Brandon Backe

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**Brandon Backe**
Major League Baseball debut
Houston Astros — No. 41
Starting pitcher
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
July 19, 2002 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Selected MLB statistics (through August 31 2006)
Record	19-14
Strikeouts	212
ERA	4.71
Teams
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2002 - 2003) Houston Astros (2004 - Present)

Brandon Backe (born April 5, 1978 in Galveston, Texas) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball on the Houston Astros. He joined the team in 2004, after two years with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He is a converted outfielder, having played in the outfield as a minor leaguer. He is also known to have played as a second baseman.

Backe was recognized on a national level after pitching the last game of the Astros' 2004 regular season against the Colorado Rockies in place of an ill Roger Clemens. The Houston win capped an amazing 36-10 stretch that propelled the team into the playoffs as the National League wild card team.

[edit] Career with Astros

With the Astros, Backe doesn't have stellar numbers; but many people were impressed with his performances in the 2004 NLCS and the 2005 World Series. In Houston, he is beginning to get a reputation as a big game pitcher. When healthy, most think he can be a great pitcher down the road.

On April 15, 2004, Backe struck out three batters on nine pitches in the eighth inning of a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Backe became the 25th National League pitcher and the 34th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning.

In the 2006 season Brandon Backe was the #4 starter, but spent three months on the DL after only a couple of starts. Shortly after returning, Backe was again placed on the disabled list on August 19, 2006, after spraining a ligament in his right elbow. Backe underwent a successful Tommy John surgery on Thursday, September 7, 2006. His recovery time is slated at 12-18 months.