Astrosportal.com | Houston Astros News, astros Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>For a minor league Baseball franchise, the Express has reveled in some major league moments. </div>As the team enters its 10th season in Round Rock, here's a look at 10 of the most memorable moments in Express history. Our list was compiled by American-Statesman staffers with input from Express officials. Let's play ball * April 16, 2000 Story line: Thirty-two years after the departure of the Austin Senators, pro Baseball returned to Central Texas as Round Rock faced El Paso at Dell Diamond. The Double-A Express - relocated from Jackson, Miss., by a new ownership group that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan - dropped its home opener against El Paso 4-1. In the bottom of the first, Express second baseman Keith Ginter put his name in the Dell Diamond record book with a 395-foot drive to left field that became the first home run hit in the stadium, as well as the first run scored and the first RBI. The game drew 10,699 fans, starting the Express on its way to a single-season, Double-A attendance record of 660,110. Texas League champs * Sept. 15, 2000 Story line: In its first season, Round Rock stormed to the Texas League title. Facing Wichita in the best-of-seven championship series, the Express won two of three before the series shifted to Round Rock. Back at home, Round Rock won Game 4 as Ginter hit two homers before 11,325 fans, the largest Texas League playoff crowd since 1954. The next night, a Dell Diamond-record 11,611 fans watched the Express clinch the title with an 8-4 victory. Rocket touches down * June 16, 2006 Story line: Before he fell to Earth, the Rocket, Roger Clemens, fueled up for another season with the Astros by making a start at Dell Diamond with the Express. In front of a franchise-record 13,475 fans that included Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey, the seven-time Cy Young winner threw 91 pitches over 52/3 innings and earned the victory. Parra's perfect * June 25, 2007 Story line: The Express probably preferred to forget this game, but Manny Parra never will. In only his second Triple-A start, Parra pitched the eighth perfect game in the 104-year history of the Pacific Coast League as visiting Nashville blanked Round Rock 3-0. Rapid Roy's quick start * May 25, 2000 Story line: Called up from Single-A Kissimmee for an emergency start, Roy Oswalt fully expected to be headed back to Florida after his outing against the San Antonio Missions. His itinerary changed after he struck out 15 and threw a five-hit shutout in a 6-0 Express victory. A 23rd-round draft choice by the Astros out of a Mississippi community college, Oswalt went on to strike out 141 in 1292/3 innings that season. 9-11 attacks halt championship dream * Sept. 11, 2001 Story line: The Express entered the 2001 Texas League playoffs intent on winning a second league championship in as many years. That all changed with the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. On that day, Round Rock and the Arkansas Travelers were preparing for the third game of their title series. Instead, the Travelers - who had won the opening two games - were declared the Texas League champs on Sept. 13, when league president Tom Kayser announced the cancellation of the remainder of the series. Jimerson's Ruthian shot * May 22, 2004 Story line: Charlton Jimerson jumped into minor league lore in his first season with the Express. In a Saturday night game against El Paso, he crushed a game-winning, solo homer that a pair of witnesses saw roll into the woods in Round Rock's Old Settler's Park, just west of Dell Diamond. After the game, a four-man search party scoured the underbrush in the park for the ball. They found it about 200 feet beyond the outer gate that rings the left field side of Dell Diamond - 635 feet from home plate. Pettitte pops up on mound * June 18, 2004 Story line: A month after agreeing to become a minority owner of the Express, pitcher Andy Pettitte stopped by to boost the team's attendance. A then-record 13,414 fans came out to Dell Diamond to see the left-hander make a rehab start against Frisco. "I never played in a place like this when I was in the minors," Pettitte said after making a second start for Round Rock five days later. "You look out and see fans like this, you know Baseball is appreciated." First season, first-half title * June 16, 2000 Story line: Round Rock took the first step toward its eventual Texas League championship, winning the first-half title in the Western Division to lock up a playoff berth. The Express trailed Arkansas 3-0 before Kevin Burns' pinch-hit, three-run homer tied the game in the eighth. In the 10th, Morgan Ensberg's single to left scored the game-winner in a 4-3 victory. Immediately after the game, the Express took a victory lap around Dell Diamond, led by manager Jackie Moore, general manager Jay Miller and their wives. Double-A stars come out * July 11, 2001 Story line: The best in Double-A Baseball gathered at Dell Diamond for an all-star contest full of future major leaguers. The crowd of 12,046 ?- including various major league GMs and scouts - saw five home runs, including a 415-foot shot to center field by Joe Borchard. Beside Borchard, the future big leaguers on the field included Lyle Overbay, Ramon Castro, Marlon Byrd, Carl Crawford, Carlos Silva, Michael Cuddyer, Omar Infante, Josh Phelps, Dustan Mohr, Marcus Thames and Jeremy Affeldt. Two future Astros also played: Round Rock's Jason Lane and El Paso's Jose Valverde. - From staff reports <div class="spacer10"></div><div class="gray_dots"></div><div id="body_footer_link">Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today </div><div class="gray

For a minor league Baseball franchise, the Express has reveled in some major league moments.

As the team enters its 10th season in Round Rock, here's a look at 10 of the most memorable moments in Express history. Our list was compiled by American-Statesman staffers with input from Express officials.

Let's play ball

* April 16, 2000

Story line: Thirty-two years after the departure of the Austin Senators, pro Baseball returned to Central Texas as Round Rock faced El Paso at Dell Diamond. The Double-A Express - relocated from Jackson, Miss., by a new ownership group that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan - dropped its home opener against El Paso 4-1. In the bottom of the first, Express second baseman Keith Ginter put his name in the Dell Diamond record book with a 395-foot drive to left field that became the first home run hit in the stadium, as well as the first run scored and the first RBI. The game drew 10,699 fans, starting the Express on its way to a single-season, Double-A attendance record of 660,110.

Texas League champs

* Sept. 15, 2000

Story line: In its first season, Round Rock stormed to the Texas League title. Facing Wichita in the best-of-seven championship series, the Express won two of three before the series shifted to Round Rock. Back at home, Round Rock won Game 4 as Ginter hit two homers before 11,325 fans, the largest Texas League playoff crowd since 1954. The next night, a Dell Diamond-record 11,611 fans watched the Express clinch the title with an 8-4 victory.

Rocket touches down

* June 16, 2006

Story line: Before he fell to Earth, the Rocket, Roger Clemens, fueled up for another season with the Astros by making a start at Dell Diamond with the Express. In front of a franchise-record 13,475 fans that included Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey, the seven-time Cy Young winner threw 91 pitches over 52/3 innings and earned the victory.

Parra's perfect

* June 25, 2007

Story line: The Express probably preferred to forget this game, but Manny Parra never will. In only his second Triple-A start, Parra pitched the eighth perfect game in the 104-year history of the Pacific Coast League as visiting Nashville blanked Round Rock 3-0.

Rapid Roy's quick start

* May 25, 2000

Story line: Called up from Single-A Kissimmee for an emergency start, Roy Oswalt fully expected to be headed back to Florida after his outing against the San Antonio Missions. His itinerary changed after he struck out 15 and threw a five-hit shutout in a 6-0 Express victory. A 23rd-round draft choice by the Astros out of a Mississippi community college, Oswalt went on to strike out 141 in 1292/3 innings that season.

9-11 attacks halt championship dream

* Sept. 11, 2001

Story line: The Express entered the 2001 Texas League playoffs intent on winning a second league championship in as many years. That all changed with the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. On that day, Round Rock and the Arkansas Travelers were preparing for the third game of their title series. Instead, the Travelers - who had won the opening two games - were declared the Texas League champs on Sept. 13, when league president Tom Kayser announced the cancellation of the remainder of the series.

Jimerson's Ruthian shot

* May 22, 2004

Story line: Charlton Jimerson jumped into minor league lore in his first season with the Express. In a Saturday night game against El Paso, he crushed a game-winning, solo homer that a pair of witnesses saw roll into the woods in Round Rock's Old Settler's Park, just west of Dell Diamond. After the game, a four-man search party scoured the underbrush in the park for the ball. They found it about 200 feet beyond the outer gate that rings the left field side of Dell Diamond - 635 feet from home plate.

Pettitte pops up on mound

* June 18, 2004

Story line: A month after agreeing to become a minority owner of the Express, pitcher Andy Pettitte stopped by to boost the team's attendance. A then-record 13,414 fans came out to Dell Diamond to see the left-hander make a rehab start against Frisco. "I never played in a place like this when I was in the minors," Pettitte said after making a second start for Round Rock five days later. "You look out and see fans like this, you know Baseball is appreciated."

First season, first-half title

* June 16, 2000

Story line: Round Rock took the first step toward its eventual Texas League championship, winning the first-half title in the Western Division to lock up a playoff berth. The Express trailed Arkansas 3-0 before Kevin Burns' pinch-hit, three-run homer tied the game in the eighth. In the 10th, Morgan Ensberg's single to left scored the game-winner in a 4-3 victory. Immediately after the game, the Express took a victory lap around Dell Diamond, led by manager Jackie Moore, general manager Jay Miller and their wives.

Double-A stars come out

* July 11, 2001

Story line: The best in Double-A Baseball gathered at Dell Diamond for an all-star contest full of future major leaguers. The crowd of 12,046 ?- including various major league GMs and scouts - saw five home runs, including a 415-foot shot to center field by Joe Borchard. Beside Borchard, the future big leaguers on the field included Lyle Overbay, Ramon Castro, Marlon Byrd, Carl Crawford, Carlos Silva, Michael Cuddyer, Omar Infante, Josh Phelps, Dustan Mohr, Marcus Thames and Jeremy Affeldt. Two future Astros also played: Round Rock's Jason Lane and El Paso's Jose Valverde.

- From staff reports

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