Rojas homers, plates 4 for Marlins against Astros
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Miguel Rojas drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the first inning, and Christian Yelich belted his second homer of the spring in the fifth to lead the Marlins to a 9-5 win over the Astros on Wednesday afternoon at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Rojas' second-inning homer followed a walk and a hit-by-pitch by Houston starter Chris Devenski, and gave the Marlins a 4-0 lead. Dee Gordon, who missed three games with pinkeye, led off the game with a double and scored on a Yelich sac fly.
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Devenski, the Astros' Pitcher of the Year as a reliever last season, is being stretched into a starter this spring and allowed four runs and two hits in 1 1/3 innings. Francis Martes, the Astros' No. 1 prospect, followed Devenski and gave up two hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings in his Grapefruit League debut.
"I was trying to command all my pitches, and obviously that wasn't there," Devenski said. "I fell behind a lot of hitters right off the bat, and tried to work back in the counts, and got to a lot of 3-2 counts. My changeup wasn't where I would like it to be. I know I'm better than that."
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Marlins starter Tom Koehler allowed one run, one hit and two walks in two innings. The run came in the form of a run-scoring single from the Astros' Yuli Gurriel. Edinson Vólquez followed Koehler with two scoreless innings of relief.
Marlins up next
On Thursday, the Marlins will be on the road for the second consecutive day as they travel to Port St. Lucie to take on the Mets at 1:10 p.m. ET. Left-hander Adam Conley makes the start. New York is going with right-hander Robert Gsellman. Catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarría are expected to be on the trip.
Astros up next
Right-hander Brad Peacock makes his second start of the spring when the Astros meet the Nationals for the second time in three days at 12:05 p.m. CT on Thursday at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Astros are the designated home team.
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