Final Score: Boston 3, Houston 2
Fort Myers, FL (Sports Network) – Nate Spears’ run-scoring infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning was the difference, as the Boston Red Sox edged the Houston Astros, 3-2, in Grapefruit League action.
Spears also added an RBI groundout, while Ryan Kalish had three hits for Boston. Dennys Reyes picked up the win for throwing a scoreless eighth inning and Matt Fox earned the save for striking out the side in the ninth.
Josh Beckett gave up a run on three hits and a walk in a 3 2/3-inning start for the Red Sox.
Drew Locke had an RBI double and Bill Hall knocked in a run for the Astros. Starter Aneury Rodriguez gave up four hits and a walk in three scoreless innings, while David Carpenter was tagged with the loss for yielding one run on two hits in two frames.
Final Score: Houston 5, NY Mets 4
Kissimmee, FL (Sports Network) – Carlos Lee hit a two-run double in the first inning and J.R. Towles homered in the fourth, helping the Houston Astros to a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets in Grapefruit League play.
Nelson Figueroa started for Houston and allowed one run on three hits and a walk in three innings. Hunter Pence and Clint Barmes both had two hits.
Valentino Pascucci drove in two for the Mets, while Oliver Perez allowed three runs in a three-inning start. Perez gave up four hits and walked two with one strikeout.