WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Houston Astros carried a one-run lead into the eighth inning Thursday night but could not hold it, allowing two late runs in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Houston received a strong outing from Mike Burrows, who worked four scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out five.
The Astros struck first in the opening inning. Yordan Alvarez led off with a double, and Yainer Diaz followed with an RBI double to give Houston a 1-0 lead. The Astros added another run in the third when Carlos Correa launched a solo home run—his first of the spring—to make it 2-0.
Washington trimmed the deficit in the fifth inning when Andrés Chaparro hit a solo homer off Tom Cosgrove, his second of the spring, cutting the Astros’ lead to 2-1.
The Nationals completed the comeback in the eighth against Roddery Muñoz and Logan VanWey. Riley Adams doubled to open the inning and moved to third on a single by Brady House. Trey Lipscomb then tied the game with an RBI single. Lipscomb stole second on the play when a throwing error by catcher John Garcia allowed House to score the go-ahead run. VanWey was charged with the loss.
Houston finished with eight hits but struggled to capitalize, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and leaving six runners on base. Cam Smith added a double, while Alvarez finished with two extra-base hits.
Washington reliever Griff McGarry retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the win.
The ABS challenge system factored in early. Burrows struck out CJ Abrams in the first inning after a successful Houston challenge overturned the original call.
