Jimenez helps Tribe hold on

Associated Press

houston

Shin-Soo Choo hit a leadoff triple and Michael Brantley drove in a run late to back up a strong start by Ubaldo Jimenez and the Cleveland Indians got a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Choo’s triple was one of only two hits the Indians managed in seven innings against Houston starter Lucas Harrell (6-6) as these teams met for the first time since 2001.

Choo made it 1-0 when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Asdrubal Cabrera after his triple.

Brantley added an insurance run for the Indians with his RBI single with one out in the ninth inning. Jimenez (7-5) allowed four hits with eight strikeouts in 62/3 innings. Chris Perez struck out the side in the ninth for his major league-leading 23rd save.

Harrell took the loss despite allowing two hits and striking out a career-high nine in seven innings.

Including Cabrera’s out, Harrell retired 19 of the next 20 batters he faced. Cleveland’s only base runner in that stretch came on a walk by Carlos Santana with two outs in the fourth.

Harrell didn’t run into trouble until Santana and Brantley drew consecutive walks with one out in the seventh inning, before a single by Johnny Damon loaded the bases.

Harrell got out of the inning when Casey Kotchman flew out to right field and Brian Bogusevic’s throw to catcher Chris Snyder was in time to throw out Santana at home.

The Indians finished with four hits to end a streak of four straight games with at least 10 hits.

The Astros had several opportunities to score, but were unable to connect at key times for the second straight game, going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. They went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1 loss to the Royals on Wednesday.

Wesley Wright pitched a perfect eighth for Houston. David Carpenter allowed a single to Cabrera in the ninth before Fernando Abad took over. He walked Jason Kipnis before striking out Santana.