Houston, we have no problem this time

Outfielder drives in three runs as Tribe wins sixth game out of last eight

Michael Brantley, continuing his comeback from shoulder problems that forced him to miss most of last season, drove in three runs and the Indians defeated the Houston Astros, 7-6, on April 26 at Progressive Field.

Brantley, who played in only 11 games last season after having

two operations on his left shoulder, had an RBI double in Cleveland’s three-run first inning and added a two-run single in the fifth.

Carlos Santana had a two-run double in the sixth for the Indians, who have won six of eight.

Trevor Bauer (2-2) allowed

four runs in six innings and won his second straight start despite giving up two-run homers to Evan Gattis and Brian McCann.

Cleveland’s Andrew Miller worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by striking out Carlos Correa and McCann.

Houston scored two in the eighth off Bryan Shaw, but Cody Allen recorded the final four outs for his fourth save.

Lance McCullers (2-1) gave up five runs in five innings.

Houston manager A.J. Hinch decided to hold Jose Altuve out of the lineup after his star second baseman collided with teammate Teoscar Hernandez on Tuesday.

Brantley injured his left

shoulder late in the 2015 season and had surgery for a torn labrum. He returned a month into last season, but the shoulder soreness persisted and he didn’t play after May 9.

After repeated minor league rehab appearances were cut short, Brantley had biceps tendinitis surgery in August and missed Cleveland’s run to the World Series.

Brantley is batting .318 with four homers and 15 RBI in 17 games.

Run-scoring doubles by Brantley and Jose Ramirez and a sacrifice fly by Edwin Encarnacion sparked Cleveland’s first.

Gattis’ two run homer — a 433-foot blast to dead center — cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth. Brantley’s single pushed the lead to 5-2 but McCann’s home run made it a onerun game. Santana’s double moved the lead back to

three runs.

Marwin Gonzalez’s tworun double got the lead back to one in the eighth.

Trainer’s room

Astros: Hernandez (bruised left knee) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. OF Tony Kemp was recalled from TripleA Fresno.

Up next

Astros: RHP Mike Fiers has allowed six homers in 15 innings this year.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber tossed the first shutout by an AL hurler this season in beating the White Sox, 3-0, on April 21.

TONY DEJAK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Indians’ Michael Brantley watches his two-run single off Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. in the fifth inning.