There were good vibes in the air early in the Astros’ tilt with their rivals to the north on Friday, as the club sent rookie and local kid Tyler Ivey to the hill for his first big league appearance. Ivey, a former 3rd round pick who once attended Texas A&M, got the nod despite a scant track record over the last few years and a so-so start to the season at Triple-A, and handled the opportunity with aplomb.
Ivey got off on the right foot early, recording a rapid 1-2-3 first inning on a trio of flyouts, and when he returned to the dugout the Astros rewarded him with a bit of offense.