This Day In Astros History: April 6, 2009

Again, we don't have to journey far, but we do find some misery, as the Astros drop their last home opener, Opening Day 2009 to the Cubs 4-2 in what would be the start of Cecil Cooper's last year as manager of the club.

To make matters worse, Roy Oswalt was outdueled in this one by none other than Carlos Zambrano. The Fiery One allowed five hits and one run in six innings, striking out six and walking three. To walk three Astros on that team, with MIguel Tejada even, is a feat. Zambrano also only won nine games that season, so that's neat.

No Astro had an extra-base hit, though Tejada did go 3-for-4, scoring both runs. Michael Bourn, hitting eighth, was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Hunter Pence had the other RBI, despite going 0 for 3. Bourn's RBI came in the bottom of th seventh, when he hit a weak grounder to third and beat out the throw.

Since there were two outs in the inning (thanks to a double play grounded into by Pence), Aramis Ramirez rightly went to first base instead of home, but Bourn was able to beat the throw. Pence drove in his run in the bottom of the ninth after consecutive singles by Tejada and Geoff Blum.

Of the players in this game for Houston, only Bourn, Pence, Carlos Lee and Jason Michaels remain on the team. As much as we like to make excuses for Wade, he's turned this team over pretty significantly in the past three seasons. This is his team now, for better or worse (or a giant contract to a defensive liability in left field).