Guardians 5 - 4 Astros
Final
  for this game

Indians leave Houston with series victory

Apr 22, 2013 - 6:18 AM

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Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Mark Reynolds hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, and made a key defensive play late, as Cleveland escaped with a 5-4 win over Houston in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Yan Gomes, Carlos Santana and Drew Stubbs also went deep once each for the Indians, who took the final two games in the series to erase the memory of a five-game losing streak.

Cody Allen (1-0) recorded the final out of the sixth for the win. Starter Ubaldo Jimenez pitched into the sixth, yielding four runs and as many hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Chris Perez left the bases loaded in the ninth for his second save, aided by Reynolds' diving stop at third on a Jason Castro grounder.

"I was throwing all over the place today ... I was battling my location a little bit," Perez said.

Fernando Martinez hit a two-run homer, while Jose Altuve knocked in a run and scored twice for the Astros, losers in seven of their last eight.

Hector Ambriz (0-1) served up the deciding blast over his two relief innings. Erik Bedard was pulled after four frames, having yielded six hits and two runs while fanning eight.

Reynolds' two-out solo shot in the seventh put the visitors back on top, and after the Astros wasted a two-on, one-out situation in the home half, things were quiet until Houston's last chance at the plate.

Perez served up a leadoff double to Rick Ankiel, then hit Matt Dominguez -- who left the game -- on the left arm. Marwin Gonzalez sacrificed both runners and Altuve was given a free pass to load the bases. Chris Carter fanned swinging, then Castro grounded sharply to third for the final out.

"In that situation there, you at least think you are going to tie the game, so it was unfortunate that we didn't put together at bats that warranted us tying the game," Astros manager Bo Porter said.

Altuve walked to start the home first, then Martinez hit an opposite-field two-run shot just over the high wall in left.

Gomes' two-out solo shot in the second put the Tribe on the board, and Ryan Raburn knocked in Santana with a third-inning single to tie the score at 2-2.

Santana began the fifth by taking Brett Oberholtzer to left field for a one- run Indians edge, and Stubbs went deep with one out in the sixth for a 4-2 game.

Houston picked up two in the home sixth after an RBI triple from Altuve and a sacrifice fly from Carter. Following walks to Brandon Laird and Carlos Pena, Nick Hagadone was pulled for Allen, who retired Justin Maxwell on a fly to right to end the inning.

Game Notes

Cleveland improved to 10-11 all-time against Houston ... Prior to the game, the Astros recalled Oberholtzer from Oklahoma City (PCL) and optioned pitcher Dallas Keuchel to OKC ... Cleveland placed pitcher Brett Myers on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Fernando Nieve from Columbus (IL) before the contest ... Coming off a career-worst start of 1 2/3 innings on April 16 at Boston, Jimenez's ERA swelled from 1.50 to 11.25 and back down to 10.06 following Sunday's outing.






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