The Astros took another Grapefruit League game from the Cardinals, 3-2, but there were a number of subplots that hold greater significance.
First, Jose Altuve made his MLB debut in left field, although we didn’t get to see him field any flies. At the plate, he went 0-3 with one K.
The Astros’ new third baseman, Isaac Paredes, was 2-3 with a first-inning solo homer and a third-inning RBI single. Shay Whitcomb added a solo homer in the seventh playing shortstop, and in the ninth inning, got his hat thrown in the ring in the tournament for fifth outfielder, playing one inning in Altuve’s ostensible position.