After Kluber uncharacteristically walked two batters with two outs in the second, Gonzalez drove a belt-high curveball over the right-field fence to make it 3-0 and the Astros held off a late rally to improve to 13-4 since August 19 and stay within two games in the wild-card race.
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Even for some of the best pitchers in the game, an inning can quickly unravel and ruin an outing.
Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that Keuchel wouldn’t pitch as planned on Tuesday night in Cleveland and won’t be available when the Astros return home to play the Chicago Cubs this weekend.
Houston Astros’ George Springer (4) scores past Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez (55) on a sacrifice fly by Yulieski Gurriel during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, in Cleveland.
Astros right-hander Mike Fiers (10-6) gave up two runs in five innings. “For us to beat him gives us a lot of confidence”, said Gonzalez.
Toronto lost at the New York Yankees, missing a chance to extend its lead in the AL East, where the top three teams are separated by just two games. That meant Francona was going to use all relievers in the game.It did not start out well for Cleveland.Clevinger started and only made it through 1 2/3 innings, throwing 43 pitches and giving up one run, two hits and two walks. “We’ll get back to Houston and evaluate what’s next for him”. Carrasco is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA against the Astros.
Mike Napoli hit a solo homer – his 30th – in the fifth for the Indians, whose lead over Detroit in the division was cut to 4 1/2 games. Altuve greeted Shaw with line drive single to right, moving Springer to third.Carlos Correa drew a walk to load the bases.
That’s not easy for a veteran, let alone a guy making his second big league appearance, and makes the imagination run towards what else he could be capable of.
The Astros called up Bregman, who has reached base in 19 consecutive games, from Triple-A Fresno on July 25.
“We’ve all seen that Nap can hit them in bunches, so hopefully we’re about to enter another stretch like that”, Francona said.
Dan Otero began the inning, allowing a single and striking out Alex Bregman before being taken out in favor of Bryan Shaw, the night’s sixth pitcher. The 28-year-old struggled to start the season after winning the AL Cy Young award last year, but had come on strong of late. Dallas Keuchel, last season’s victor, has returned to Houston to have his left shoulder examined.
Astros: C Jason Castro (bruised knee) was unavailable for the second straight game after being struck by a foul tip Saturday at Texas. Crisp then stole second, but a wild throw from Gattis behind the plate allowed Ramirez to walk home.
Astros: RHP Brad Peacock will be recalled from Triple-A Fresno to start Tuesday.
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. In 10 starts between losses he was 7-0 with a 1.94 ERA.
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Kluber (15-9) suffered his first loss since July 3.
