With one week left before Opening Day, the Houston Astros are getting themselves into regular season form. On Thursday night they won their third consecutive game defeating the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 3-0 at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

“This is what we wanted to do by going into the regular season feeling good about ourselves,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker. “If you are going to be a great team you are going to have to win games all kinds of ways. This was just an indication of what we are capable of doing.”

Houston was provided a huge spark from the beginning of the game when second baseman Jose Altuve hit a thunderous home run to left field on a 2-0 count. The former A.L. MVP is being strongly considered as the leadoff hitter for the Astros in the regular season, a spot that was made available with the departure of George Springer in the offseason when he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“Tonight, was like the ghost of George Springer,” said Baker in his postgame press conference about Altuve’s leadoff homer.

Another ghost from the past that appeared for the Astros on Thursday night was starting pitcher Jose Urquidy who was masterful on the mound retiring the Cardinals first 15 batters he faced through five innings perfect innings.

“I was really focused on having a good outing today,” Urquidy responded when asked about his approach coming into the game. “Last couple outings didn’t go exactly how I wanted them to go, so I wanted this one to be good,”

Reliever Brandon Bielak took the mound to begin the sixth inning and would carry the Astros perfect game through the seventh inning until Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado doubled through the hole at shortstop to give St. Louis their first hit of the game. Bielak only allowed one more hit in the four scoreless innings he pitched.

Houston will be back in action on Friday as they take on the Miami Marlins with the first pitch at 5:05 p.m. CST.