Indians stop slide with 19-6 win over Astros

4/20/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — Jason Giambi, Mark Reynolds and Carlos Santana homered, and the Cleveland Indians routed the Houston Astros 19-6 tonight.

Giambi had five RBIs and Reynolds drove in four runs, but Scott Kazmir was unable to get the win in his first major league appearance since he recorded five outs in a start for the Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City on April 3, 2011. The left-hander allowed six runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings.

Cleveland roughed up Philip Humber (0-4) and finished with 22 hits while stopping a five-game slide. It was the highest-scoring game for the Indians since a 19-1 victory at Kansas City on May 16, 2011, and their most hits since they had 25 in a 22-4 win at the New York Yankees on April 18, 2009.

Humber (0-4) recorded just one out on the eve of the anniversary of his perfect game. He was charged with eight runs and eight hits.

The Indians managed just 11 runs and 33 hits during their losing streak. The 42-year-old Giambi was 1 for 12 for a .083 batting average coming into the game. His big day raised his average to .188.

Corey Kluber (1-0) pitched four innings of two-hit ball to get the win.

Brandon Barnes hit a two-run homer and Brandon Laird had a solo shot, but it wasn't nearly enough for Houston.

The Indians had nine consecutive batters reach with one out in the first. Giambi belted a two-run double and Reynolds hit a three-run shot.

Cleveland added six more in the second, taking advantage of two errors by Houston. Dallas Keuchel also walked Michael Brantley to force home a run.

Nick Swisher had four hits, including three of Cleveland's seven doubles, and Brantley added three RBIs.

It was the most runs and hits allowed by Houston since Colorado had 25 hits in a 19-3 victory on Sept. 25, 2011. The 22 hits

Kazmir pitched last season in nearby Sugar Land, Texas for the Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League before signing a minor league contract with the Indians in January.

The 29-year-old started the season on the disabled list with a rib cage strain. He grew up in Houston and today was his first career game at Minute Maid Park.