Major League Baseball

Keuchel leads Astros past Marlins 4-0

Published Mar. 3, 2014 4:23 p.m. ET

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JUPITER, Fla. (AP) Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel pitched so efficiently Monday that after he left the game, he went to the bullpen to get more work and threw a simulated inning.

He didn't allow any runs then, either.

Making his first start of spring training, Keuchel needed only 17 pitches in two scoreless innings, and the Astros beat the Miami Marlins 4-0.

All but three of Keuchel's pitches were strikes. He allowed one baserunner, on a single, before his final pitch induced a double play.

''Out of the gate my fastball command was pretty good,'' Keuchel said. ''Early in the spring you don't want to be too fine, because guys don't want to be out here too long. You want to attack the zone and get as many strikes as possible.''

Chia-Jen Lo, Houston's eighth pitcher, threw a scoreless ninth to complete a four-hitter. Houston improved to 3-1 after losing a franchise record 111 games last season.

''It's better than being 1-3,'' manager Bo Porter said. ''Whenever you get into competition, whether you're playing marbles or a spring-training baseball game, the object is to win.''

Miami starter Jacob Turner went two innings and gave up one run, on Marc Krauss' homer. Krauss went 2 for 4 and is 5 for 9 in spring training.

Houston's J.D. Martinez doubled home a run in the seventh. George Springer walked four times and scored twice.

STARTING TIME

Houston: Keuchel's off to a good start in his bid to win a starting job.

''I just think about me doing my job, and whatever happens happens,'' he said. ''If it's to fall in my lap, I'll take it.''

Keuchel began 2013 in Triple-A but finished the season in the rotation and went 6-10 with a 5.15 ERA in 31 games. He acknowledges there's room for improvement.

''Last year, two out of three times I did a good job of getting out of jams,'' he said. ''That one inning was the one that got me. I'm going to do a better job of buckling down and battling that last little jam you get into. Stay away from those crooked numbers.''

Miami: Turner is one of at least four pitchers contending for the final two spots in the Marlins' rotation. He went only 3-8 in 20 starts last season despite a 3.74 ERA.

''I looked at last season and I took the high notes,'' said Turner, 22. ''I learned a lot about myself as a pitcher. I think I took those into this year and am hoping to build on those.''

With Turner on the mound, Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee made a diving stop to rob Gregorio Petit of a potential two-run single.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins right-hander Henderson Alvarez, who has yet to pitch because of an infection in his shin, remains on schedule to make his spring debut Friday against St. Louis.

ASTROS MENTOR

Houston special assistant to the general manager Craig Biggio arrived in camp for his first stint of the spring. He will work with major- and minor-league players for three days and will return later in the month. Former Astros Jose Cruz and Dickie Thon will also spend time in camp.

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