PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Houston Astros erased a five-run deficit Tuesday afternoon, rallying late to secure a 6–6 tie with the New York Mets at Clover Park.
Trailing 5–1 after two innings and 6–1 entering the seventh, Houston mounted a steady comeback, plating three runs in the seventh and two more in the ninth to even the score before the exhibition ended in a draw.
Alexander’s Rough Spring Continues
Right-hander Jason Alexander endured another difficult outing, failing to escape the first inning for the second straight appearance. The 32-year-old surrendered five hits, four runs, and two home runs while recording just two outs.
Mike Tauchman launched a three-run homer, and Ronny Mauricio followed with a solo shot as the Mets jumped out to a 4–0 lead. New York added another run in the second to extend the advantage to five.
Through two spring outings, Alexander has allowed eight earned runs in just 1.1 innings, ballooning his ERA to 54.00. For a pitcher competing for a rotation or long-relief role, the margin for error is quickly narrowing.
Bullpen Stabilizes the Game
Houston’s relievers steadied things after the early damage.
JP France worked 1.1 innings, allowing one run with one strikeout. Newly acquired Kai-Wei Teng, obtained from the Giants this offseason, impressed with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts, continuing to strengthen his case for a bullpen spot.
Tom Cosgrove delivered two solid innings with one run allowed, and Sam Carlson struck out three in a dominant, perfect eighth inning.
Late Push Shows Resilience
Down 6–1 in the seventh, the Astros began chipping away.
Carlos Pérez, battling for a roster spot behind the plate, went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Taylor Trammell added two hits off the bench, and Nick Allen finished 2-for-3 with a double.
Top prospect Brice Matthews drove in a run with a seventh-inning single. In the ninth, Lucas Spence delivered the game-tying RBI on a two-out, two-strike single after swiping a base earlier in the contest.
For a club still searching for early rhythm this spring, the late fight stood out.
Position Battles Continue
Manager Joe Espada continued to shuffle defensive alignments as roster competitions intensify.
Nick Allen, acquired from Atlanta in the Mauricio Dubón trade, started at third base despite limited experience there. Shay Whitcomb handled second base, while Cam Smith opened in center field as the outfield competition remains unsettled.
Joey Loperfido, Zach Cole, and Zach Dezenzo all saw action as Espada evaluates depth and versatility.
Spring Record: 0–2–1
Houston is now 0–2–1 this spring and has been outscored 11–1 in the first three innings across its first three contests. While Grapefruit League results are rarely predictive, the early-inning pitching struggles bear monitoring.
The Astros return to action Thursday against the Mets in a split-squad matchup before hosting Pittsburgh on Friday.