Houston's Alex Bregman was hit on the back by a breaking ball from St. Louis reliever Ramon Santos on Wednesday, the seventh Astros gamer plunked in five spring training games.

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Dustin Garneau was strike Sunday against Washington, and José Altuve was grazed Monday against Detroit, when Osvaldo Duarte and Alex De Goti also were hit. Aledmys Díaz and Jake Meyers were strike Tuesday by Miami.

Santos' 1-0 pitch in the fifth inning struck Bregman on the remaining shoulder blade. The two-time All-Celebrity trotted to first, then was replaced by a pinch runner.

Bregman hit his 1st homer of spring teaching, a tying solo shot in the third on an 0-2 pitch from Angel Rondon. Houston hit four homers in a 7-5 loss to the Cardinals in a split-squad game for both sides.

Houston pitching coach Brent Strom was ejected by plate umpire Mike Eastabrook in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes.

At the Astros' split-squad video game against the New York Mets in Slot St. Lucie, George Springer was Batman Decals Stickers showered with loud boos when he stepped into the batter's box a bit too early.

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard turned and looked at the scoreboard clock that showed 1:09 p.m. - he waited for the minute to change so the game would officially reach the 1:10 start time, leaving Springer nowhere to proceed as the crowd heckled him.