Cleveland hitters were held in check early by Houston ace Dallas Keuchel, who allowed two runs over the first five innings, while the Astros built a 5-2 lead against Indians starter Carlos Carrasco.
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Keuchel, who allowed nine hits and struck out eight, admitted he wasn’t at his best, but his offense picked him up.
Right fielder Tucker led a 16-hit Houston attack with two singles, a double, a home run and two RBIs. Carrasco, who came within one out of a no-hitter against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, allowed five runs in four innings. In the process a strong effort on the mound from Vincent Velasquez went for naught with both runs plated on six hits and a pair of free passes over 6.1 innings.
Keuchel beat the Indians, 2-0, on opening night back in April in Houston, pitching seven scoreless innings on three hits.
(AP Photo/Ron Schwane). Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus makes a running catch to get out Cleveland Indians’ Michael Bourn during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Cleveland. Straily did not get a decision in a 12-8 win versus Boston in his first outing with five runs allowed on six hits and three BB in 4.2 frames.
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber is 3-1 with a 1.90 ERA in four career appearances against the Astros. In 2006, Astros manager Phil Garner served as the manager of the NL All-Star squad and was joined by his coaching staff for the game. “Multiple guys have the qualifications”.
With one out in the top of the first inning, right fielder Preston Tucker singled to shallow left field and moved over to second base when shortstop Carlos Correa drew a walk. There are guys a lot more nasty than I am.
Carrasco had last week’s no-hit bid broken up with two outs in the ninth on Joey Butler’s single.
Second baseman Dozier hit his 17th homer of the season on a 2-0 count from Orioles right-hander Tommy Hunter following a sharp single to center by Danny Santana.
Juan Lagares added an RBI single to make it 3-0, and Jeurys Familia closed for his 23rd save.
Indians manager Terry Francona was not happy with what he saw from Carrasco against AL West leader Houston. However, Tucker swatted a solo home run deep over the wall in right field. “He doesn’t wow you with the command, but he can get past your barrel in a hurry because of his off-speed and command”.
“We know he’s a part of what we’re doing and we’re expecting to see him again“, Hinch said. Hinch said. “He is somebody we will game-plan against for these four days because you have to”. “The team was very excited for Dallas”.
In the eighth, Suarez connected on an 0-2 pitch from Casey Janssen (0-2) that landed in the first few rows just inside the left field foul pole for his third home run of the year.
Astros: 3B Luis Valbuena, who leads the team with 19 homers, missed the game with a sprained big left toe.
“His side-day bullpen was real good and he warmed up tonight real good, but he took it into the game and you could see it in the first inning and it was a struggle”.
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He’ll face the reigning AL Cy Young victor, Corey Kluber.
