MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) _ Jesus Sanchez was hit hard for the third time this spring, allowing eight runs in 3 1-3 innings as the Florida Marlins lost to the Houston Astros 9-3 Friday night.

Sanchez gave up six hits and five walks. Six of the runs off him were earned.

"I had trouble with my location today," said Sanchez, 9-12 for the Marlins last year. "But there's still a long way to go and I can turn this around. I couldn't locate my fastball where I needed it to be, and I kept getting behind."

Sanchez has been pounded for 18 runs, 20 hits and 11 walks in 11 innings this spring.

"I'm puzzled by the way Sanchez threw," Marlins manager John Boles said. "We're talking about the fourth or fifth spot in our rotation. He came here with the job to lose. But he still has time."

In his previous outing, he pitched four shutout innings against Atlanta.

"I felt so good after the way I pitched last time," Sanchez said. "But today I just couldn't seem to get it over. The changeup and breaking ball, I think, were working but I just couldn't get anything over with consistency."

Winner Wade Miller gave up three runs and six hits in five innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

Jeff Bagwell was 2-for-2 was a home run and three RBIs, and Jose Vizcaino was 2-for-2 with three runs scored.