Yordan Alvarez snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a 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.
Houston starter Zack Greinke (9-3) yielded five hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
“His velocity was good, his location was good. We were very satisfied with how he threw the ball,” Baker said.
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.
“That was a lot of traffic and he gave up four,” manager Terry Francona said. “He didn’t wilt with the way they were pressuring him the whole time. The eight strikeouts say the stuff is there.”