Indians Hang On and Top Astros 6-5

CLEVELAND –  On a hot and humid Wednesday evening the Indians and Astros took the field for game three of their four game series. Carlos Carrasco toed the rubber for the Tribe, and Doug Fister would throw for the ‘Stros.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the second after Roberto Perez delivered a two-out single to center, scoring  Rajai Davis from second.

The Astros responded in the top half of the third after George Springer led off the inning with a double, and moved to third on Alex Bregman’s ground out to short. Jose Altuve singled to left, scoring Springer to make it 1-1.

The Tribe would come right back and get another run started off by Francisco Lindor getting hit by pitch in the home half of the third. Jose Ramirez singled to center with one out, moving Lindor up a bag. Lonnie Chisenhall came through with a single to center to give the Tribe a 2-1 lead.

Yulieski Gurriel started the fourth with a single to right for the Astros. Colby Rasmus gave them the 3-2 edge with a two-run shot deep to right to take the lead.

With Fister still on the mound in the bottom of the fifth, Lindor once again singled to right to start the inning. Mike Napoli came through big-time for the Tribe as he belted one to deep left in the bleachers, his 31st of the year, lifting the Indians 4-2. Chisenhall and Davis reached on back-to-back singles with one out to end Fister’s night who would be relieved by Kevin Chapman. Brandon Guyer pinch hit for Tyler Naquin and doubled to deep center, scoring the pair to make it 6-3 Tribe.

All was seemingly well into the eighth as Carrasco headed back out to the mound. Altuve grounded out to him to get the first out, but Evan Gattis followed up with a double. Andrew Miller would come in for relief as Carrasco walked off to a standing ovation from the 12,000 plus fans at Progressive Field. A slight mistake from Miller allowed Gurriel to homer to left cutting the Indians lead to 6-5. That was his first career home run. Miller was able to get out of the inning with two strikeouts and a meaningless single.

Cody Allen would hold it down in the 9th for the Indians to walk away with a 6-5 victory.

Lindor and Chisenhall were both 3 for 4 on the night., contributing to the team’s 12 hits.

The Indians improved to 80-58, and are now 5.5 games ahead of Detroit in the Central. The Astros dropped to 74-65.

Carrasco’s final line of the evening: 7 1/3 innings, 9 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, and striking out 5.

The Tribe and Astros wrap up the series Thursday at 12:10. Trevor Bauer (10-6, 3.70) will take the mound for the Indians and David Paulino for the Astros as he makes his debut.