WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Charlie Morton threw three scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing one walk, and Yulieski Gurriel had two hits, including a two-run double in the first inning, to lead the Astros to a 12-2 win over the split-squad Mets on Wednesday afternoon at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Morton, making his second start of the spring and second against the Mets, looked sharp once again and threw 26 of his 44 pitches for strikes. Three of his four strikeouts came on his curveball.
"I felt like I got ahead and didn't really put guys away the way I wanted at least," Morton said. "I felt like my sinker was doing what it was supposed to today, which was pretty good, and I think I threw some good curveballs."
Gurriel's double off Mets starter Robert Gsellman in the first followed a pair of two-out singles by Josh Reddick and Evan Gattis. The Mets got a homer in the fourth inning from Asdrubal Cabrera off Astros reliever Tony Sipp, who was charged with two runs.
The Astros erupted for five runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-1 lead. Mets relief pitcher Logan Taylor allowed five runs (three earned) in one inning of work. Houston outfielder Teoscar Hernandez homered in the seventh, and A.J. Reed went deep in the eighth.
Mets Up Next:Jacob deGrom will make his second spring start when the Mets return to First Data Field on Thursday for a 1:10 p.m. ET game against the Tigers (watch on MLB.TV). deGrom, who touched 97 mph in his Grapefruit League debut last weekend, will oppose right-hander Anibal Sanchez.
Astros Up Next: Lance McCullers will make his first start of the spring when the Astros face the Cardinals at 12:05 p.m. CT Thursday (watch on MLB.TV) in Jupiter, Fla. McCullers, who missed the final two months of last season with an elbow sprain, has been on an individualized throwing program this spring and has been eased into game action.
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