Brandon Backe #41

Single and makes his offseason home in League City, Texas...originally drafted as a second baseman...attended Galveston Community College in Galveston, Texas, where he earned third-team All-America honors in 1998...pitched a total of 26.1 innings for GCC...graduated from Galveston Ball High School in 1996...was a two-time team MVP in baseball and earned all-district honors.

2008

Went 9-14 with a 6.05 ERA (112ER/166.2IP) in 31 starts with Houston in 2008...set single-season career highs in games started (31), innings pitched (166.2) and strikeouts (127); tied his career high in quality starts (11)...ranked second on the club in starts, innings and quality starts, trailing only Roy Oswalt in those categories...struck out a career-high nine batters on May 8 vs. WSH...received a loss that game, after allowing four runs on six hits in 6.0 innings...previous career high was eight strikeouts, accomplished three previous times...lost three consecutive decisions from May 30 to June 11, tying his career high...marked the second three-game losing streak of his career and first since June 13-25, 2005...allowed a career-high 11 earned runs twice this season on Aug. 6 at CHI and Aug. 16 vs. ARI...excluding those two starts, went 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA (18ER/53IP) in nine starts between July 8 to Sept. 2...had his best statistical month in July, going 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA (11ER/28.2IP)...marked his lowest ERA for a single month in his career (min. five starts) and was the lowest ERA by an Astros starter during the month...ranked 10th in the National League in strikeouts-per-9.0- innings in July after posting a 9.10 ratio...tossed a season-high 10.2 consecutive scoreless innings over parts of three starts from July 3-13...was one of five Major League pitchers with multiple home runs...hit his first homer on May 3 vs. MIL off of Brewers lefty Manny Parra...the home run was part of a back-to-back home run combination with Michael Bourn...marked the franchise's first back-to-back home run combination involving a pitcher since June 14, 1983 at SF when Bill Doran and Bob Knepper hit consecutive shots...hit his second home run on Aug. 1 vs. NYM off of Pedro Martinez...was the first Astros pitcher with multiple homers in a season since Sean Bergman hit two in 1999...finished the season hitting .277 (13x47), which ranked third among Major League pitchers...ranks as the fourth-highest batting average by a pitcher for a single season in franchise history (min. 45 AB)...is the highest average by a pitcher since Mike Hampton hit .311 in 1999 (min. 45 AB).

2007

Went 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA (12ER/28.2IP) in five starts with Houston in 2007...won his third consecutive start on Sept. 29 vs. ATL, tying a career-high (third time)...allowed only one run on four hits in 6.0 innings and struck out a season-high four...hit .400 (4x10) with five runs scored...hit his second career home run on Sept. 29 vs. ATL...earned his second win of 2007 on Sept. 21 at STL, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings and two strikeouts...recorded his 20th career win on Sept. 16 vs. PIT, allowed two runs in 6.0 innings...also went 2x3 with two runs scored...received the loss on Sept. 4 at MIL in his first start since Aug. 18, 2006...allowed four runs (three earned) in 5.2 innings at Miller Park...made six rehab starts with Triple A Round Rock and Double A Corpus Christi...was 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA (12ER/25IP) with 25 strikeouts in five starts for Round Rock...allowed three runs in 5.0 innings in one game for Corpus Christi on Aug. 2...underwent successful surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament on his right elbow on Sept. 7, 2006 and missed 135 games in 2007.

2006

28-year-old right-hander finished 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA (18ER/43IP) in eight starts this season...underwent successful surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament on his right elbow on Sept. 7...had two stints on the disabled list...placed on the 15-day DL on 4/14 with a right elbow sprain (missed 88 games)...suffered the injury in a two-inning start on 4/13 at the Giants...also placed on the DL on 8/19 with a right elbow sprain (missed 40 games)...was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA (2ER/8.0IP) in two starts before his injury...made six starts in between DL appearances and went 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA (16ER/35IP)...went 2-1 with 2.42 ERA (7ER/26IP) in four August starts...earned the win on 8/2 at San Diego, allowing one run and seven hits in 7.2 innings...the win at SD marked the second-longest start of his career...also won his next start, on 8/8 vs. PIT, allowing three hits and one run in 7.0 innings...in his final August start before being placed back on the DL, he allowed four hits and two runs in 6.1 innings on 8/18 at MIL...received a no-decision in the club's 8-7 loss on 7/28 vs. ARI...allowed five runs on 12 hits and left with a 4-4 tie...was activated from the DL on 7/22 and made his first start since 4/13...allowed four runs on four hits in 4.0 innings at NYM and received the loss...the loss snapped a three-game winning streak, from 9/17/05-4/7/06...the streak tied his career long (also from 5/25-6/8)...made four rehab starts for Triple-A Round Rock...was 1-2 with a 5.31 ERA (12ER/20.1IP) with 13 strikeouts and 13 walks...allowed only one home run...batted .600 (3x5) with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs...walked twice and did not strikeout...started on 4/7 vs. WSH and notched the win after allowing just one run over 6.0 innings with three strikeouts.

2003

25-year-old spent the majority of the season with the Rays over a pair of tours ... was up from May 16-27 and June 18 through season's end.

Missed being classified a rookie in 2003 by one day of major league service.

In his first stint was recalled when John Rocker was optioned and made three appearances (10.38 ERA, 4.1-IP, 7-H, 5-ER).

Recalled again on June 18 when Steve Parris was released and pitched in 25 games over the remainder of the slate (4.91 ERA, 40.1-IP, 33-H, 22- ER).

Picked up his first big league win and decision Aug. 1 at Kansas City with 4.0 scoreless innings of relief (H, BB, 2-K) ... matched his career high for innings (June 24 vs. NYY, also all scoreless).

Had a 9-outing stretch from July 22 to Aug. 21 in which he pitched to a 1.42 ERA (19-IP, 10-H, 3-ER, 5-BB, 13-K) lowering his ERA from 6.06 to a season-low 3.60.

Worked out of a bases loaded jam vs. Chicago on July 5 by striking out the only 2 batters he faced in 6th inning of Rays' 3-2 win.

Pitched to a 12.10 ERA over his final 7 appearances (9.2-IP, 12-H, 13-ER, 11-BB) to hike his ERA to a season-ending 5.44 ... allowed 2 runs or more in 5 of those outings.

Skid began with his first major league loss (in his 31st career app.) Aug. 23 vs. Cleveland, allowing 3 runs in 0.1 IP ... walked two batters, both scored in a 7-5 final.

Aug. 29 at Oakland he tossed 3.1 scoreless in a 5-2 Rays loss ... walked his first batter faced (Singleton) then retired 10 straight.

Pitched 3 or more innings 5 times and worked to a 2.04 ERA over those (17.2-IP, 11-H, 4-ER).

Held right-handed hitters to just a .220 mark (24-109).

Converted outfielder - was just his 3rd season as a pitcher.

Appeared in 9 games in 2002 for the Rays without a decision.

At Durham he was 2-1 with a 4.64 ERA in 16 games, 2 starts ... he struck out 27 batters in 33.0 innings.

2002

24 year-old rookie converted outfielder was recalled July 16 from AA Orlando and pitched 9 times...was just his second season as a pitcher.

Posted a 6.92 ERA (13-IP, 10-ER), however 7 of his runs allowed came in one outing and 1.1 IP, July 23 (G1) at Fenway, a game the Rays lost 22-4...allowed a pair of home runs to Nomar Garciaparra b in consecutive innings b a two-run shot and a grand slam.

Minus that outing he pitched to a 2.13 ERA over his other 8 appearances (12.2-IP, 9-H, 3-ER, 6- BB, 5-K).

Made his major league debut July 19 at Toronto entering in the 7th with the Rays down 11-8; tossed two scoreless/hitless innings (2 BB).

Worked a career-high 2.1 innings hn a 12-2 loss vs. Baltimore July 31 (2-H, 1-BB).

Was optioned to AAA Durham Aug. 31 where he made two appearances for the Bulls in the IL postseason, helping them to the Governorbs Cup Championship...pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in relief (0-H, 3-BB, 1-K).

Began the season in the ObRays rotation and made 14 starts, going 4-6, 4.52 (83.2-IP, 42-ER).

His four victories came in a 5-start span from May 27-June 21 in which he pitched to a 1.54 ERA (35-IP, 6-ER).

Concluding that stretch were three consecutive complete games highlighted by a 3-0 shutout June 7 at West Tennessee (9-IP, 5-H, 0-BB, 1-SO).

Moved to the bullpen and made 6 relief appearances before his callup, pitching to a 6.23 ERA (8.2-IP, 8-H, 6-ER)...converted saves his last 2 outings.

Pitched for Santurce in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

2005

Recorded career highs in most every statistical category, including wins, innings, starts, and strikeouts...finished 10-8 with a 4.76 ERA (79ER/149.1IP) in 26 games, including 25 starts...struck out 97 and walked 67.

received a no-decision in his final regular-season start on 9/28 at STL, allowing seven hits and five runs in 4.1 innings.

the Astros are 21-12-1 (.625) in games started by Backe, dating back to his first career start on 8/21/04 vs. CHI...the club is 14-10 in his starts this year (one tie)...6-2 in 11 home games (10 starts) this season with a 3.41 ERA and 10-4 lifetime...recorded a career-best 14 consecutive scoreless innings streak from the third inning on 5/10 at FLA through the first inning on 5/20 at TEX...started the season with 16.1 homerless innings...drove in both runs of a 2-2 tie on 6/ 30 at CIN with a second-inning double.

snapped a three-game losing streak with a win on 7/5 vs. SD (5.2,4,1,1,4,2)...had a career-best, three-game winning streak from 5/25-6/8/05.

allowed two hits over 7.0 innings and earned his 10th win on 9/22 at PIT...tossed 6.2 shutout innings and earned his first win since returning from the DL on 9/17 vs. MIL...suffered the loss on 9/12 vs. FLA, allowing three earned runs...did not record a decision in his first start off the DL on 9/7 at PHI, tossing four innings with three runs.

placed on the 15-day DL on 7/25 with a left intercostal strain...activated on 9/3...his DL stint encompassed 36 of the club's gameÉmade two rehab starts at Double A Corpus Christi and posted a 2.25 ERA.

suffered the loss on 7/23 at WSH with four runs over 6.0 innings...gave up three hits over 6.0 innings and won his second decision in a row 7/18 at PIT...did not record a decision on 7/10 vs. LA and surrendered his first unearned runs this season...earned the win on 7/5 vs. SD to snap a three-game losing streak.

(1-3, 6.91 ERA in '05; 1-3, 6.03 ERA lifetime): pitched 3.2 innings in a 2-2 tie game on 6/30 at CIN...tied his career high with six walks...led the Majors in walks in June with 25, five more than the 2nd-highest total (Al Leiter, Gil Meche 20)...his 25 walks also marked the 2nd-highest total in June in franchise history (Dave Roberts, 26, 1975)...lost three consecutive decisions for the first time in his career with a loss vs. TEX on 6/25...allowed a career-high three home runs over the first three innings but settled down to pitch three scoreless innings from the 4th-6th...suffered the loss on 6/19 at KC and walked five batters in six innings.

snapped a personal three-game winning streak with the loss on 6/13 at BAL...won his third consecutive start on 6/8 at NYM, walked a career-high six batters and struck out seven...pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen on 6/4 vs. STL...the relief appearance was his first since 6/1/04 at Chicago.

beat CIN and improved to 7-0 all-time as a starter at MMP with his second consecutive win...defeated Greg Maddux and earned his first win on the road on 5/25 at CHI...lost for the third time on 5/20 at TEX...allowed five runs on seven hits in seven innings.

threw his first career shutout on 5/15 vs. SF (9,4,0,0,2,6)...was the first shutout thrown by the Astros this season and the first since Roy Oswalt blanked Montreal on 8/6/04...also marked the first time Backe threw more than 7.0 innings in a regular-season start...did not record a decision on 5/10 at FLA in Houston's 6-1 loss...allowed one run on three hits over 6.0 innings...allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5.1 innings on 5/5 at ATL...fell to 2-2 after suffering the loss.

was the winning pitcher when the Astros snapped a season-long, six-game losing streak on 4/30 vs. CHI...tossed seven innings and tied his career-high of eight strikeouts...received his first loss of the season on 4/24 at STL...allowed a career-high 13 hits and surrendered a career-high eight runs in 5.0 innings.

picked up his first win of the season on 4/19 vs. ATL...tied his career-high strikeout total of eight...received no decision on 4/14 at the New York Mets...allowed three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in Houston's 4-3 loss...threw 81 pitches over five innings in 2005 debut, a 4-3 Astros win vs. CIN on 4/9 (5.0,6,2,2,1,5, no-decision).

is 10-4 with a 3.66 ERA (52ER/128.0IP) in 43 home games (14 starts)...10-3 with a 3.12 ERA (36ER/104.0IP) in 14 career starts at Minute Maid Park...won his first seven career decisions as a starter in home games before the loss on 6/25 vs. TEX...Houston won his first nine home starts dating back to 8/21/04 and is 12-2 in his 14 career MMP starts.

is 14-10 in 33 career starts with a 4.58 ERA (98ER/192.1IP).

ranks 3rd among all active pitchers with a .303 career on-base pct. (min. 25 plate appearances)...ranks first among active pitchers in slugging at .393...recorded his 1st career stolen base on 5/25 at CHI...one of 12 pitchers since 2000 and one of only six since 2003 to both homer and steal a base...hit a two-run double that accounted for both of Houston's runs in a tie game on 6/30 at CIN...15x61 (.246) lifetime with one home run and 12 RBI.