For the first time in the past three seasons, the Cleveland Indians will have to play from behind.
Due to some early struggles from ace Corey Kluber and their own inconsistencies at the plate, the Indians lost Game 1 of the American League Division Series to the Houston Astros by a score of 7-2 on Friday afternoon. The defeat marks the first Game 1 loss for Cleveland in any of the previous three years and the first time the Indians have trailed in a playoff series aside from contests in which they were eliminated.
What follows is a running recap of Cleveland's Game 1 defeat. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 4:37 p.m. ET in Houston.
Final: Astros 7, Indians 2
Roberto Osuna surrenders a leadoff hit to Michael Brantley, but proceeds to record three straight outs with a Josh Donaldson groundout ending the game.
End of 8: Astros 7, Indians 2
Josh Redick tacks on another one with an RBI single knocking in Myles Straw.
Middle of 8: Astros 6, Indians 2
Indians down to their final three outs as Yan Gomes, Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor go down in order.
End of 7: Astros 6, Indians 2
Cody Allen surrenders a solo shot to Martin Maldonado before being replaced by Trevor Bauer. The right-hander proceeds to give up two hits, including an RBI single to Alex Bregman, which knocks in George Springer.
Middle of 7: Astros 4, Indians 2
Three up, three down for the Indians -- Josh Donaldson, Yonder Alonso and Melky Cabrera -- as they head to the 7th inning stretch down two.
End of 6: Astros 4, Indians 2
Adam Cimber records two outs and Cody Allen comes in to get the third as the Astros -- Carlos Correa, Tyler White and Josh Redick -- go down 1, 2, 3.
Middle of 6: Astros 4, Indians 2
Verlander gives up his first two hits -- and eventually loads the bases -- before getting pulled after 5.1 innings and 7 strikeouts. A wild pitch by Ryan Pressly allows Yan Gomes to score and Francisco Lindor reaches home on a Jose Ramirez groundout, as the Indians cut the Astros' lead in half.
End of 5: Astros 4, Indians 0
Kluber gives up back to back home runs to George Springer and Jose Altuve as the Astros double their lead to 4.
Kluber's day is done after 4.2 innings with 6 hits, 4 earned runs and 2 base on balls surrendered.
Middle of 5: Astros 2, Indians 0
Indians remain hitless through five, with Donaldson, Alonso and Cabrera going down in order. Verlander adds two strikeouts to his total, bringing it to six.
End of 4: Astros 2, Indians 0
Astros strike first when Alex Bregman leads off the fourth inning with a home run off of Corey Kluber to left field.
Kluber then proceeds to put two on, with Josh Redick knocking in Yuli Gurriel with a 2-out RBI single.
Middle of 4: Indians 0, Astros 0
The Indians -- Brantley, Ramirez, Encarnacion -- go in order as Justin Verlander has now retired 10 straight.
End of 3: Indians 0, Astros 0
Three up, three down for the Astros, as we remain scoreless -- and hitless -- heading into the fourth inning.
Middle of 3: Indians 0, Astros 0
Justin Verlander strikes out the side -- in this case Yan Gomes, Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor -- and has yet to give up a hit through three.
End of 2: Indians 0, Astros 0
Kluber puts two on with a pair of hit-by-pitches, but gets out of the inning unscathed forcing Josh Redick into a double play.
Middle of 2: Indians 0, Astros 0
Three up, three down for the Tribe as Josh Donaldson, Yonder Alonso and Melky Cabrera go down in order.
End of 1: Indians 0, Astros 0
Corey Kluber walks Alex Bregman with two outs before forcing Yuli Gurriel into a flyout to end the inning.
Middle of 1: Indians 0, Astros 0
Jose Ramirez reaches base on a two-out walk, but Edwin Encarnacion ends the inning grounding out to short.
