| 临高县| 应城市| 农安县| 鲜城| 昌宁县| 郧西县| 巴彦县| 靖远县| 惠东县| 昔阳县| 峨眉山市| 太和县| 玛沁县| 屏南县| 博乐市| 休宁县| 商洛市| 陈巴尔虎旗| 庄河市| 南溪县| 东宁县| 孝昌县| 平安县| 商都县| 潢川县| 会宁县|