2008 Spring Training

[Crawdaddy]

March 22 - Spring Training Game 25

Astros 6
Reds 5

Astros at the plate: Michael Bourn's infield single in the 3r drove in the first of three Astros runs that inning. Lance Berkman drove in Bourn with a base hit to right later in the frame. David Newhan singled and scored in the 3rd as part of a 2-hit day. J.R. Towles, playing for the first time in a big league game since March 8, doubled in the 6th.

Astros on the mound: Brandon Backe allowed 4 runs, only 2 earned, in 5 innings. He had 1 walk and 3 Ks. Wesley Wright recorded his 5th consecutive scoreless outing. Could be the diamond in the rough that will strengthen the bullpen. Valverde pitched a scoreless 8th and Villareal pitched a scoreless 9th.

Grapefruit League Record: Astros 12-13

Next Game: Sunday, March 23 Astros vs. Braves at Disney's Wide World of Sports (1:05 pm ET)

Woody Williams needs to have a really good game if he wants to have any chance of being in the rotation at all.

[Crawdaddy]

Happy Easter

March 23 - Spring Training Game 26

Braves 4
Astros 2

Astros at the plate: Hunter Pence doubled in the 3rd inning and opened the 6th inning with his 4th homer of the spring. Carlos Lee also contributed a solo shot off Braves starter Mike Hampton in the 6th inning as well.

Astros on the mound: Starter Woody Williams had a rough 3-run 1st inning and then settled down and kept the Braves scoreless over the next 5 innings. Looks like Woody will secure that #5 spot at least for now. Runelvys Hernandez surrendered an 8th-inning solo homer to Brian McCann.

Grapefruit League Records: Astros 12-14

Next Game: Monday, March 24 vs. Marlins in Jupiter, Fla. (1:05 pm ET).
Shawn Chacon is scheduled to start. Last week vs the Braves: 5 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, and 4 Ks.

[Crawdaddy]

March 24 - Spring Training Game 27

Astros 10 (10 innings)
Marlins 10


Astros at the plate: Geoff Blum had a two-run double and an RBI single in his first two at-bats, but he left the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning with a left heel problem he suffered during a swing in the 1st inning. Blum also was shaken up on a hard grounder off the bat of Cameron Maybin, but he remained in the game. Blum, Ty Wigginton, Jose Cruz Jr., and Mark Loretta each had 2 hits. Darin Erstad led the team with 3 hits. Wigginton doubled and singled, driving in 2 runs in his first two at-bats. The Astros used 5 straight hits, including successive doubles by Wigginton, Blum and Cruz, on their way to a 4-run first. Tomas Perez and Cruz connected on back-to-back homers off Doug Waechter in the 5th inning.

Astros on the mound: Shawn Chacon, who has locked up the #4 spot in the rotation, pitched 5 innings, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits. The right-hander stretched out to 96 pitches, with 61 strikes, before he was relieved by Brian Moehler in the 6th inning who allowed 2 runs on 2 hits in 2 innings pitched. Wesley Walker allowed 4 hits and 1 walk while giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Marlins rallied for a 10-10 tie. Those were the first runs Wright has allowed in his last 7 innings pitched dating back to Feb. 28.

Grapefruit League records: Astros 12-14-1

Next game: Tuesday, March 25 vs Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. (6:05 pm ET).
Chris Sampson is scheduled to start.

[holyroman]

good summarys, thanks Crawdaddy.

[Crawdaddy]

March 25 - Spring Training Game 28

Tigers 10
Astros 9

Astros at the plate: Lance Berkman singled and doubled for 2 RBIs and Hunter Pence singled and scored twice as Houston scored 6 times over the first 3 innings against Detroit starter Justin Verlander. The Astros rallied from a 9-6 deficet to tie it at 9 all in the 9th inning.

Astros on the mound: Starter Chris Sampson allowed 4 runs on 5 hits over 3 1/3 innings, raising his ERA to 9.17 for ST. He left the 4th inning with a bruised right hip, after getting hit by a line drive by newly signed Miguel Cabrera in the 2nd inning. Runelvys Hernandez followed with 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief. Oscar Villarreal had his 2nd blown save of ST after giving up 3 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) in the 6th inning alone. Doug Brocali pitched a scoreless 7th, while Jose Valverde yielded 2 hits and 1 earned run in the 8th inning. Chad Paronto gave up a couple of hits and the winning run in the 9th.

Grapefruit League record: 12-15-1

Next game: Wednesday, March 26 vs. Indians at Osceola County Stadium (1:05 pm ET)
Roy Oswalt will start in his final tuneup for Opening Day.

[Crawdaddy]

March 26 - Spring Training Game 29

Indians 7
Astros 6

Astros at the plate: The Stros banged out 11 hits. Miguel Tejada was 2-for- 3 with a double and an RBI. Jose Cruz Jr. knocked a 2-run double in the 5th.

Astros on the mound: Starter Roy Oswalt allowed 9 hits and 5 runs, only which 1 was earned, in 3 2/3 innings. Very unusual that he didn't throw any strikeouts. The 3 errors by Oswalt himself, Loretta, and Ausmus (playing 3B) didn't help. So far the team has 35 errors this spring. 3B Ty Wigginton leads the team with 8. Wesley Wright replaced Roy and pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball. Borkowski pitched the 6th and 7th inning giving up 3 hits and 2runs. Brocail and Geary pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th innings.

Grapefruit League records: Astros 12-16-1

Next Game: Thursday, March 27 vs. Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. (1:05 pm ET). Brandon Backe will take the mound.


In further news...
The Astros optioned pitcher Jack Cassell to Round Rock and sent pitcher Runelvys Hernandez to minor league camp.

[Crawdaddy]

March 27 - Spring Training Game 30

Blue Jays 8
Astros 3

Astros at the plate: Not much noise with several of the regulars getting the day off. Jose Cruz Jr. drove in the 1st run with an RBI double. Mark Loretta, who was used as the DH, hit a 2-run homer in the 6th inning. Darin Erstad, who played 1B, reached base 3 times with went 2-for-2 with a walk.

Astros on the mound: Brandon Backe had a rough 5 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs on 11 hits (2 HRs), plus 2 Ks and 2 walks on 95 pitches. Jose Valverde pitched 1 inning: no hits or runs. Oscar Villarreal pitched 1 inning as well: 3 hits and 2 runs. The defense committed 3 errors now raising the team total to 38. Ty Wigginton leads the team with 9.

Grapefruit League record: Astros 12-17-1

Next Game: Friday, March 28 Astros vs. Tigers at Minute Maid Park (6:05 pm CT). Wandy Rodriguez is scheduled to start.