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Astros on a hit parade early in spring season Sports Thursday, 11 March 2010 01:23 By Ken Jackson Sports Writer Got offense? The Houston Astros do, and they’ve shown it early in Grapefruit League action in spring training. It’s been on display right from the team’s first game last week, when Hunter Pence homered twice — in the fourth inning — of the Astros’ 15-5 win over the Washington Nationals. He added a double and had five RBIs in his half-game’s work during a 21-hit, five-homer attack. Pence had four hits in his first 10 spring at-bats — and yet he isn’t the most impressive hitter in the season’s short start. Third baseman Pedro Feliz doubled and homered in Tuesday’s 8-4 win at the New York Mets, helping knock Mets’ starter Johann Santana out in the second inning and sending the former Philadelphia Phillies’ average to .500 (6-for-12) entering Wednesday’s game against the Florida Marlins at Osceola County Stadium. Geoff Blum was at .538 (7-for-13) after a 4-for-4 day Tuesday in Port St. Lucie that included two doubles, and catcher J.R. Towles, who will share the catching duties in 2010 with Humberto Quintero, banged out eight hits — including five doubles — in his first 12 spring at-bats (a .667 clip). The Astros have needed the offense to offset its pitching. Brett Myers gave up two runs in three innings Tuesday in his second spring start. Only Roy Oswalt pitched a clean slate among the five projected starters’ first outings, which all lasted two innings. Next week will be a busy one for the folks at Osceola County Stadium, as the Astros will play in Kissimmee seven times in a nine-day stretch starting Saturday against the Nationals. The Atlanta Braves ride over from Disney on Sunday, and the Boston Red Sox visit Tuesday for the first time since Stadium Manager Pete Rodriguez can remember. The following weekend is a Triborough Bridge special, with the Yankees and Mets playing back-to-back in Kissimmee March 20-21.  The Yankees game is sold out, but standing room tickets will be available at 10 a.m. for $10. Washington and Toronto also visit on Wednesday and Friday. All games begin at 1:05 p.m. Tickets for all games, except the Yankees, are available at the box office or at Ticketmaster.   Please register or log in to post comments. JComments