Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Carlos Carrasco struck out 10 in a dominant
first start and the Cleveland Indians picked up a 2-0 win over the Houston
Astros on Wednesday to even their three-game series.
Carrasco (1-0) only yielded three hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings for
Cleveland, which flipped the script after getting blanked 2-0 by Houston in
Monday’s season opener. Carrasco fanned 12 in a two-hit shutout last Sept. 17
in his only previous start at Minute Maid Park.
Carlos Santana and Mike Aviles provided all the offense Cleveland’s staff
needed with solo home runs. Cody Allen retired the side in order in the ninth
to record the save.
Santana took Astros starter Scott Feldman (0-1) out to right with one out in
the fourth inning. It was the first extra-base hit for either team this
season.
Houston threatened to break through in the seventh when Jason Castro drew a
one-out walk against Nick Hagadone and Jed Lowrie followed with an infield
single off Lonnie Chisenhall’s glove at third.
Marc Rzepczynski came in from the bullpen and on his first pitch to Colby
Rasmus induced an inning-ending double play, keeping the Astros off the
scoreboard.
Aviles added an insurance run in the eighth, leading off with a blast to left
field off Pat Neshek. Neshek, who signed a two-year deal with Houston in the
offseason, was a 2014 All-Star with the Cardinals.
Feldman gave up just one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Game Notes
Carrasco signed a four-year contract extension worth a reported $22 million on
Tuesday …Astros cleanup hitter Evan Gattis went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts
… Houston went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six on
base.
