HOUSTON, Texas (AP) — Jed Lowrie broke up a combined no-hit bid by Cleveland with a one-out home run in the ninth inning Thursday, and the Indians beat the Houston Astros 5-1.
Indians starter Trevor Bauer was pulled after throwing 111 pitches through six innings. He struck out a career-high 11 and walked five.
Relievers Kyle Crockett and Scott Atchison each pitched a scoreless inning before Nick Hagadone took over.
Hagadone struck out Chris Carter to begin the ninth. Lowrie then sent a 94 mph fastball far over the left-center field wall for Houston’s only hit.
The Indians have not pitched a no-hitter since Len Baker threw a perfect game in 1981 against Toronto.
Cleveland opened its season Monday night, when ace Corey Kluber held Houston hitless until Jose Altuve’s two-out single in the sixth.
Left fielder Michael Brantley is out of the lineup for a second straight day because of lower-back stiffness.
Brantley was removed from the lineup about 80 minutes before Wednesday night’s game and was not in the lineup on Thursday.
Brantley missed time in spring training with a similar problem.
Indians manager Terry Francona doesn’t think the problem is serious but says Brantley will be examined by doctors in Cleveland on Friday morning.
Brantley was an All-Star for the first time last season. He led the Indians in runs (94), hits (200), doubles (45), RBIs (97), steals (23) and batting average (.327).