Correa, Springer lead Astros against Jays

March 17th, 2016

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- George Springer, Carlos Correa and Co. got right to work Thursday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium en route to a 7-5 split-squad Astros win over the Blue Jays.
The Astros benefited from the wildness of Toronto starter Brad Penny to put up a three-run first inning, and Correa hit a wind-aided, two-run home run to dead center in the second. Correa's second Grapefruit League homer came after Springer knocked a triple off the top of the right-field wall.
Houston right-hander Michael Feliz, the club's No. 10 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, threw three shutout innings in his first spring start. He now has a 0.90 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances.
"He's maturing in front of our eyes," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "He's got some work to do to refine his secondary pitches, and the split-change he's working on is going to be important to him, but he continues to make positive steps and has made himself an interesting candidate if we go his direction with a role."
Penny allowed five runs on four hits and three walks in two innings, nearly tripling his spring ERA to 10.29.
Preston Tucker also homered for the Astros, who improve to 10-5-1 to match their best Spring Training start since 2007.

Josh Thole's two-run double was part of a three-run seventh for Toronto, which added a run in the eighth for the final margin.

Up next for Astros: Right-hander Doug Fister, who was sent home earlier in the week while dealing with an illness, makes his fourth start of the spring Friday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin at 12:07 p.m. CT. Fister allowed three runs on six hits in three innings his last time out. The game will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Watch the action live on MLB.TV.
Up next for Blue Jays: Right-hander Aaron Sanchez will get the start when the Blue Jays host the Astros in a 1:07 p.m. ET start on Friday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Other pitchers scheduled to appear include: Brett Cecil, Drew Storen, Steve Delabar and Randy Choate. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game.
Watch the action live on MLB.TV.