Ramirez lifts Indians in ninth

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Rookie Jose Ramirez’s ninth-inning single lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Pinch-hitter Tyler Holt started the inning with a single off Jake Buchanan (1-3). After Roberto Perez moved Holt to second with a sacrifice, Michael Bourn walked. Buchanan’s wild pitch moved the runners to second and third before Ramirez lined a 3-2 pitch past third base for the win.

The Indians have 10 walk-off wins this season. Cody Allen (5-3) struck out two in a perfect ninth.

Danny Salazar continued Cleveland’s run of impressive starting pitching, allowing two runs with seven strikeouts in six innings. The starters have posted a 1.85 ERA (15 earned runs in 73 innings) in 12 games since Aug. 9.

The Indians (65-63), who are trying to stay in playoff contention, have won eight of 12.

Jose Altuve’s RBI single and right fielder Chris Dickerson’s throwing error — Cleveland’s 100th of the season — helped Houston score twice in the third.

Michael Brantley snapped an 0-for-15 slump with an RBI single in the third. Michael Bourn tied it with an RBI groundout in the fourth.

The Indians had runners on second and third with one out in the eighth, but Zach Walters hit into a force out at the plate, and Mike Aviles struck out.

Jake Marisnick’s one-out single and a two-out walk to Robbie Grossman set up Houston’s third inning. Dickerson charged Altuve’s hit and tried to get Marisnick at home, but his throw skipped past catcher Roberto Perez and rolled toward Cleveland’s dugout.

Salazar failed to back up the play, and Grossman scored before the ball could be retrieved.

The Indians committed 98 errors last season when they made the playoffs.

Ramirez doubled with two outs in the third and scored with a rolling slide when Brantley broke out of a 3-for-30 slump with a single to right.

Altuve, who leads the AL in hitting, broke an 0-for-9 slump with his single. He is 3 for 22 in five career games at Progressive Field.

Marisnick ended Cleveland’s threat in the second when he threw out Lonnie Chisenhall, who was trying to go from first to third on a single to right.

Astros starter Collin McHugh allowed two runs in 51/3 innings.

The Astros have won four of five and improved to 5-3 on a trip in which they split four against Boston and took two of three from the Yankees.

McHugh has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: C Yan Gomes was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. He was hit on the mask by a pitch Thursday and is still experiencing concussion symptoms.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (4-7) has batted consistency all season. He allowed five runs in the first inning in two of his last three starts. Bauer took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the other outing.