CLEVELAND (AP) – David Murphy drove in two runs with a double in the eighth inning to send Trevor Bauer and the Indians to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.
Murphy, who came in 3-for-9 vs. left-handers this season, snapped a 2-2 tie by pulling a pitch from lefty Joe Thatcher (1-3) over right fielder Preston’s Tucker’s head, scoring rookie Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley.
Bauer (8-5) allowed Evan Gattis’ two-run homer in the first but settled down nicely, allowing six hits and no walks in eight innings. The right-hander retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.
Cody Allen worked the ninth for his 17th save.
With the score tied 2-2, Lindor doubled with one out in the seventh, barely beating left fielder Colby Rasmus’ throw to second with a head-first slide. Brantley walked and Murphy, a Houston native batting .368 in his last 49 games, came through with his clutch double.