Instructional League Game with Roving Reporter Bill Morton

Bill Morton is an Astros fan and a transplanted University of Houston alumni who lives in Florida and enjoys attending Astros Spring Training games and the Gulf Coast League Astros games when he can. When he told me that he would be attending the first game of the Instructional League yesterday, I challenged him to write up a game story for me. He obliged with some terrific observations. One editor's note: I haven't worn stilettos in about 15 years.

Story by Bill Morton

Thanks to Jayne for letting me step into her stilettos Saturday in Kissimmee for the Instructional League opener between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.

What started out as a pitchers' duel, turned into a learning experience for the Astros late in the game. And when all was said and done, the Nats escaped with the 2-1 victory.

First the good: Solid pitching. Jandel Gustave, Christopher Lee, Kyle Smith, Reymin Guduan and Zach Morton combined to shut down the Nats on just three hits. Gustave and Morton were exceptionally sharp.

Astros catcher Max Stassi, started behind the plate and shined for seven innings before being replaced. At the plate he went 0-3, but drew a pair of walks and scored Houston's lone run on a Tyler White single. Stassi, who is recovering from a concussion suffered on September 1st, will be back with the Astros Sunday night in Arlington.

Brett Phillips, who split time this season between Quad Cities and Greeneville, was 2/2, stole a base and made a nice running catch in the outfield. Jacob Nottingham stroked a double for Houston, while Chan Jong Moon and Tony Kemp added singles.

I'll put the bad and ugly in the same boat. There were some mental mistakes, mostly on the basepaths with three baserunners being picked off first. But hey, that's why this is called an instructional league. The coaches proved that by keeping the team on the field for a 30-minute "discussion" following the game.

The Astros will take Sunday off before taking the short drive on 192 to Disney to play the Braves on Monday. After Tuesday's camp day, the Nats and Astros will meet up in Kissimmee again on Wednesday.