5 Phils 1-hit Houston

Sunday, in Kissimmee, the Phillies beat Houston, 7-1 behind spectacular pitching.  Cole Hamels started and went 5 solid innings, allowing just 1 run on 1 hit and 1 walk.  Four relivers tossed a  hitless inning each, including Tyler Cloyd and Justin De Fratus.  Freddy Galvis had 3 hits, including a double, 2 RBI and a run scored.  Sergio Escalona thew an inning and gave up a run for Houston and Jarred Cosart was lit up for 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk in just 1.2 innings of work.  Jonathan Villar and Jason Jaramillo  got into the game late for the Astros, and Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf started for the Phillies.

Over in Dunedin, Jay Happ threw 3.1 scoreless innings against New York, allowing just 4 hits and 1 walk, but the Yankees won later, 3-0.   Anthony Gose (.385 so far) was 1 for 2 and Tyson Brummett threw a shut out inning (1 walk) in the 9th............In Jupiter, the Mets shut out St. Louis, 3-0.  Travis d'Arnaud, OK after that scare the other day, walked and scored a run in his only at bat for the Mets.............Mike Zagurski threw another scoreless inning for the Pirates, striking out 2 of the 3 hitters he faced in Pittsburgh's 7-4 win over the Twins.  Zaguski has yet to allow an earned run for the Pirates this spring..........In Lakeland, Quintin Berry had a hit in his only at bat, returning to active duty after sitting out for a week, as the Tigers edged the Nationals, 2-1.

In Glendale, the Reds got to Gavin Floyd for 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 3.1 innings en route to a 7-4 win over the White Sox.  Floyd did fan 5 batters.  Travis Mattair got into the game late and had an at bat for Cincinnati...........In Goodyear, Carlos Carrasco allowed 2 runs on 4 hits amd 2 walks in 4 innings, and was tagged with the loss in a 7-6 win for Texas.

In theWBC, the USA survived the opening round and will join Italy, Puerto Rico and Domincan Republic in the next phase in Miami.  2 of these 4 will advance to the semi finals.  In Asia, Japan has a leg up, with the Netherlands and Cuba  battling for a berth in the semis.  They are playing right now, a 4-4 tie through 6 innings, with the loser eliminated and the winner joining Japan in San Francisco.