Astros spoil debuts, return of Salazar

Gerrit Cole pitched one-run ball over seven innings as the Astros beat the Indians 7-1, spoiling the Cleveland debut of Yasiel Puig and the return of Danny Salazar.

Gerrit Cole pitched onerun ball over seven innings and extended his winning streak to a career-best nine games as the Astros beat the Indians, 7-1, on Aug. 1, spoiling the Cleveland debut of Yasiel Puig and the return of Danny Salazar.

Cole (13-5) gave up four hits, all in the first four innings, and struck out four for Houston, which has the best records in the American League at 70-40. The right-handed Cole leads the majors with 216 strikeouts and has not lost since May 22.

Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez drove in two runs apiece, while George Springer hit his MLB-leading eighth leadoff home

run and scored three times. Bregman went 3 for 3 with a solo homer.

Puig doubled off the wall in the fourth and went 1 for 3 with a stolen base in his first game since being acquired from Cincinnati. Franmil Reyes, who came over from San Diego in the same three-team trade, had a single in four at-bats.

Both sluggers received warm ovations each time they batted and after being thrown out at home plate on different plays.

Salazar (0-1) allowed two runs in four innings in his first appearance in the majors since the 2017 AL Division Series. The former AllStar right-hander, who had surgery on his throwing shoulder last July, struck out two and topped out at 88.3 MPH in 66 pitches.

Puig grounded out with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth against Joe Smith. Puig was in the lineup after appealing a three-game suspension for his role in a wild brawl Tuesday between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Indians manager Terry Francona missed the game after undergoing an eye operation earlier in the day. Bench coach Brad Mills filled in. A team spokesman said Francona is expected to be back Aug. 2.

Houston’s Yuli Gurriel went 0 for 4 and had his hitting streak snapped at 18 games.

Houston’s Josh Reddick was ejected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza for throwing his equipment after striking out to end the sixth inning.

Trainer’s room

INDIANS >> RHP Dan Otero (right shoulder soreness) was shifted from the 10day to the 60-day injured list when Cleveland acquired Puig and Reyes, but the team said it was strictly a procedural move. He has been sidelined since May 31.

Up next

INDIANS >> RHP Mike Clevinger (5-2, 3.28 ERA) faces Angels RHP Taylor Cole (1-1, 2.94 ERA) as Cleveland continues its nine-game homestand. Clevinger is 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA in four starts at Progressive Field, striking out 40 over 23 innings.

PHIL LONG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Astros’ Marlin Maldonado tags out the Indians’ Yasiel Puig out at home to complete a double play, after a fly out by Franmil Reyes during the fourth inning. Umpire Vic Carapazza watches the play.