WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Marlins got the swing they needed late.
With the game tied in the seventh inning, Dillon Lewis drove a grand slam to left field, lifting Miami to a 7–4 win over the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Lewis, the Marlins’ No. 11 prospect, finished with four RBIs and delivered the swing that erased Houston’s lead.
Miami had already built a 3–0 advantage in the second inning on RBI hits from Liam Hicks and Nathan Martorella, but Houston answered with single-run innings in the third and a two-run single from César Pérez in the sixth to take a 4–3 lead.
Lewis changed it in one swing.
Dillon Lewis hit his first spring training homer tonight against the Houston Astros.
We spoke to him postgame#Marlins @FOFProspects @FishOnFirst pic.twitter.com/VXFzNH8x3M
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) March 21, 2026
Controlled Early, Then Flipped Late
Pérez Builds, Astros Answer
Miami struck first with a three-run second inning.
Kyle Stowers opened the frame with a double, Liam Hicks drove him in, Nathan Martorella followed with an RBI single, and Juan Matheus added another run on a groundout to make it 3–0.
Eury Pérez carried that early momentum.
He worked five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts, building up to 81 pitches as he continues to trend toward Opening Day.
Houston chipped away right behind him.
César Salazar doubled to open the third, José Altuve brought him in with a single, and Joey Loperfido pushed across another run later in the inning to cut it to 3–2.
Then they flipped it.
In the sixth, with traffic building, César Pérez lined a two-run single to left to give Houston a 4–3 lead.
Eury Pérez (MIA) struck out five over five innings and allowed two runs pic.twitter.com/kqrZu0tGK4
— Pitcher List Stats (@PitcherListPLV) March 21, 2026
César Salazar doubled to open the third, and José Altuve brought him in with a single. Joey Loperfido followed later in the inning with a run-scoring forceout, cutting it to 3–2.
Houston didn’t need much after that.
In the sixth, they turned it.
With two on, César Pérez lined a single into left, scoring two and giving the Astros a 4–3 lead.
Isaac Paredes, working through the final days of camp, kept the focus where it’s been all spring.
“Me siento bien… me han dado la oportunidad de jugar,” Paredes told World Baseball Network.
“Mantenernos sanos, hacer la rutina siempre… mantenernos saludables toda la temporada.”
He’s building back into everyday rhythm as Houston sorts through its roster.
Astros manager Joe Espada made it clear those decisions aren’t finished.
“We’re going to take this down to the last few days,” Espada said. “When it comes to the roster, we’re still working through it.”
And then it turned again.
Carter Johnson walked. Fenwick Trimble was hit. Eric Rataczak lined a single to load the bases.
Lewis got a pitch to hit — and didn’t miss.
Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes throws to second during a spring training baseball workout Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Marlins Navigate Late-Spring Injuries
Stowers, Ruiz Exit Split-Squad Action
The win didn’t come clean.
Kyle Stowers exited in the third inning with right hamstring tightness — the same issue the Marlins have been managing throughout camp — after doubling, singling, and scoring a run.
At the same time, Esteury Ruiz left Miami’s other split-squad game with left-side tightness.
Both will be evaluated with Opening Day less than a week away.
Venezuela Presence Remains Inside Astros Camp
Bracamonte, López Carry WBC Momentum
Inside the Astros’ clubhouse, the carryover from Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic title is still there.
Bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte, part of that championship staff, didn’t overcomplicate it.
“It means a lot… we showed what we are as a baseball country,” Bracamonte told World Baseball Network.
“Now we put a stamp on it.”
For him, the difference wasn’t talent — it was execution.
“We lost games before by one pitch… we learned from that. That’s what changed.”
That group — including manager Omar López — is back in Houston now, and the expectation hasn’t shifted.
“This is a really good team to make it all the way,” Bracamonte said.
Venezuelan baseball writer Daniel Alvarez said the impact is already bigger than the tournament itself.
“It means way more than words can describe,” Alvarez said.
“You see people celebrating not just in Venezuela, but all over the world.”
“It means way more than words can describe,” Alvarez said.
“You see people celebrating not just in Venezuela, but all over the world.”
What’s Next
Miami continues its Grapefruit League schedule on March 21 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. ET.
The Marlins open the regular season at home on March 27 against the Colorado Rockies.
Houston returns to action March 21 in a split-squad matchup against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie at 1:10 p.m. ET.
The Astros open their 2026 season on March 27 at Daikin Park against the Los Angeles Angels.
Custom graphic created from a live stadium photo at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, highlighting the Miami Marlins’ 7–4 win over the Houston Astros during 2026 Spring Training. The game was decided by Dillon Lewis’ grand slam in the seventh inning, with Eury Pérez making his final tune-up start before Opening Day.
