Harrell “effectively wild” in opener

In the Astros first exhibition game of the spring, starting pitcher Lucas Harrell struggled with his control. But when he was able to throw strikes, the Atlanta Braves hitters were unable to get good wood on the ball.

According to mlb.com, Harrell threw 25 pitches (16 balls and only nine strikes) in his two innings of work. The Braves failed to get the ball out of the infield while Harrell was in the game. They did, however, plate a run in the first inning thanks to an infield hit and a bases loaded walk. Harrell was relieved after walking four, striking out one, and allowing only one hit in his two innings of work.

Jose Altuve got the Astros first hit of the spring with a first inning single. But the Astros first rally came up short when Brett Wallace struck out to end the inning. The Astros took the lead in the second on a 2-run single off the bat of Dexter Fowler. Robbie Grossman and Carlos Corporan scored on Fowler’s first hit in an Astros’ uniform. Grossman also doubled off of Craig Kimbrel in his second trip to the plate but was unable to come around to score..

Peter Moylan replaced Harrell on the mound after the second inning and threw a scoreless third. Matt Albers took the hill in the fourth inning with the Astros still leading by a 2-1 score. Albers also had trouble finding the plate, issuing a pair of walks and coughing up his first lead of the year. Sorry, Lucas. No win for you.

After an hour and 45 minutes, the game went to the fifth inning with the score tied at two.

(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)