Coming off a sweep at home of the Cincinnati Reds the Cleveland Indians traveled to Houston, Texas to play the Astros at Minute Maid Park.  The Indians needed to get a win and keep the momentum going that they gained during the Cincinnati sweep and they did just that as they shut out the Astros in their throw back uniforms 2-0. 

The Indians took the 1-0 lead immediately in the first inning when Shin-Soo Choo led off the game with a triple off the left field wall.  The ball hit on the fair line and bounced all the way back to the infield and Choo slid in safely at third base.  Choo came home one batter later when Asdrubal Cabrera hit a deep sacrifice fly to left field and Choo jogged home to put the Tribe on top 1-0.

The Tribe added an insurance run in the ninth inning when Asdrubal Cabrera led off the inning with a single.  Kipnis followed Cabrera and drew a walk.  Carlos Santana then struck out swinging for the first out of the inning. Finally Michael Brantley came to the plate and singled to right field and Cabrera scored the second Indians run of the game increasing their lead to 2-0.  Kipnis was thrown out at the plate on the play trying to score from first.

Ubaldo Jimez made the start for the Indians and was brilliant.  Jimenez who has been heavily criticized since he was traded to the Indians last year, has begun to silence his critics over his last several starts.

Jimenez went six and two thirds innings in the game.  He allowed only four hits, he walked four and struck out eight Astros hitters.  In Jimenez's last four starts he is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA.  In that span he has struck out 25 hitters and walked only seven.  With the win Jimenez is now 7-5 with a 4.59 ERA. 

With the win the Indians improve to 37-32 and have won four straight games.  Also the Indians increased their first place lead to one and a half games over the Chicago White Sox.  The White Sox lost to the Brewers in Milwaukee in extra innings on Friday Night.  The Indians lead over the third place Detroit Tigers increased to three and a half games on Friday Night as the Tigers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pitssburgh 4-1.  The Tigers are now 34-36.

The Indians and Astros will play game two of their three game series on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.  Jeanmar Gomez will take the mound for the Indians.  Gomez is 4-6 with a 4.95 ERA.  Left hander Dallas Keuchel will be on the hill for the Astros.  Keuchel is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA. 
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POSTED 06/22/2012  23:20