Cleveland @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2012 ) Cleveland 1, Houston 8
Houston has struggled offensively in June, but a little lineup juggling by manager Brad Mills paid immediate dividends in an 8-1 blowout of AL Central leader Cleveland on Saturday. The Astros moved cleanup hitter Carlos Lee to third and dropped Jordan Schafer to eighth. Lee doubled twice and Schafer snapped an 0-for-14 skid with his first homer since April 22. The Astros are hitting just .243 in June. Cleveland saw its four-game winning streak end and its lead over the White Sox in the AL Central trimmed to a half-game.
Strong starting pitching has pushed the Indians to the top of the division. Entering Saturday, Cleveland starters had allowed just 16 hits and two earned runs in its previous three games. After not allowing a baserunner in the first four innings, starter Jeanmar Gomez surrendered five runs in the next two innings. The Astros got a complete-game victory from rookie Dallas Keuchel in just his second big-league game.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, WKYC 3, STO (Cleveland), Fox Sports Houston (Houston).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cleveland RH Derek Lowe (7-5, 4.30 ERA) vs. Houston LH J.A. Happ (5-7, 5.15 ERA).
After starting the season strong, Lowe has suffered through a miserable June. He is 1-2 with a 7.15 ERA in four starts this month. Lowe gave up 11 hits and seven earned runs Monday against Cincinnati, the second time in his past three starts he has surrendered seven runs in a start.
Happ snapped a four-start losing streak his last time out, firing six strong innings Monday to beat Kansas City. The left-hander allowed four hits and two runs. Happ was drilled by San Francisco on June 13, giving up 11 hits and eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell was scratched from Saturday’s lineup with bone spurs in his left ankle.
2. Houston has played well at home this season, going 20-17. The Astros are a dreadful 9-25 on the road.
3. Cleveland outfielder Johnny Damon is 6-for-15 (.400) with a homer and three RBIs in his past five games.