KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Bud Norris pitched five shutout innings and struck out five to lead the Houston Astros past a St. Louis Cardinals split-squad, 3-2 Saturday.
Norris entered the game with a 10.29 ERA in three appearances, but said he felt relaxed and ready for opening day after shutting down Cardinals.
"Spring training is all about working and that's what I have done," Norris said. "The numbers haven't hurt anything and I haven't had a lot of walks. It's coming around."
Astros manager Brad Mills said he did not realize Norris had struggled this spring. He said Norris looked fine and was ready to step into one of the openings on the Astros staff. Norris went 9-10 with a 4.92 ERA for Houston last season.
The Astros were out-hit, 11-7, but took a 3-0 lead and held on. First baseman Brett Wallace improved his spring training average to .362 with a run-scoring single.
Lance Lynn started for the Cardinals and struck out four, allowing two runs in four innings.
Marlins rally for win over Cardinals
JUPITER, Fla. - Javier Vazquez gave up two runs in four innings, and the Florida Marlins ralled for a 5-4 win over a split-squad of St. Louis Cardinals.
Vazquez, who's trying to rebound with the Marlins after a disappointing year with the New York Yankees, missed his last start earlier last week because of mild elbow tightness.
"I threw all my pitches, which was good for me, especially on the breaking balls," the right-hander said. "Sometimes you feel it a little bit in the elbow but everything was good."
The right-hander's only mistake was a slow curveball Nick Stavinoha hit for a two-run double with two outs in the second inning.
Second baseman Omar Infante had three hits with an RBI for the Marlins, who scored four runs in the eighth.
Kyle Lohse, the Cardinals' No. 4 starter, allowed one run on five innings. He has a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings (four starts) this spring.