How some undeniable truths have now defined Dusty Baker's Astros legacy
STONE COLD 'STROS
13 October 2023
STONE COLD 'STROS
The Astros are back in the ALCS for the seventh straight year and host Game 1 at Minute Maid Park, with the Texas Rangers coming to town this Sunday.
One of the big storylines of the series is the battle between veteran managers Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy. Which got us thinking.
While Dusty Baker has faced his share of criticism this year for his handling of Martin Maldonado, Yainer Diaz, and Jose Abreu, one thing can't be called into question. The results. Dusty has led the Astros to 4 straight ALCS appearances, two World Series appearances, and one championship title.
With all that being said, is Dusty Baker the best manager in Astros history?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down.
If you enjoy the videos, watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) on SportsMap Houston's YouTube channel. We'll have you covered throughout the postseason.
Mauricio Dubón homered twice and Josh Hader stayed perfect in 19 save chances this season by getting Mike Trout to line out to center field with a runner on second as the Houston Astros held off the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 in the rubber game of their series Sunday.
DUBI SENDS ONE OUT! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/XqKhVxPgOs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Dubón's second career multihomer game began with a leadoff shot against starter Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning for the Astros' first run. Dubón added a two-run drive off Hunter Strickland for a 6-5 lead in the sixth.
DOUBLE DUBI DAY! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHRkGz pic.twitter.com/4dx2q3rvUa
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Jeremy Peña had an RBI double and Jake Meyers added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.
Nolan Schanuel hit an RBI single for the Angels in the seventh, and Zach Neto trimmed it to 8-7 with a solo homer off Hader in the ninth. Schanuel finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Peña hit his 11th home run one out after Dubón’s shot in the fifth to tie it 2-all. Meyers singled, stole second and scored on a two-out error by Luis Rengifo at third base. Christian Walker followed with an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
Taylor Ward had a two-out double off Astros rookie Ryan Gusto, and Logan O'Hoppe hit his third two-run homer in two days to give the Angels a 2-0 lead in the second. O'Hoppe has 17 home runs and is closing in on the team record for a catcher set by Lance Parrish with 22 in 1990.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Moore singled in the bottom half, and Schanuel gave the Angels a 5-4 lead with his sixth homer.
Gusto (5-3) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
Hendricks permitted five runs — three earned — in five innings. Strickland (1-2) worked an inning and was tagged with his first three earned runs this season.
The Angels had a run in with two on and two outs down 8-6 in the seventh with Trout coming to bat. Bryan Abreu replaced Bryan King and needed just three pitches to strike out Trout swinging on a pitch in the dirt.
Trout went 1 for 11 after entering the series as the active leader against Houston with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 73 RBIs.
Houston returns home to play the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Tuesday.
The Angels hadn't announced a starter for Monday's series opener against RHP Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.95 ERA) and the visiting Boston Red Sox.