Astros, fans take first road trip of spring training

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Houston Astros were back in spring training action Tuesday in Florida, but not at home.

The defending World Series Champions hit the road for Tuesday’s game against the Mets.

The ‘Stros traveled about 50 miles north from West Palm Beach to take on the Mets at First Data Field, which is their spring training facility. 

“I’ve been an Astros fan since the early 1980s when my dad introduced me to the team,” said Doug Brtek, an Astros fan who lives in Florida. 

He said he grew up in the Midwest on a farm and his dad would listen to the radio when the Colt 45 would play. 

"No ties to Houston, just absolutely love the team. My wife will tell you I'm an absolute psychotic fan,” said Brtek. 

That was a common theme during Tuesday’s game. The out-of-state fans cheering on the Astros were not bandwagon fans, but rather longtime loyal fans. 

“I’m from Indiana ... Indianapolis actually and we just always wanted to be different and everybody likes the Cardinals or the Cubs from where I’m from,” said Michael Gayle, an Astros fan from Indiana. 

Gayle said he and his mom have been going to spring training for the past 16 years to see the Astros.