MLB Scores: Indians 4, Astros 1

Chris Carter launched his 28th home run, but the Astros were otherwise shut down by Scott Kazmir and the Indians.

Carter finished 3-for-4 on the night with a couple of singles along with the long ball to right-center field. The rest of the Astros combined for two hits as this one got done with pretty quickly.

Kazmir went seven innings allowing four hits, walking one and striking out 10 Astros.

He also got some good support to work with early. Michael Bourn led off the bottom of the first with a double and Nick Swisher followed with a single. Jason Kipnis drove in Bourn with a sac fly and two batters later, it was 3-0. Michael Brantley hit his ninth home run of the year of the Astros' Paul Clemens for almost the extent of Cleveland's scoring.

The Indians, who are firmly in the middle of the wild card race, got another run in the fourth as Clemens allowed a double to Yan Gomes followed by an RBI single by Lonnie Chisenhall.

Clemens was not able to make it through the fifth inning. He hit Yan Gomes with a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs and Bo Porter went to Lucas Harrell. Clemens finished with a uninspiring line of 4.2 innings, eight hits, four runs, three walks and four strikeouts.

Harrell was quite impressive the rest of the way as he allowed only two hits and two walks in his 3.1 scoreless innings.

The Astros have now lost eight in a row and will try to break the streak behind Erik Bedard on Sunday afternoon.