Alvarez ends slump with 2-run HR as Astros beat Indians 4-3

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with at two-run homer to help the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

The Astros were up by 1 with one out in the fifth inning when Alvarez connected off rookie J.C. Mejía (1-5) on his soaring shot to the second deck in right field to make it 4-1.

Alvarez held his bat and watched the ball for a few seconds before trotting to first base, and the slugger received lots of high-fives and hugs in the dugout after ending his slump in grand fashion.

Alvarez also doubled and Michael Brantley added two hits to help the Astros to their second straight victory.

Houston starter Zack Greinke (9-3) yielded five hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Ryan Pressly walked one in a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.

There were runners at first and second with two outs in the eighth when Harold Ramirez hit an RBI single on a liner to the corner of right field to cut the lead to 1. But Ryne Stanek struck out Bradley Zimmer to end the inning.

Franmil Reyes hit a solo homer and an RBI single for the Indians, whose two-game winning streak ended.

Mejía permitted seven hits and four runs while striking out a career-high eight in 4 1/3 innings in his eighth major league start.

Brantley singled with one out in the first and Houston took a 1-0 lead when he scored on a double by Yuli Gurriel.

Amed Rosario singled to start the fourth but was erased when José Ramírez grounded into a double play. Reyes followed with his blast to left field to tie it at 1-all.

Chas McCormick hit a one-out single in the bottom of the inning and reached second on a groundout by Robel Garcia. The Astros regained the lead on an RBI single by Martín Maldonado.

There were runners at first and third with one out in the sixth when...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Alvarez-ends-slump-with-2-run-HR-as-Astros-beat-16325675.php