Worth noting

• The Astros managed only three hits and three walks against the Pirates in Friday's 3-2 loss, despite being one of the more productive offenses so far in Spring Training. They scored both of their runs in the ninth on two walks and a two-run single by Jose Martinez and brought the potential winning run to the plate, but Rene Garcia grounded into a force out to end the rally.

"We had opportunities. We just didn't get the big hit today," Porter said. "We had runners on base. Even that last inning there, we put ourselves in position with the go-ahead run making it to the batter's box. That's all you can ask each and every night, that you give yourself a chance."

• As part of his preparation for his first season as Houston's manager, Porter spent time this offseason watching every single game of the Astros' 2012 season. He said he wanted to know everything he possibly could about the team he was joining, so he talked to his players over the winter and watched every game -- sometimes as many as 10 a day.

• Porter was asked Friday morning how he plans to utilize platoons, whether it will be strictly based on whether the pitcher is right-handed or left-handed, or if anything else goes into that decision. Porter responded, "It has a lot to do with the pitcher. A lot of times, you can look at the righty-lefty situation, but you may have a pitcher who, his stuff just [doesn't] match up [or] he gets the ball in the area in which our guy handles the plate well. We'll look at those situations, depending on the opponent."