Altuve leads Astros past Indians
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Jose Altuve drove in two runs and Collin McHugh was solid over 6 2/3 innings as the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians, 3-1, in the opener of a four-game set on Monday.
Altuve finished 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored and Dexter Fowler drove in a run for the Astros, who have won their last two games.
McHugh (10-9) gave up just one unearned run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts to earn his sixth straight winning decision. The right-hander did, however, leave the game with a left forearm contusion.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Overall today it was a battle," McHugh said. "Overall it is a great team victory."
Michael Brantley had two hits and Carlos Santana brought in the lone run for Cleveland, which have dropped its last four games.
Zach McAllister (3-7) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts across six frames.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I felt good," McAllister said. "I was happy the way I was able to get early strikes."
Michael Bourn reached second to start the game after first baseman Marc Krauss missed a catch at first. Jose Ramirez's sacrifice bunt moved Bourn to third before Santana's single to right gave the Indians an early 1-0 lead.
The Astros went ahead in the third. Gregorio Petit hit a single and Robbie Grossman doubled to place runners on second and third with one out. Altuve's grounder up the middle brought them both around for a 2-1 edge.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Altuve tripled to start the bottom of the eighth and came home on Fowler's sacrifice fly.
Chad Qualls tossed a scoreless ninth for his 18th save of the season.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Grossman has hit in seven straight games ... Astros designated hitter Chris Carter's hitting streak ended at 12 games after he went 0-for-4 ... McAllister has not earned a win in his last 13 starts.