Astros 7, Indians 1
WP: Happ (6-7)
LP: Lowe (7-6)
It took a while (3 2/3 innings, most of the homestand) but the bats woke up. Astro starters had a 1.88 ERA during this home stretch, but the bats were working at pretty much the same pace until these last two games with the Tribe.
Sinkerballer Derek Lowe kept the home nine in check until the fourth, when Lee, Bogey and Lowrie singled to tie the game at 1. In the sixth, Lowrie had a 10-pitch at-bat, highlighted by three shots to the right-field corner, one of which finally stayed fair for a double. Lee, trading contact for power in his twilight, followed with an RBI single for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
In danger of being victimized again by a high pitch count, Happ was able to stay around the plate and the Indians obliged him by being aggressive. The result was a four-hitter and only one run scored.
The Astros piled on in the seventh, scoring on a nifty glove-toss 4-6-3 double play before adding four runs in the eighth on two-run jacks by CJ and JD Martinez. It was JD’s second in two games, while CJ scrapped for a .435 average during this home visit.
El Super Raton Jose Altuve suffered what is being called a mild hamstring strain in the fourth inning, running to first on a groundout. He’s day to day right now, but Mills is not as optimistic as Altuve is.
The Friars come to town next for four games. Catch the action in the GameZone.