Gerrit Cole Silences Indians Bats in 7-1 Houston Win

Houston Astros v Cleveland Indians

(Photo by: David Maxwell/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND -- It was the return of Danny Salazar to the mound for the first time since the end of the 2017 season and it was not the same Danny Salazar that we know, at least right now. He looked shaky early allowing a leadoff home run to George Springer to put the Astros up 1-0, then allowing a single and a walk but was able to get a double play to end the inning. After the first inning, Salazar sailed through the next two innings, but ran into some trouble in the 4th, allowing another solo home run, this time to Alex Bregman to make it 2-0 Astros, and after allowing two more batters to reach base he was able to wiggle his way out of it by striking out Carlos Correa and then getting Josh Reddick to fly out. In his four innings of work Danny allowed four hits, two runs, walked three, and struck out two, but there was something a bit concerning.In those four innings of work, Salazar only twelve fastballs with it topping out at 87 miles per hour, when all reports in his minor league rehab starts said he was reaching 93 miles per hour on his fastball. It is something to pay attention to in future starts.

Tyler Clippard came in the fifth inning and pitched well in his two innings of work, only allowing two hits and striking out three to keep the game close.After Clippard, the bullpen struggled, A.J. Cole (.1 IP,3 hits, 2 runs) only recorded one out against the six batters he faced. Former Indian Michael Brantley came up with two runners on and dropped a bloop double to left to score the Astros third run of the game.Alex Bregman got his third hit and second RBI of the night by singling to left to give the Astros a three lead in the seventh. Tyler Olsen (1.1 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs) came in to finish off the seventh inning, but he also struggled mightily in the eighth inning, allowing three runs in the inning, two hits, and two walks as the Astros blew it open with a two run double by Yordan Alvarez, to put the Astros up for good.

For the Indians batters they faced the tough task of facing one of the best pitchers in the American League this season, Gerrit Cole. Cole, who held the Indians to one run on four hits over his seven innings of work, did get into some trouble in the second inning when Franmil Reyes recorded his first as an Indian but then after a double by Jason Kipnis, Reyes was thrown out at home to take the air out of the rally. The fourth inning started off promising after a walk by Carlos Santana, Yasiel Puig recorded his first hit as a member of the Indians, by doubling to left, and then Jose Ramirez drove in the only run of the game for the Indians on a sacrifice fly. The Tribe threatened against Hector Rondon in the 8th loading the bases with two outs for Puig, but after a pitching change by Houston, Puig grounded out to first to end the inning.

With the 7-1 victory, Houston improves to 70-40 on the season, while the Indians fell to 63-45 on the season, but stay three games behind the Twins in the central division as they loss to the Marlins on Thursday afternoon 5-4 in twelve innings.

The Indians open up a three game weekend series starting on Friday night at 7:10 against the visiting Los Angles Angels. On the mound for the Indians will be Mike Clevinger (5-2, 3.28 ERA) and he will oppose Dillon Peters (2-0, 3.06 ERA) for the Angels. Our coverage starts at six with Tribe Insider with Greg Brinda, followed by Indians Warm-Up with Jim Rosenhaus at 6:35.


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