"The plan was to throw 35 pitches Saturday, but when Roy Oswalt found himself in a jam early on, he saw a chance to work his way out of it and still come back out for more.

"I was thinking, bases loaded in your first inning of spring training, why not?" said Oswalt, who pitched two innings in the Astros' 3-0 win over the Braves at Osceola County Stadium.

He finished throwing 44 pitches and allowed one hit and three walks while striking out two.

As new Astros pitching coach Brad Arnsberg gets to know Roy Oswalt better, he is convinced the ace understands his role well."