WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The first start of the spring went off without a hitch for Astros right-hander Justin Verlander.
Verlander, making his Grapefruit League debut in an Astros uniform, struck out four of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings against the Mets at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. He threw 20 of his 28 pitches for strikes, including a 97-mph fastball on his final pitch.
Verlander struck out Jose Reyes and Phil Evans swinging to end the first and got Peter Alonso swinging and Brandon Nimmo looking to finish the second.