HAINES CITY, FLA. ? Wade Miller and five relievers combined on a three-hitter as the Houston Astros defeated the Kansas City Royals, 8-1, Saturday.

Miller, a 16-game winner last year, allowed one single, struck out three and walked one in three innings. He allowed an unearned run in the second when the Astros committed two errors, permitting Mike Sweeney to score.

Rookie outfielder Jason Lane, who hit .316 with 38 home runs last year with Class AA Round Rock, had three hits, including a triple and double, scored a pair of runs and drove in two runs for the Astros.

Jeff Suppan, the Royals’ opening-day starter the past two years, allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits in the second inning. Lane’s two-run double highlighted the inning.