KISSIMMEE, Fla. – R.A. Dickey pitched five shutout innings Sunday before the Houston Astros came back to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in an exhibition game.
Dickey threw 82 pitches in five innings in his third spring start, giving up four hits and a walk while striking out four. The Astros got a runner into scoring position against him only with the help of a wild pitch.
Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Perez drove in runs for the Astros in the eighth inning off losing pitcher Jeremy Jeffress.
Eric Kratz had two hits and drove in two for the Blue Jays while catching Dickey's knuckleball through the first five innings.
Jason Castro tied it for the Astros with a two-run home run in the sixth.
Left-hander Rudy Owens, a 26-year-old rookie who has yet to pitch in the major leagues, pitched five shutout innings for the Astros.
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