Indians blank Astros

Mike Clevinger #52 of the Cleveland Indians pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on May 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

(May 20, 2017 - Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America)

The Cleveland Indians (22-19) blank the Houston Astros (29-14) 3-0 in game two of their three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Cleveland scored first in the second inning. With one out RF Lonnie Chisenhall and C Yan Gomes hit back-to-back singles. Both runners advanced one base each on a passed ball with two outs. 2B Jason Kipnis followed with a single to drive in Lonnie Chisenhall but Yan Gomes was tagged at home plate for the third out as he tried to force a second run for the Indians.

Lonnie Chisenhall came home again in the fourth when he hit a two-out home run to put Cleveland up 2-0. It was his sixth long ball of the season.

The Indians scored again in the eighth inning. LF Michael Brantley singled with two outs and DH Carlos Santana hit an RBI-double to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead.

CL Cody Allen ensured the shutout with a one-hit ninth to earn his 12th save of the year. He posts a 1.53 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 2017.

Cleveland’s SP Mike Clevinger (2-1) pitched seven innings of one-hit shutout baseball but was relieved as soon as he allowed a hit to the first batter in the bottom of the eighth. He threw a career-high 106 pitches, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks while fanning 8. His ERA and WHIP improved to 1.56 and 0.98, respectively.

Houston’s SP Mike Fiers (1-2) went 6 innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk and 1 earned run while striking out 3. He now has a 5.14 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP on the season.

Lonnie Chisenhall went 2-for-4 with 2 runs, 1 HR and 1 RBI. He is batting .279 and has 14 runs 6 HR and 22 RBI this year.