The Houston Astros secured a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday in spring training action. Ethan Frey paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Colton Gordon worked 2.1 innings on the mound, allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits. The Orioles out-hit the Astros 8-4 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Astros as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Ethan Frey was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Astros offense.
Brice Matthews also contributed, going 1-for-4 with an RBI, James Nelson chipped in, going 1-for-1 with a triple, and Riley Unroe added to the attack, going 1-for-3. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Weston Wilson led the Orioles offense with a 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI day. Vance Honeycutt also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI. Colton Cowser added a 2-for-3 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Astros pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Colton Gordon earned the win after having a rough go of it, working 2.1 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits with one strikeout. He threw 50 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.5 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out three. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead 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. Alimber Santa recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, AJ Blubaugh stood out with 2.2 innings of scoreless work. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Astros struck first, pushing across three runs in the third inning. The Astros plated a run in the seventh. Orioles answered with two runs in the eighth. Orioles out-hit the Astros 8-4, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 5,122 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Astros, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Astros are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
