WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Cristian Javier’s return to the mound and a timely swing from Carlos Pérez powered the Houston Astros to a 3–1 win over Venezuela on Monday at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Pérez broke a 1–1 tie with a two-run pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning, while Houston’s pitching staff combined to hold Venezuela to just one run.
Javier Makes Encouraging Return
For the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Javier took the mound in an Astros uniform. The right-hander worked two innings, allowing one run on a Wilyer Abreu triple and a Maikel Garcia RBI single in the first inning before settling in to complete the second.
Ryan Weiss took over in the third inning as part of Javier’s planned progression.
That first-inning run proved to be the only blemish for Houston’s pitching staff. Weiss, Alex Santos II, Jayden Murray, Michael Knorr, Sam Carlson, and Bryan King combined to shut out Venezuela over the final seven innings.
Astros Pull Even in the Sixth
Houston tied the game in the sixth inning when Cam Smith delivered an RBI single that scored Walker Janek, who had entered earlier as a pinch runner.
Yainer Diaz attempted to score from second on the same play but was thrown out at home by Abreu in left field.
Diaz still turned in a strong offensive performance, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, including a sharp line drive to center field in the second inning. He also committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the third.
Pérez Provides the Decisive Swing
With the score tied at one in the seventh, Janek drew a leadoff walk and later came around to score on Pérez’s two-run home run to left field.
The pinch-hit blast proved to be the difference in the game.
Janek, one of the more intriguing young players in Astros camp this spring, again found ways to impact the game, reaching base twice and scoring the eventual winning run.
Behind Pérez’s homer, Houston’s bullpen locked the game down, combining for seven scoreless innings after Javier’s departure.
Bigger Picture
The final score mattered less than the sight Astros fans have been waiting months to see.
Javier back on a mound—even in March—was the defining moment of the evenning. How the right-hander continues to build over the coming weeks will be one of the most closely watched storylines of Houston’s spring.
FINAL: Astros 3, Venezuela 1
