Astros 3, Braves 2: Stassi’s two-run blast lifts Astros

Spring Training games rarely if ever, go to extra innings. Sunday’s Astros-Braves game appeared primed to do just that (or end in a tie) until catcher Max Stassi stepped to the plate in the eighth inning.

Stassi smacked a two-run home run the opposite way over the right-center field wall at Champion Stadium — lifting the Astros to a 3-2 win over the Braves.

Another Astros catcher Evan Gattis (at designated hitter on Sunday) helped tie the game earlier in the third inning. Gattis drove in outfielder Norichika Aoki from third after he went first to third on a Colin Moran single.

Other highlights include prospect Jon Kimmer reaching in all three at-bats with a double and two walks. LHP Reymin Guduand shined in the sixth and seventh inning. Guduand forced a groundout from Jace Peterson to end a base-loaded threat created by Aaron West, who walked the bases loaded.

Guduand followed that up with three strikeouts in the seventh inning.

The Astros will have their first split-squad game on Monday. Houston will play the Mets at 12:10 p.m. and Cardinals at 1:05 p.m.