WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Houston Astros erased a four-run deficit Friday afternoon to earn a 4-4 tie with the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Lance McCullers Jr. made his spring debut, throwing a scoreless first inning before handing the game over to Houston’s bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander retired CJ Abrams, Jacob Young, and Dylan Crews in order on 10 pitches, inducing two popups and a groundout.
The brief outing was by design as the Astros manage McCullers’ workload. He logged 55.1 innings in 2025 after missing the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons and is being built back up as a starter this spring.
Arrighetti Stumbles, Bullpen Responds
Spencer Arrighetti followed and ran into trouble in the third inning. After hitting Abimelec Ortiz and walking Abrams, Crews delivered an RBI infield single. Luis García Jr. then launched a three-run homer to right, giving Washington a 4-0 lead.
Arrighetti’s final line: 2.0 innings, three hits, four earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts, one hit batter.
Bryan Abreu steadied the game in the fourth, working two scoreless innings. He struck out two and induced a double-play grounder, stopping the momentum.
Fourth-Inning Rally
Houston’s offense broke through in the fourth against reliever Holden Powell. Nick Allen and Jax Biggers drew consecutive walks before Jose Altuve’s fielder’s choice advanced Allen to third. Taylor Trammell followed with a two-run double to center, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
In the fifth, Riley Unroe and Joey Loperfido walked and then executed a double steal. After Allen struck out, Biggers delivered a two-out single to right to tie the game at 4-4. An injury delay followed the play before action resumed.
Bullpen Locks It Down
Houston cycled through Sam Carlson, Hudson Leach, Griff McGarry, Andre Granillo, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, and Nolan DeVos over the final four innings. None allowed a run.
Washington threatened in the ninth after a throwing error put Yohandy Morales at second base, but DeVos escaped by striking out Leandro Pineda and getting Trey Lipscomb to fly out.
The Astros were set down in the bottom half, sealing the tie.
The tie moves Houston to 1-4-2 in Grapefruit League play. The Astros have scored four or fewer runs in each of their seven spring games.
Center fielder Jake Meyers was scratched before first pitch due to back spasms.
The Astros return to action Saturday against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. CT with Mike Burrows starting for the Astros. Full spring training schedule details are available here.