Jones goes deep, posts three RBIs to back Eovaldi
First baseman goes 2-for-3; right-hander gives up two runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Garrett Jones hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Scott Feldman and added an RBI single in a three-run fifth inning to lead the Marlins to a 7-2 win over the Astros on Friday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi got the win for Miami, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He was scoreless through three innings before giving up RBI singles to L.J. Hoes in the fourth and Carlos Corporan in the fifth.
"Eovaldi was good, really good," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "I like the way he executed his secondary pitches today. I know he was really looking to mix in more sliders and breaking balls. I think he hit on quite a few. He got into a few little jams after getting ahead and two outs, but he was able to work through it. I thought the ball was coming out of his hand well. He was throwing hard."
Feldman retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced after Jones went deep in the the first inning, but he labored in the fifth, as Houston made a pair of errors behind him. Hoes let an Eovaldi single roll under his glove, and left fielder Robbie Grossman allowed a run to score on a throwing error. All three runs Miami scored in the fifth came after the first two batters were retired.
Feldman, who will start on Opening Day for the Astros, worked five innings and threw 88 pitches (57 strikes), the most he has thrown this spring. He gave up seven hits and five runs (four earned) with one walk and three strikeouts.
In the ninth, the Marlins tacked one more run on when Austin Nola scored on Chad Qualls' wild pitch.
Up next: The Marlins have their final split-squad day on Saturday. At Jupiter at 1:05 p.m. ET, Brad Hand gets the nod against the Mets, who will go with Bartolo Colon. Hand is competing for the fifth-starter spot. Also at 1:05, Henderson Alvarez will start for Miami at Viera against the Nationals, with Kevin Slowey backing him up. Doug Fister will take the hill for Washington. Tune in to Gameday Audio to listen to both games live.