Indians manager Terry Francona decided to stick with David Murphy in a key spot against a left-handed pitcher and was rewarded, as a red-hot Murphy came through with the biggest hit of the night to lift the Indians to a 4-2 win against the Houston Astros Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
Heading into a tied 2-2 game in the bottom of the eighth, the Astros (49-38) brought in left-handed relief pitcher Joe Thatcher. With one out, Francisco Lindor stretched a single into a double on a ball hit down the left-field line and was followed by Michael Brantley, who walked.