Astros 6, Indians 2

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Roy Oswalt prepared for his fifth consecutive opening day start with six scoreless innings.

Oswalt limited the Cleveland Indians to three hits in the Houston Astros' 6-2 victory Friday night.

"I felt good," Oswalt said. "All the pitches started working late in the game. The first two innings, I couldn't throw a curve ball. But after the third, I got it going."

Richard Hidalgo hit a three-run homer for the Astros.

Oswalt allowed a first-inning double by Jason Michaels, who was later thrown out at home plate by Houston right fielder Luke Scott. That double was the only extra-base hit off Oswalt, who struck out five and walked two. He retired the last eight batters he faced.

The Astros scored four runs off Cleveland closer Joe Borowski in the fifth inning, including Hidalgo's first homer of the spring. His long drive over the left field fence was preceded by Mike Lamb's RBI hit and Indians infielder Hector Luna's eighth error of spring training.

Cleveland starter Paul Byrd allowed one run over four innings, a sacrifice fly by Humberto Quintero. Byrd gave up seven hits, including Eric Munson's double.

The Indians broke the shutout on seventh-inning RBI singles by Keith Ginter and Mike Rouse off Houston's Brad Lidge. Rouse was 3-for-4, while Ginter and Ryan Garko had two hits each.

Game notes
Houston 3B Morgan Ensberg was hit on the leg by a batted ball Thursday, suffering a bruised knee, and was also hit in the lower back by a pitch. He's scheduled to play Saturday. ... Cleveland LHP C.C. Sabathia pitched in a minor league game for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, striking out nine in six shutout innings. ... Houston LHP Scott Sauerbeck has not yet told the club if he will accept his minor league assignment or ask for his release. ... Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Donald Fehr met with Indians players for about 2 hours before Friday's game.