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The Astros got some more good starting pitching in this one, but the offense couldn't keep up in a game Cleveland had to have.
Dallas Keuchel executed the true meaning of scattering hits. He allowed seven of them in his seven innings and at least one in in six of those innings. The only inning where there was more than one was the first where Nick Swisher doubled and Jason Kipnis followed with an RBI single to make it 1-0, Indians.
Houston would answer back in the top of the second with three singles to load the bases with no outs. But unfortunately, only one run was scored as L.J. Hoes drove in Marc Krauss with a sacrifice fly.
Krauss did surprisingly well out of the cleanup spot for the Astros on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles.
Keuchel would finish the night allowing only that one run, while striking out seven. His opponent Ubaldo Jimenez was equally as good, lasting seven innings of his own. He also allowed one run while striking out nine.
The Indians had a solid chance to take the lead in the eighth as they put runners on first and second after Michael Bourn had led off the inning with a strikeout against Astros' reliever Kevin Chapman.
Chapman was left out to battle by Astros manager Bo Porter. It turned out to be the right call as the reliever struck out the next to guys to finish a clean inning.
The Astros had an even better shot in the ninth as Krauss got things going with a one-out double. Matt Dominguez was then hit by a pitch, and it apparently was pretty painful. But don't worry, we got some good analysis about how bad it was.
Looks like Dominguez was hit in the top of the left hand where all those metacarpals are or something.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 20, 2013
Chris Perez just hit Matt Dominguez with a pitch. Those weren't brownies Perez just served up to Dominguez's left hand.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) September 20, 2013
#Analysis
Brett Wallace followed by picking up the golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout of the night - usually a feat reserved for Mr. Chris Carter - and Hoes struck out as well to end the inning.
The Indians threatened with first and second in the ninth, but Josh Zeid made up for the two walks by getting pinch hitter Jason Giambi to pop out to end the inning.
Twitter can tell the story well a lot, so I'll let it tell you the start of the tenth inning.
Cody Clark doubles to lead off the 10th inning for his first career extra-base hit and first career multi-hit game.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 20, 2013
Jake Elmore, who went to run for Cody Clark, just got thrown out at second. He got caught leaning.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) September 20, 2013
#Astros fans, you may break stuff!
— Mr. Crawfish (@CrawfishBoxes) September 20, 2013
And by the way it was catcher Yan Gomes to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on the putout. And it wasn't even a good throw either. The Astros then went quietly in the rest of the tenth.
Rhiner Cruz was summoned to pitch the 11th and that didn't work out to well. Cruz allowed two singles while getting two outs, but then walked Mike Aviles to load the bases. Matt Carson then followed with an RBI single to end it.