Astros rocket past Indians

Cleveland’s latest additions to lineup can’t clobber Cole

Associated Press

Cleveland

Gerrit Cole didn’t lose a game in June or July and continued his remarkable run on the first day of August.

Cole pitched one-run ball over seven innings and extended his winning streak to a career-best nine games as the Houston Astros beat the Indians 7-1 on Thursday, spoiling the Cleveland debut of Yasiel Puig and the return of Danny Salazar.

The right-hander gave up four hits, all in the first four innings, and struck out four for Houston, which has the best record in the American League at 70-40. Cole (13-5) leads the majors with 216 strikeouts and has not lost since May 22.

“We just kept making pitches and trying to mix up spots,” said Cole, who has a 1.91 ERA in 13 starts since his last loss. “Although they were putting them in play for the most part, their hitters were off-balance outside of maybe four-five. It was a good night.”

Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez drove in two runs apiece, while George Springer hit his MLB-leading eighth leadoff home run and scored three times. Bregman went 3 for 3 with a solo homer.

The Astros won the rubber match of the three-game set and reached 70 victories in a franchise-record tying 110 games. Houston went 4-2 on its road trip against playoff contenders St. Louis and Cleveland.

The enigmatic Puig doubled off the wall in the fourth and went 1 for 3 with a stolen base in his first game since being acquired from Cincinnati. Franmil Reyes, who came over from San Diego in the same three-team trade, had a single in four at-bats.

Both sluggers received warm ovations each time they batted and after being thrown out at home plate on different plays; Puig by right fielder Josh Reddick, Reyes by left fielder Brantley.

“That was a big part of their game tonight, good defense,” said Puig, who was in the lineup after appealing a three-game suspension for his role in a wild brawl Tuesday between the Reds and Pirates. “And Cole was very good today.”

Salazar (0-1) had his first appearance in the majors since the 2017 AL Division Series cut short because of a strained groin. The former All-Star right-hander had surgery on his throwing shoulder last July, and allowed two runs in four innings and 66 pitches.

“At least I got through four innings,” said Salazar, who topped out at 88.3 mph. “I’ll take that as a positive after being out of the game for two years. My groin started getting worse as the game went on, and that took me down a little bit.”

Indians manager Terry Francona missed the game after undergoing an eye operation earlier in the day. Bench coach Brad Mills filled. A team spokesman said Francona is expected back Friday.

“Once Cole got the lead, he kind of picked up steam, and when they started to separate the score a little bit, it’s almost like he kept going,” Mills said. “We had a couple of chances to score some runs early, and it might have been a different story.”

Houston’s Yuli Gurriel went 0 for 4 and had his hitting streak snapped at 18 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: RHP Dan Otero (right shoulder soreness) was shifted from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list when Cleveland acquired Puig and Reyes, but the team said it was strictly a procedural move. He has been sidelined since May 31.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger (5-2, 3.28 ERA) faces Angels RHP Taylor Cole (1-1, 2.94 ERA) as Cleveland continues its nine-game homestand tonight. Clevinger is 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA in four starts at Progressive Field, striking out 40 over 23 innings.