HOUSTON — Rookie Ernie Clement had a season-high three RBIs and Cesar Hernandez hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros to avoid a sweep.
Hernandez hit an RBI double early, then homered to break a 4-all tie. It was his 16th homer this season, eclipsing the career-high 15 he hit in 2018 for the Philadelphia Phillies.
José Altuve and Kyle Tucker both homered for the Astros (58-39) for the second straight game. Houston lost to the Indians (48-45) for the first time this season after winning the first six meetings.
The Tribe trailed 2-1 after five before Clement cleared the bases with a two-out double in the sixth, just his second career extra-base hit. The Astros fought back to tie it with two in the bottom half of the inning before Hernandez's bomb off Austin Pruitt gave Cleveland the lead for good.
Young starter Eli Morgan allowed three runs over five innings, and Bryan Shaw picked up his third win in relief despite giving up the lead in the sixth. James Karinchack notched his 11th save with a one-two-three ninth inning.
The win was also the club's 721st under Terry Francona, tying the future Hall of Famer with Mike Hargrove for second place all-time among Indians managers. He is now just eight away from passing Lou Boudreau for the most in franchise history.
The Tribe will return home Thursday night for the first of a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. Cal Quantrill (2-2, 4.05 ERA) will get the start against 21-year-old Luis Patiño (1-2, 4.87).