Morton, Astros shut down Indians’ bats
Associated Press
HOUSTON
Charlie Morton pitched seven solid innings, Tony Kemp had a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh and the Houston Astros beat the Cleveland Indians 4-1 Friday night for their third straight win.
Morton (6-0) allowed one run and four hits with eight strikeouts in extending his career-high winning streak to nine straight dating back to last September. Morton retired 19 of the first 21 batters.
After Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger (3-1) walked Marwin Gonzalez and Derek Fisher to lead off the seventh, Brian McCann popped out before Kemp hit his RBI ground-rule double down the right-field line to give Houston a 2-1 lead. George Springer followed with a grounder to Kipnis, but Fisher beat the throw home.
Springer gave the Astros a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left in the third.
Edwin Encarnacion tied it 1-1 in the seventh with a solo home run to right. The Indians have lost three of their last four.
Chris Devenski pitched the eighth, inducing a popup by Yonder Alonso to strand the bases loaded. Ken Giles pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
MOMENT FOR SANTA FE
The Astros held a moment of silence prior to the game and flew the Texas flags at Minute Maid Park at half-staff in support of the victims and their families connected to the shooting that killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School earlier in the day. Santa Fe is roughly 30 miles southeast of Houston.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (6-2) will make his 10th start today. Kluber has allowed three runs or fewer in every start this season and each of his last 21 starts.
Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (3-5) takes the mound looking for his third straight win. Keuchel, who is 4-0 with a 2.21 ERA in his career against the Indians.