Inside The Playbook

Astros Blast the Phillies for Second Straight Win

By: Lily Zhao

(Phillysportsdaily.com)

The runs came fast and often.

The Houston Astros outplayed and outscored the Philadelphia Phillies 10-3 for their second straight Spring Training win.

Jordan Schafer and J.D. Martinez led the way for the Astros. At the top of the first inning, Schafer singled and went on to score the first run. Martinez added two hits and three RBIs.

Schafer and Martinez took Phillies pitcher Vance Worley to task, each recording a single. Worley gave up a run in each of the two innings he pitched.

Astros right-hander Bud Norris threw three scoreless innings in his first start. His consistent pitching allowed the Astros to get onto the plate early and often, especially with the Phillies star-studded trio of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee not on the mound.

The Phillies did not get their first hit of the game until Shane Victorino hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth, while the Astros offense came alive.

At the top of the fourth, Jason Castro would single to centerfield, allowing Brett Wallace to run to second. From there, the floodgates would open for Houston. Castro, Wallace, Schafer and Brian Bogusevic would all score, putting the Astros up 6-0.

Philadelphia would make a late run in the late innings as Luis Montanez hit a two-run double and Hector Luna hit his second home run of the season. The Phillies effort was a little too late as the team added only three runs in the last couple innings.

The Astros improve to 4-1, while the Phillies fall to 2-2 on the season.