HOUSTON — Two days before Opening Day, the Houston Astros got exactly the kind of game they needed—messy, competitive, and ultimately a win.
The Astros rallied past Triple-A Sugar Land 6-5 Tuesday night at Daikin Park in their final exhibition before Thursday’s opener against the Los Angeles Angels. Jeremy Peña tied the game with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and Yainer Díaz delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth.
Just as important, Houston got a final look at its rotation decision on the mound.
Lance McCullers Jr., named the club’s fifth starter Monday, worked 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven. He showed flashes of dominance, though he also issued two walks and uncorked a wild pitch. Sugar Land scored single runs in the first and third innings, both driven in by Carlos Pérez, as McCullers exited with Houston trailing 2-0.
Spencer Arrighetti, now ticketed for Triple-A as the likely sixth starter when Houston expands to a six-man rotation, entered in relief in the sixth. He struggled to find rhythm, walking two and allowing three runs over 2.2 innings.
J.P. France stabilized things from there, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win.
Peña Returns with Impact
The Astros trailed 4-2 in the sixth when Peña, playing for the first time since fracturing the tip of his right ring finger 2½ weeks ago, turned on a Cody Bolton pitch and sent it over the left-field wall to tie the game.
His return comes at a critical time, with Houston still finalizing its Opening Day roster.
Back-and-Forth Late
Sugar Land briefly reclaimed the lead in the seventh on one of the more unusual plays of the exhibition slate, as Freuddy Batista stole home on a double steal to make it 5-4.
Houston answered again in the eighth. Brice Matthews reached and scored on a passed ball, and with two runners in scoring position, Díaz lined a single to right to bring home two and put the Astros ahead for good.
Matthews continued an impressive spring, reaching base twice, scoring twice, and stealing a base as he strengthens his case for a roster spot.
Final Tuneup Complete
Carlos Correa’s two-run single in the fifth helped erase an early deficit, part of a night that featured multiple lead changes and late-game adjustments as Houston finalized its roster picture.
The Astros open the regular season Thursday against the Angels at Daikin Park, with Hunter Brown set to start.
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