Episode: 3241 Green with Immortality. Today, we go green with immortality.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports Spencer Arrighetti improves in his second big-league start Losing this game makes me sick. And why are the Astros so bad at choosing free agents? Coming in, the Braves were the best-hitting team in baseball. They were facing Spencer Arrighetti in his second major league game. His ERA was 27.00. Yet, if the defense hadn’t given away two runs, Arighetti would have lasted at least four innings without allowing a run. (The official scorer called the two runs earned, but that is absurd. I’ll show you.) And yet, after eight innings, the much-maligned Astros’ bullpen held the Braves and kept the Astros close. Until the other $90 million floparoo came in to throw away any chance for a win. Sure, this was a game the Astros were destined to lose. The fact that they should have won is what makes me sick. The Astros managed one run in the first after Kyle Tucker stole second with two outs and scored on an Alex Bregman single of Darius Vines. That was it. But the Braves weren’t much better, really. They needed a gift from the Astros defense to take the lead in the second inning. After two were out, a hit and a walk gave the Braves runners on first and second. Luis Guilorme hit a gounder up the middle that was fielded by Jeremy Pena. It was a long run for Pena, but he fielded the ball cleanly, spun, and made an errant throw that allowed a run to score. Clearly unnerved, the rookie Arrighetti then walked one hitter and hit another, scoring Atlanta’s second run. The official scorer called the scoring play a hit and a throwing error, making both runs earned. But clearly, a good throw would have retired the hitter and ended the inning. Any hope for an Astros win this game (and probably this series) evaporated when Josh Hader came in throwing batting practice. Hader allowed four runs on four hits, retiring only one batter. He’s probably unavailable tomorrow. Good. Josh Hader. Wow. Just WOW. He made the Astros’ 1-7 with runners in scoring position irrelevant. His Astros ERA sits at 9.39. Some closer. Well, Jose Altuve got three hits and Bregman two. Arrighetti looked serviceable, and Seth Matinez, Rafael Montero, and Bryan Abreu did their jobs out of the bullpen. It adds up to another blowout. If one thing doesn’t go wrong for the Astros, something else does. Box Score HERE.

The Montrose-area location in the Houston library system reopened after a brief closure due to safety concerns. Conversations are ongoing about the building's future after the library moves.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: Trey Cabbage of the Houston Astros fields during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 17, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. | Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images See how the prospects performed yesterday. Another day of Astros minor league action is in the books. See the results below! AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-5) lost 9-8 (BOX SCORE) Henley got the start for Sugar Land and went 5 innings allowing 5 runs, 4 earned. The offense got on the board in the 3rd scoring 3 runs on an Amaya 2 run HR and Bastidas RBI double. After falling behind 6-3, the Space Cowboys rallied for 3 runs in the 8th on a Wagner RBI double, Whitcomb RBI groundout and Salazar RBI single to tie it. In the 9th, Cabbage gave Sugar Land the lead with a 2 run double to put them up 8-6. The pen was unable to hold the lead though as the Isotopes scored 3 runs in the 9th and walked off with the win. Note: Bastidas is hitting .341 this season. David Hensley, 1B: 2-for-5, R, 2B Jesus Bastidas, DH: 2-for-4, R, 2 2B, RBI, BB, SB Joey Loperfido, CF: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB Trey Cabbage, RF: 1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB Pedro Leon, CF: 1-for-5, R, 2B Will Wagner, 2B: 1-for-5, R, 2B, RBI Shay Whitcomb, SS: 1-for-4, RBI Cesar Salazar, C: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB Jacob Amaya, SS: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI Blair Henley, RHP: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K Conner Greene, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K Bryan King, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K Miguel Diaz, RHP: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K Drew Strotman, RHP: 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (1-8) lost 10-2 (BOX SCORE) The Hooks picked up their first run in the 3rd inning on a Stevens solo HR. Guilfoil got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs over 4.1 innings. He was relieved by Gomez who gave up a 2 run HR, with one of the runs being charged to Guilfoil. Stubbs added a run for the Hooks in the 8th on a solo HR. Frisco blew it open in the 8th with 6 runs as they went on to win 10-2. Note: Corona has 4 SB this season. Jordan Brewer, 1B: 2-for-4 Kenedy Corona, CF: 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB Chad Stevens, SS: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI CJ Stubbs, DH: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI Tyler Guilfoil, RHP: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K Cesar Gomez, RHP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K Jaime Melendez, RHP: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K Brayan De Paula, LHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K A+: Asheville Tourists (4-5) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE) Asheville got on the board in the first scoring a run on a wild pitch. Guedez got the start and was solid allowing 1 run over 5 innings with 6 strikeouts. Asheville took the lead in the 4th with a Whitaker RBI single. Brooklyn took the lead in the 6th on a 2 run HR. In the 9th, Price connected on a solo HR to tie the game at 3. In the bottom of the 9th, Brooklyn walked it off with a solo blast to win it 4-3. Note: Price is hitting .360 this season. Collin Price, 1B: 1-for-2, 3 R, HR, RBI, 2 BB, SB Tyler Whitaker, RF: 2-for-4, RBI Jose Guedez, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K Manuel Urias, RHP: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (6-3) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE) Mejia started for the Woodpeckers but struggled allowing 3 runs over 3.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on an Encarnacion solo HR. They picked up another in the 4th on a Santander solo HR. In the 5th, a Hernandez double tied it up at 3. The Woodpeckers entered the 8th down 5-3 but rallied scoring 4 runs on an Encarnacion RBI groundout and an Ochoa 3 run HR. The pen gave up a few runs but was able to hold on for the 7-6 win. Note: Gomez has a .432 OBP this season. Kenni Gomez, CF: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB Luis Encarnacion, 1B: 0-for-4, R, RBI Juan Santander, C: 1-for-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB Nehomar Ochoa, RF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI Yamal Encarnacion, CF: 2-for-4, R, HR, RBI, SB Alejandro Nunez, 2B: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB, SB Alberto Hernandez, 3B: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI Sandy Mejia, RHP: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K Kelly Austin, RHP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K Derek True, RHP: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K Amilcar Chirinos, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (WIN) Abel Mercedes, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K Today’s minor league starters: SL: OFF CC: OFF AV: OFF FV: OFF