Houston Astros Rally in the 9th to Tie Washington

The Houston Astros pounded out fourteen hits on Friday afternoon against the Washington Nationals, but it was the unlikely heroes in the top of the ninth that avoided the loss for Houston. After Alex Presley was called out on strikes, L.J. Hoes doubled to center, and Matt Duffy followed that up with a walk, putting the tying run on base. Duffy was subbed out for Joe Sclafani. Carlos Correa singled, moving the runners up a base, and Jonathan Villar singled to plate Hoes, and put the tying run just 90 feet away.

It was the powerful Jon Singleton–who would ground out to first, but Sclafani ended up scoring on the play anyway. In the regular season Nationals first baseman Scott McGregor likely goes home, but for spring purposes his decision helped the Houston Astros avoid the loss.

Let’s begin with the pitchers today. Scott Feldman started things off, going three innings and allowing three of the Washington’s six runs on four hits and a walk, raising his spring ERA to 7.20. Astros rotation long-shot Roberto Hernandez also pitched three innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk, while also picking up one strikeout. He’ll likely have to perform better the rest of spring to make the Houston Astros opening day rotation.

Josh Fields came on in the 8th, and gave up a solo shot to Ian Stewart. He also K’d one.

Luis Valbuena apparently wasn’t happy that his batting average was a mediocre .500, so on Friday he went 2-for-3, raising his average to .529. Let’s save some of those hits for the regular season! Unlike Valbuena, Robbie Grossman saw his average fall after an 0-for-4 day. He’s now batting .375. One the flip side, Jake Marisnick (.429) went 1-for-2 with an rbi.

George Springer hit his first two dingers of camp, going 2-for-3. Those were also Springer’s first two rbi of the spring, and the two hits raised his batting average to .333.

Next: Superstition and the Houston Astros

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