Williams excited about first outing in Houston

From Tribune wire services

Published Saturday, March 31, 2007

Houston Astros starter Woody Williams got an unexpected jolt when he took the mound at Minute Maid Park last night for the first time since joining the team.

The 40-year-old right-hander, who grew up in Houston and is a longtime Astros fan, signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract in November to be the Astros’ No. 3 starter. He spent the 2006 season in San Diego.

"There was a little bit more emotion than a regular spring start," he said. "I didn’t really feel anything until I got out there before I threw the first pitch. I was excited and couldn’t believe it was actually happening."

Williams allowed three hits and two runs in four innings in a 4-2 win over Kansas City.

He threw 63 pitches, 41 for strikes in the last tuneup before his first regular-season start scheduled for Wednesday against the Pirates.

"That’s the best I’ve felt all spring," he said.

Royals starter Zack Greinke allowed four hits and one run with six strikeouts in five innings.

Kansas City Manager Buddy Bell said No. 2 starter Odalis Perez will be ready for his scheduled start Wednesday against Boston. Perez left Thursday’s game against the Rangers after three innings because of a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

"I think we’re going to have to be a little bit cautious with his pitch count and things like that and make sure we have somebody that’s ready in case he has problems early," Bell said.

● Cardinals 6, Redbirds 2: In Memphis, Tenn., closer Jason Isringhausen made his final spring appearance with a scoreless eighth inning against the Memphis Redbirds.

Unofficially making his seventh appearance this spring, Isringhausen surrendered a hard single to Rico Washington and walked Tagg Bozied but escaped after 15 pitches with a 6-2 lead intact.

The defending world champions avoided a potentially embarrassing loss to their Triple-A affiliate when backup catcher Gary Bennett slugged an eighth-inning grand slam to break a 2-2 tie. The Cardinals rallied from a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning before Bennett unloaded on a two-out full count against Andy Cavazos.