Live From Spring Training ’09: Astros vs. Marlins

The Houston Astros finally broke out the big bats on Monday with a 10-8 win over the Florida Marlins in Kissimmee. The game was played under cloudy skies before a sparse crowd that included former President, George H. W. Bush and a small army of Secret Service and security people. Bush received an ovation from the crowd when he entered and was in the owner’s front row box with Drayton McLane and Ed Wade for the entire game.

The offense was led by Lance Berkman with two long home runs off hard-throwing Josh Johnson, and Michael Bourn who collected an RBI in each of his last three at-bats. Carlos Lee, Miguel Tejada and J.R. Towles each contributed 2 hits in the 13-hit attack in an entertaining game with four lead changes.

Mike Hampton started for the Astros and wasn’t as sharp as he was five days ago against the Yankees. He left after five innings with a 5-3 lead. The bullpen faltered in the 6th inning allowing four runs. Chad Paronto started the inning by facing three batters and giving up two hits before leaving with an apparent injury. Gilbert De La Vera was greeted by an inside-the-park home run on a ball just out of the reach of Bourn in center field.

Chris Sampson pitched the seventh inning and recorded three infield outs. He picked up the win when the Astros rallied for four runs to regain the lead for good. Rookie Bud Norris worked the last two innings for the save despite giving up a home run to Cody Ross.

• The Astros will try to make it five wins in a row on Tuesday when the Mets pay a visit. Wandy Rodriguez is scheduled to start.