SARASOTA, Fla. — Brice Matthews helped ignite a three-run third inning and Houston’s bats stayed productive through the middle frames as the Astros defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Wednesday at Ed Smith Stadium.
Matthews, one of the most closely watched prospects in camp, delivered an RBI single to score Riley Unroe in the third inning, stole second base, and later scored on a wild pitch by Shane Baz as Houston built a lead it would not relinquish.
Three Home Runs Seal It
Houston added insurance in emphatic fashion in the sixth inning. Ethan Frey led off the frame with a solo home run to right field, extending the Astros’ lead to 4-0.
Baltimore responded with back-to-back solo shots in the eighth. Weston Wilson connected for his first homer of the spring, and Vance Honeycutt, one of the Orioles’ intriguing young outfield prospects, followed with his fourth of the Grapefruit League season. Houston’s bullpen prevented any further damage.
Lucas Spence also made a key defensive play in left field, throwing out Pete Alonso at the plate in the second inning to erase a Baltimore scoring chance.
Bullpen Handles the Load
Colton Gordon started for Houston before giving way to AJ Blubaugh, who delivered a sharp outing that included picking off Colton Cowser at second base in the third inning, a heads-up play during a competitive spring for roster spots.
Miguel Ullola and Alimber Santa followed out of the bullpen. Santa worked around a throwing error in the ninth inning to strand runners and close out the victory.
Matthews’ Error a Minor Blemish
Matthews committed a throwing error in the fifth inning that allowed Thairo Estrada to reach base, a small blemish on an otherwise productive afternoon.
Baltimore also tested the ABS challenge system twice. Their challenge on a called third strike against Riley Unroe in the fourth inning was confirmed, while a challenge involving Collin Price in the ninth inning was overturned.
Bigger Picture
Houston continues to evaluate its depth pieces throughout Grapefruit League play, and the Gordon–Blubaugh–Ullola–Santa pitching progression gave the coaching staff several arms to assess.
Matthews’ offensive production and baserunning instincts remain encouraging signs, even as the young infielder continues refining his defensive consistency.
Final: Astros 4, Orioles 2
