The Houston Astros fell 2-0 to the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday in spring training play. Despite Zach Cole's 1-for-2 effort at the plate, the Astros could not pull even when it mattered. Tatsuya Imai worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 0 earned runs on 1 hit. The Marlins out-hit the Astros 5-1 on the day. The Astros will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Zach Cole was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2. He put together quality at-bats throughout the game. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Astros offense.
On the other side of the diamond, Xavier Edwards led the Marlins offense with a 1-for-2 with an RBI day. Esteury Ruiz also contributed, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Christopher Morel added a 1-for-2 effort as well. The Marlins offense proved to be too much for the Astros pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Tatsuya Imai got the start, having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 1 hit with three strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.0 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out five. The relief corps kept the game within reach after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Karson Milbrandt recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Spencer Arrighetti stood out with 3.0 innings of 1-run work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Marlins got on the board first with a run in the third inning. Marlins plated a run in the sixth. Marlins out-hit the Astros 5-1, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 2,391 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Astros will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.
