Martes shows improvement, comfort in 3rd start

Martes fans Young LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Through two innings in Thursday's game against the Braves at Champion Stadium, Astros right-hander Francis Martes was cruising. He had faced the minimum, including back-to-back strikeouts of Nick Markakis and Ronald Acuna to end the second inning.

But a leadoff walk of Johan Camargo on a 3-1 pitch led to trouble for Martes in the third inning. Martes struck out Ryan Schimpf looking before Dansby Swanson flied out to deep center field. Ender Inciarte dribbled a two-out single through a gaping hole in the right side of the infield, moving Camargo to third. But center fielder Tony Kemp ran down another deep fly ball for Martes, this one off the bat of…