Astros 2 - 3 Guardians
Final
  for this game

Astros eye another win against Tribe

Aug 23, 2014 - 2:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Winners of four of the last five, the Houston Astros aim to finish off a 10-game road trip strong this weekend, shooting for their second straight win over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Houston, which will close out the series with the Tribe on Sunday before beginning an 18-game run versus opponents from the American League West, is second-to-last in the division standings, 22 games out of contention even after putting up a 5-1 win in the series opener on Friday.

Jonathan Singleton delivered his 12th home run of the season and plated three for the Astros, while Marwin Gonzalez scored twice for the visitors and had a home run of his own.

Brad Peacock started on the hill for the Astros, permitting just a single run on two hits and striking out four over five innings, but he failed to factor into the decision. Instead, it was Tony Sipp who was awarded the win after allowing a single hit and fanning one in an inning of work.

"In the second inning [the right forearm] just kind of really started to hurt a little bit and just got worse as the game went on," Peacock said after being pulled following a few warmup pitches before the sixth. "I iced it already, it already feels a lot better. Just keep a close eye on it."

Similarly, Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco also went without a decision, even though he gave up only one run on two hits and fanned eight in six innings. Saddled with his third setback of the season, Cody Allen was charged with four unearned runs in the ninth, allowing just one hit and walking two.

Of the five hits logged by Cleveland batters, two came from Jose Ramirez, while a solo home run by Zach Walters in the fifth inning accounted for the lone run for a team that committed a pair of key errors in the ninth inning defensively.

"We have about six weeks left," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "If we want to continue to be in this thing, we're going to have to play a lot cleaner. I think sometimes it comes down to just being prepared. The guys work hard -- that's not an issue.

"But, as you start getting tired, it's just being ready for whatever play could happen so you don't have to just react. We're the type of team, we can't play like that and expect to win."

Now on with his third different team in as many seasons, right-hander Collin McHugh is getting his first-ever crack at the Cleveland lineup as he takes the ball for the Astros tonight.

McHugh, who was winless in his first two major league seasons, is 6-9 this year with a 3.00 ERA after posting his second victory in as many games on Sunday versus Boston at Fenway Park.

The Berry College product made it through six innings against the Red Sox, permitting just a single run on seven hits and four walks, while striking out six to give him 124 strikeouts through 114.0 innings on the campaign.

As for the Indians, Danny Salazar has been penciled in to counter McHugh. Now in just his second major league campaign, the right-hander is hoping to put a two-game slide behind him this evening.

Salazar matched up with Baltimore last weekend at home, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out four through five innings of work. Unfortunately, the Cleveland bats generated just a single run in the meeting.

The 24-year old is taking on Houston for the first time in his brief career.

These two teams will be seeing each other in the middle of September when Houston hosts the Indians for four games at Minute Maid Park.






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