This Day In Astros History: May 25, 2002

This is going to be a week of losses. Not on the major league team, per se, but definitely for these recaps.This one comes from 2002, when Kerry Wood spun a four-hitter against Houston in this 5-1 loss to the Cubs at Minute Maid Park.

Wood struck out three and didn't walk anyone, giving up just one earned run and four hits in nine innings. In stark contrast, the Astros used a string of relievers and non-starters in this game, so it's surprising they held the Cubs to just five runs.

Dave Mlicki got the start for Houston, but only lasted 2 innings, giving up two runs and two hits with one walk. Nelson Cruz, Brandon Puffer, Pedro Borbon and Ricky Stone finished the game, with Cruz providing the strongest work by far. Cruz threw four innings, allowing no hits, no runs, one walk and striking out three. Cruz went on to start five games that season, but only two were decent.

Julio Lugo, Daryle Ward and Orlando Merced provided the only hits for Houston, with Lugo going 2 for 4 with a double. Bagwell was 0 for 2 but got hit by two pitches. Similarly, Craig Biggio was 0 for 3 but scored a run and was hit by a pitch. The Astros scraped their run across in the bottom of the ninth when Biggio led off with that HBP. Two quick outs made a comeback unlikely, so Biggio was able to take second on defensive indifference and score when Ward hit a line drive single to center.

If that wasn't enough, the Cubs were led offensively by Fred McGriff, who was 3 for 3 with two doubles and a home run. Sammy Sosa was 2 for 4 with a double and his 18th home run of that season, which is not surprising, considering how well he hit in Houston over his career. For McGriff, though, that was his last big home run year. He hit 30 in 2002 when he was 38, but only managed 15 more until he retired after the 2004 season with 493 home runs. 

Here's a graphic replay of the game, thanks to Back to Baseball.