Reaction: Cleveland Indians lose to Houston Astros in season opener

The Cleveland Indians opened the season in Houston on Monday night with a 2-0 defeat, losing to left-hander Dallas Keuchel and the Astros behind Tribe ace Corey Kluber. Keuchel was stellar, lasting seven scoreless innings and allowing just three hits and three walks, while striking out four. Kluber went 7.1 innings and struck out seven, giving up just three hits and two walks, but the Tribe couldn’t make up for the two runs he allowed. 

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Key Moments
Sixth Inning: Kluber’s No-Hitter Ends
After allowing just one walk in the first five innings, Kluber finally caved in the sixth inning. After striking out Colby Rasmus and Jake Marisnick, Jose Altuve broke up the no-hitter with a single to shallow center field. If anyone was going to put a stop to Kluber’s night, it was fitting that it was the player who led the league in 2014 with 225 hits and a .341 average. Altuve, who also had a league-leading 56 stolen bases last season, followed up by stealing second, putting himself in scoring position for George Springer, who hit an RBI single to left field to put the Astros up 1-0.

Eighth Inning: Astros Add On
With one out in the eighth inning, Kluber walked Jed Lowrie and gave up a single to Rasmus. That was the end of the night for the Tribe’s starter, and he was replaced by right-hander Scott Atchison. Atchison allowed a run to score on a sacrifice fly off of the bat of Marisnick, but got Altuve to ground out to end the inning.

The Positives
Kluber was dominant in his outing, despite getting no help from the offense. He was the better pitcher throughout the night, but Keuchel worked his way out of trouble every time. Neither pitcher allowed many hard hit balls, and Kluber was able to strike out seven hitters. Offensively, the only positive was Lonnie Chisenhall, who had a hit off of a left-handed pitcher, as well as a walk.

The Negatives
It was a quiet first game for the Indians’ offense, as they managed just three hits and three walks all game. Pitchers can’t win games when the lineup doesn’t score a run, and the Astros’ staff kept the Tribe’s bats from doing any damage. 

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Check It Out
– The Tribe is off on Tuesday, but will take on the Astros again Wednesday night. Right-hander Scott Feldman will take on the Tribe’s Carlos Carrasco. Feldman had a 3.74 ERA with Houston last season, striking out 107 batters in 180.1 innings.

– Carrasco finally had the year the Indians had been waiting for in 2014, finishing with a 2.55 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 134 innings. The Tribe is expected to officially announce a four-year contract with him on Tuesday.

Next: Series Preview: Cleveland Indians @ Houston Astros