Astros offense absent in 13-inning loss to Indians

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros’ offensive woes cost them in a long night against the Cleveland Indians.

Houston starter Scott Feldman produced a strong eight-inning performance, but the Astros gave him little run support in a 2-1, 13-inning loss to the Indians on Thursday night.

Mike Aviles’ sacrifice fly in the final inning scored Jose Ramirez and gave the Indians the win.

“Seemed like every ball we hit was right at somebody,” Astros manager Tom Lawless said. “You go through streaks like that. When you’re making good swings, you’re making contact, it seems like you hit it right at them.

“We know we’re putting good swings on the ball, but we’re not getting any good results right now.”

Houston left eight runners on base, and even new hit leader Jose Altuve went 0-for-6. The Astros ended the series with Cleveland having scored just six runs in four games.

“That stings,” said outfielder Jake Marisnick, who had Houston’s RBI in the fourth inning. “For our pitchers to go out and pitch like they did and not give them some run support and get out of there with a win, it definitely stings a little bit.”

Ramirez doubled with one out in the 13th before Samuel Deduno (2-6) walked Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana to set up Aviles’ fly to right. Marisnick’s throw to the plate was offline, and Ramirez scored easily.

Kyle Crockett (4-0) got the Indians out of trouble in the 12th, and Cody Allen pitched the 13th for his 22nd save.

Santana tied it 1-1 in the ninth, driving in Ramirez with an RBI single to right off Chad Qualls, who got the final two outs of the inning to escape without further damage.

Feldman allowed one run and four hits with two strikeouts, and pitched into the ninth inning for the third time in four starts.

“He only threw 80-something pitches, and I asked him going into the ninth, ‘How you doing?’ He said, ‘I’m fine. I’m ready to go,'” Lawless said. “I told him, ‘If someone gets on base … you’re not going to lose the game. You’ve pitched too well to go out there and do anything else.’

“He went out there and shut them down for eight innings.”

Feldman retired 15 straight batters before Lonnie Chisenhall’s two-out single in the eighth.

Cleveland starter Danny Salazar gave up one run and five hits with nine strikeouts in 7 1-3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Indians 2B Jason Kipnis left the game after the seventh inning because of right hamstring tightness. He is listed as day-to-day. Kipnis was replaced by Aviles.

ON DECK:

Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (5-8) will take the mound Friday in the first of a three-game series at Minnesota. The Indians have lost each of Bauer’s last four starts after winning four straight.

Astros: RHP Brad Peacock (4-8) will start for Houston against the Seattle Mariners on Friday as the teams begin a three-game series. Peacock, who was scratched from his scheduled start on Monday with back soreness, is 1-0 with a 1.66 ERA in his last four starts.

ASTROS MOVE TRIPLE-A AFFILIATE:

The Houston Astros signed a two-year contract to move their Triple-A affiliate to Fresno, California, from Oklahoma City, which had been the home to the Astros’ Triple-A team since 2011. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Wednesday they were moving their Triple-A affiliation to Oklahoma City starting next year. Fresno had been the home to the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A team, but the Giants moved their top minor league home to Sacramento, California.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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