KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Brandon Backe (BA'-kee) is right where he wants to be.

The Houston right-hander is returning to form after missing most of the last two seasons with an elbow injury. He allowed two earned runs and six hits in five innings of the Astros' 6-5 Grapefruit League win over Cincinnati today.

Backe was 10-8 with a 4.76 ERA in 25 starts in 2005. But he played just 13 games the last two seasons because of Tommy John surgery.

Today, he struck out three and walked one in his longest outing of the spring. The 29-year-old said his sinker and slider were both working well for him. He threw 84 pitches, 57 for strikes.

Backe's top goal for the rest of spring training is simply to stay healthy.

Astros catcher J.R. Towles was back in the lineup after missing about two weeks with an injured hamstring. He played six innings and went 1-for-3 with a double.