Live-Blogging

Well, it's opening day for us here at Marlins Die-Hards, and in honor of that, I will do something that I don't think has been done before. Live-blog a spring training game. The Marlins are getting set for a 1pm game against the Houston Astros and it will be televised on FSN-Florida. Updates will follow.

Pregame: So this is one of those companion broadcasts. The Astros play-by-play man is calling the game with Tommy Hutton.

Oh wow, just after they said they are ready to start, there is now a rain delay. Should be about 25 minutes. I'll be back around 1:30pm.

Pregame: Okay, the Astros take the field and Mike Hampton is on the mound. To my knowledge he is no longer on the Marlins payroll, not sure though. Former President George H.W. Bush is in attendance.

Top 1st: John Raynor leads things off with a single. John Baker hits a soft chop between the pitcher and first base and the Astros botch it. Two on for Hanley Ramirez and he skies one to shortstop, one down. Hit and run and Wes Helms pops up into a double play, unfortunate.

Bottom 1st: Josh Johnson on the mound today and the 2-hitter Michael Bourn breaks up the no-hitter. Two web gems to end the first. Andy Gonzalez made a diving catch on a liner and Hanley showed off great range to get to a ball behind second base and throw out Carlos Lee.

Top 2nd: Cody Ross gets a one-out double down the left field line, but is stranded at third base.

Bottom 2nd: Tejada and Pence rip singles to lead off, first and third with no out. Blum strikes out and Quintero grounds out but not sharp enough for a double play. 1-0 Astros with two out and a man on second. Hampton grounds out to end the inning.

Top 3rd: JJ Strikes out on three pitches. Raynor laces a double to left and takes third on a stolen base. He comes in to score on a John Baker groundout. 1-1 ballgame now. Fly out for Hanley

Bottom 3rd: Two quick outs and then Lance Berkman goes bombs away to center. 2-1 Astros.

Top 4th: Marlins answer with two runs of their own. Andy Gonzalez with the RBI double with two outs. 3-2 score now.

Bottom 4th: 1-2-3 go the Astros, with one strikeout for JJ.

Bottom 5th: The wind is killing the Marlins. Lance Berkman hit a pop up and was disgusted at the plate but the wind carried it all the way out. He was very surprised. It's now 5-3 Astros.

Top 6th: Interesting events in the inning. Chad Paronto was pitching but left due to injury, he looked very upset. Then Chris Coghlan hit a three run inside the park homer, when Michael Bourn's diving attempt in deep left center came up short. Now an error by Blum and another baserunner for the Marlins. 6-5 Marlins lead. Brett Carroll laces an RBI double to left center and is out trying to advance to third. 7-5 now.

Bottom 7th: Taylor Tankersley comes in to the game and doesn't do much to help his cause. He retires only one of six batters. The Astros score four and now lead it 9-7.

Top 8th: Cody Ross hits a solo bomb and Coghlin gets his third hit of the day. 9-8 headed to the bottom half.

Top 9th: The Astros tacked on one and it's 10-8. The first two are retired but John Baker draws the walk abd brings the tying run to the plate. Groundout by Bonifacio and that will do it.

Good day for Marlins hitters, especially John Raynor, Chris Coghlan, and Cody Ross. Not much good pitching, but Kiko Calero tossed another scoreless inning.

UPDATE: Okay, now I have seen it all. The teams are playing the bottom of the 9th even though the Astros have won. The Marlins want some extra work for some pitchers, but it doesn't look like it will be broadcast on TV. They have thrown to commercial again.