KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Outfielder Colby Rasmus cranked a three-run homer to right field in the first inning and drove in four runs to help send the Astros to a 10-4 win over the Tigers on Friday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium.
"It feels good," Rasmus said. "There's always that thought in my back of my mind of using your bullets up early, but I feel pretty good. I'm trying to stay focused on what my approach is, and where I finished up last year, trying to keep that same kind of swing going. I'm happy with myself being able to hit some breaking balls early."
Right-hander Michael Fulmer, the Tigers' top prospect, walked the first two batters he faced, and both scored on Rasmus' blast one out later. Fulmer needed 35 pitches to escape the first inning, having allowed three runs before turning the ball over to the bullpen.
"Walks will kill you," Fulmer said. "0-1 hanging changeups will kill you, too."
Carlos Correa had three hits for the Astros.
Detroit cut the lead to 4-2 in the third on RBI doubles by Jose Iglesias and Anthony Gose, but an RBI single by Tyler White in the bottom of the inning pushed the Houston lead to 5-2. Steven Moya hit a solo homer in the fourth -- his third of the spring -- off Ken Giles to make it 5-3.
Astros starter Scott Feldman breezed through two innings before giving up three doubles and two runs in the third inning. He allowed four hits, two runs and struck out one batter while throwing 42 pitches in his second start of the spring.
Up next for the Astros:Mike Fiers makes his second start of the spring for the Astros when they face the Cardinals on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. CT in Jupiter, Fla. Among the notable position players scheduled to make the long trip to Jupiter are Luis Valbuena, Jake Marisnick, Preston Tucker and Marwin Gonzalez.
Up next for the Tigers:Mike Pelfrey makes his third start of the spring behind a home crowd and a cast of mostly Tigers regulars Saturday afternoon, when they welcome the Pirates for a 1:05 p.m. ET start at Joker Marchant Stadium. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Nick Castellanos and James McCann are among the starters in the preliminary starting lineup.