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Lowe aims to get untracked in Houston

Jun 24, 2012 - 1:20 PM

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(Sports Network) - Derek Lowe started the year red hot and, following a shutout on May 15, he had a 6-1 record, a 2.05 ERA, and was eyeing a possible Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Since that masterful start however, Lowe has come crashing back down to earth, losing four of his last six starts while allowing seven earned runs or more in three of those.

The veteran right-hander was terrible again on June 18, allowing 11 hits and seven earned runs in five innings of work against the Reds, but luckily the Indians bailed their starter out and came back for a 10-9 win.

Lowe hopes that the light-hitting Astros can cure his woes. He is 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 career starts against Houston.

The Astros will counter with J.A. Happ, who's had a rough go of it this season with a 5-7 record and a 5.15 ERA.

After losing four straight starts from May 27 to June 13, Happ finally got back in the win column in his last outing, going six innings, while allowing four hits and two earned runs. It was the southpaw's ninth quality start of the season.

Happ has been effective at Minute Maid Park this season, with all five of his wins coming at home while sporting a 4.08 ERA.

The Astros claimed Saturday's game, 8-1, behind a brilliant performance from their rookie left-hander Dallas Keuchel.

Keuchel (1-0) pitched a complete game in just his second major league start, allowing just six hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out three.

"I'm so proud of Dallas being able to come in here and do that," Astros Manager Brad Mills said. "That's his second outing and he's pitched extremely well both outings. You can't say enough about the job he did today."

Carlos Lee and Chris Johnson each had two hits and two RBI for the Astros, while Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez, and Jordan Schafer all homered.

Jeanmar Gomez (4-7) was saddled with the loss for the Indians - his fourth in his last five starts - allowing six hits and five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth for the Tribe's only run, his ninth of the year.

The loss stopped Cleveland's four-game winning streak.






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