Alvarez Blast Propels Astros to Win in Opener Against Cleveland, 4-3.

In the last recap, I said Yordan Alvarez couldn’t hit a beach ball.

Maybe, but his two-run home run tonight was some kind of a ball, and it sure went a long way. After an 0-22 stint, Yordan had two hits and two crucial RBI in this close 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians. It was half the Astros run production, the other two runs coming from a Yuli Gurriel double in the first inning, and a two-out RBI single by Martin Maldonado in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Zack Greinke was competent as usual, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings pitched. He ran into trouble in the sixth when he allowed the first two runners to single and was removed with one out.

Cristian Javier, in for Greinke, promptly allowed an RBI single, run charged to Greinke.

But on the play, Carlos Correa made another fielding play to further his claim on Gold Glove shortstop. Taking the throw-in from left fielder Michael Brantley, Correa cat-like relayed a bullet to second base to get Franmil Reyes for the second out of the inning.

Javier would get a pop out to end the Indian threat.

Ryne Stanek would allow the Indians to inch closer with one run in the eighth, but Ryan Pressly, despite obvious rust from not pitching for nine days, managed to shut down the Indians in the ninth. He got a little defensive help again from Carlos Correa, who robbed Cesar Hernandez of a single with one man on and one out. Pressly completed the save, his 17th.

Box score and video HERE