He is 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA in two starts versus Houston and 15-7 with a 2.90 ERA against everyone else.
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An atypical sequence led to Gonzalez’s homer.
But the wheels came off in the top of the seventh for Cleveland, with Houston scoring three times as mental and physical errors, walks, and some lucky hops doomed Otero, Shaw, and ultimately the Indians’ winning streak. The unflappable 30-year-old had not lost in over two months, and whenever his team needed a big outing, Kluber delivered.
Cleveland managed just three hits after the second inning, one a solo homer from Santana to start the eighth.
“He uncharacteristically walked a couple and then he got ahead real quick 0-2 (on Springer)”, manager Terry Francona said of Kluber, who struck out eight over seven innings in his first loss since July 3. Kluber tried to sneak his curveball past Gonzalez, but he was ready for it. I just made a bad pitch and he took advantage of it.
“Obviously that was a big turn of events”, Francona said.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel will not make his scheduled start against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday because of left shoulder inflammation, per Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.
Astros: RHP Doug Fister looks to bounce back after being tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings against Texas on September 2. He did pitch a scoreless ninth inning on Monday, but his future in the rotation for the rest of the season remains up in the air.
In the ninth, Jose Ramirez led off with a single off Giles. In the bottom of the second, Lonnie Chisenhall doubled and later scored on a ground ball by Naquin. An alert Jake Marisnick backed up the throw nicely in center field, keeping Crisp at second – a key moment. Evan Gattis started behind the plate. Brandon Guyer, the Indians’ last chance, accidentally connected on a check swing, grounding a slow roller down the first base line to end the game. “It’s an uncomfortable feeling knowing he’s not going to be pitching for us for a while”.
Kluber got touched up early and Cleveland hitters scuffled the majority of the night as the Indians fell to Houston 4-3 for their second straight loss.
Houston went ahead 4-1 in the third on Alex Bregman’s RBI triple single off Kluber, who settled in and retired 15 of 17 before leaving after seven.
“I think it was more so the walks than the curve”, Kluber said.
One team not looking over its shoulder in the run toward the playoffs is the Chicago Cubs, who beat Milwaukee to maintain a 16-1/2 game lead in the NL Central with 25 games to play.
NOTES: The Astros recalled RHP Brad Peacock and RHP David Paulino from Triple-A Fresno.
Keuchel had a 3.10 ERA in August, and has only allowed three or more runs in three starts dating back to June 18.
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From Progressive Field in Cleveland on Wednesday, the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Indians will be continuing their Major League Baseball series.
