KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Miguel Tejada was relieved to be back on the baseball field Friday after spending a day in a Washington court, where he was sentenced to one year of probation for misleading Congress.
And for the first time this spring Tejada flashed the skills that made him an AL MVP, hitting a home run among his three hits and driving in two runs to lead the Houston Astros to a 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
"It's a lot easier with the stuff behind me," said Tejada, who had been awaiting sentencing since pleading guilty Feb. 12. "I don't have to worry about that anymore. The only thing I have to worry about now is to just play baseball."
Tejada went 3-for-3 with an RBI double and a single to back Roy Oswalt, who was making his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic.
"Every time I take the field, it doesn't matter what happens off the field. I'm going to play the best I can," said Tejada, who was hitting just .251 this spring coming into the game.
In addition to probation, Tejada will have to fulfill 100 hours of community service and pay a $5,000 fine for denying congress information about ex-teammates use of performance-enhancing drugs when questioned in 2005 by congressional investigators.
He is planning on fulfilling his service by working with little children.
"I'm really happy to do it," Tejada said. "For me, it's not a problem. I'm definitely going to do whatever they want me to do."
Roy Oswalt allowed 10 hits and three runs in six innings.
"Early on I couldn't get the ball down," Oswalt said. "As the game went on I was able to get some command and start getting people out."
Oswalt will have one more spring start before opening day. He'll throw two bullpen sessions before his next start as he tries to get into regular-season form. He struggled in the WBC, posting a 5.56 ERA in three starts and got the loss to Japan in the semifinals.
Brett Myers gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"It's good to recognize it early when you're not going to have powerful, strikeout stuff," Myers said. "You're going to have to pitch. And today I felt like I did that. I located well, better than I did the last time."
Notes
Phillies RF Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer. ... The Astros sent catcher J.R. Towles to the minors on Friday. Towles hit .137 in 146 at-bats last season. The Astros also sent RHP Bud Norris to minor league camp. ... With Cole Hamels battling an elbow injury, Myers could end up making his third consecutive opening-day start. ... Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez will make a Triple-A start on Saturday in Kissimmee. Ivan Rodriguez will catch for him and get some additional at-bats.
