CLEVELAND (AP) — Ronel Blanco pitched five scoreless innings and combined with three relievers on a three-hitter, leading the Houston Astros to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night in a matchup of division winners that could meet again this postseason. Blanco (13-6) allowed just a single in five innings and remained unbeaten in his last nine starts. He was replaced by rookie Spencer Arrighetti, who made his first career relief appearance after 28 starts.
Arrighetti was good for two innings but walked the bases loaded in the eighth. As he was lifted, the right-hander was ejected by plate umpire Mark Wegner, who didn't appreciate him spiking the resin bag on the mound. Bryan Abreu came in and got the Astros out of the jam by striking out rookie Kyle Manzardo and All-Star José Ramírez.
Held to one hit for eight innings, the Guardians got two runs in the ninth off Josh Hader, who finished up. Victor Caratini and rookie Zach Dezenzo hit back-to-back homers for the AL West champion Astros, who are locked into the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and will host a wild-card series next week.
If they advance, the Astros will play in Cleveland on Oct. 5 in Game 1 of the ALDS. The Guardians are still chasing the New York Yankees for the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
After going 7-19 in April, Houston has turned it around by going 80-54 — the majors' second-best mark over that span. Blanco, who threw a no-hitter in his first start this seas.