Happy Birthday - 6/27

Happy Birthday to ~

OF Tanner Mathis (23)
Signed with Houston as a non-drafted free agent out of Ole Miss in 2013, the lefty-hitting Lake Charles, Louisiana native started his second season in the organization with Quad Cities, but was recently promoted to Lancaster. In 44 games so far this season, he is hitting .268/.374/.349.

Two former Astros celebrate today as well ~

LF/1B Daryle Ward (39)
Originally drafted by the Tigers in the 15th round in 1994, Ward came to Houston in a December 1996 trade. In 418 games for the Astros from 1998 to 2002, he hit .269/.316/.465. Ward was the first player to hit a home run on the fly into the Allegheny River at PNC Park in Pittsburgh when he accomplished that feat for Houston in July 2002. He and his father Gary Ward are the only father-son major league combo to have both hit for the cycle. Although Ward hasn't played in the major leagues since 2008, he is still toiling away and is currently playing in the Mexican League.

IF Eddie Kasko (82)
Kasko came to the Colt .45's in a January 1964 trade with the Reds, where he had been an All-Star in 1961.  His best season, however, was the 1960 season when he hit .292/.359/.378 for the Reds. In 201 games for the Astros and the Colt .45's in 1964 and 1965, Kasko hit .244/.300/.290. After his playing days were over, he went on to manage the Red Sox from 1970 to 1973.