Astros split squads win two in one day

While most of the players on the Astros 25-man roster came home to host the Veracruz Red Eagles of the Mexican League,  a group consisting of mostly young prospects stayed back in San Antonio to take on the Rangers. The result: a pair of wins for the Astros.

After the Astros prospects hammered the Rangers’ A-team by a score of 13-6, Brett Oberholtzer and a trio of relievers shut out the Red Eagles 2-0 at Minute Maid.

Brett Oberholtzer (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Dallas Keuchel said he was happy with his performance this afternoon in San Antonio, his final tuneup before assuming the fifth starter’s role for the beginning of the regular season. Keuchel gave up five runs (4 earned) in 4 & 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking one. The Astros lefty threw 68 pitches before giving way to Nick Tropeano in the fifth.

Houston staked Keuchel to an early 3-0 lead when Jesus Guzman and George Springer launched back-to-back homers in the top of the first inning.

After a pair of fielding errors by the Astros on the first two balls that were put in play by Texas, Keuchel came back to strike out Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre, helping to limit the damage to a single run.

Springer delivered an RBI single in his next at-bat and went on to have a perfect day at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a pair of walks. Future Astros Jonathan Meyer and Nolan Fontana also went deep. The blast by Meyer was of the Grand Slam variety. Michael Foltynewicz also showcased his triple-digit heat and plus breaking ball during 2 & 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Overall, it was a great day for the Astros. But they were just getting started!

Back in Houston, Obie and company dispatched our neighbors from south of the border in only two hours and twenty-four minutes. Dexter Fowler supplied the power with a fourth inning homerun and Josh Fields pitched a perfect ninth to secure the victory. Matt Dominguez added a sacrifice fly in support of Oberholtzer’s best outing of the spring. Obie went six innings, allowing only two hits and no walks.

The Astros close out the exhibition season Sunday with another game against the Red Eagles. Last year’s top draft pick Mark Appel is scheduled to start for the Astros. After Monday’s off day, the Astros finally get the regular season underway Tuesday evening against the Yankees.