ARLINGTON, Texas -AP- Carlos Carrasco is over the broken bone in his hand that forced him to miss the playoffs with the AL champion Cleveland Indians.
Carrasco stuck out seven and pitched into the sixth inning in his first start since taking a liner off his right hand last September, and the Indians held on for a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
"It's something in the past, I got it last year, so this year is a new year," Carrasco said. "Feel pretty good for myself, with my body, with my arm. Everything's fine."
 
 
Indians hold on for 4-3 win at Texas, clinch opening series
 
 
Carrasco (1-0), who had some elbow discomfort this spring, allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Andrew Miller pitched a perfect eighth inning and Cody Allen got another save by striking out the side for the second night in a row against the two-time defending AL West champions.
After consecutive doubles by Nomar Mazara and Mike Napoli to start a 25-pitch ninth inning, Allen struck out Rougned Odor, pinch-hitter Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo. In the opener, Allen struck out the side around a triple by Elvis Andrus.
"Cody threw the ball really well, just maybe too many strikes," Indians manager Terry Francona said "But you could tell what kind of stuff he had because after those first two hits. ... There was no wiggle room, and he didn't need it."
Carlos Santana started the game with his sixth career leadoff homer , and then followed Austin Jackson's two-out RBI single with one of his own in the second for a 3-0 lead against Martin Perez (0-1).
That was it for the Indians against Perez, who allowed five hits and walked four in six innings.
"It was encouraging to see him settle down. Obviously we're getting to a point where it's time to put that together throughout an entire game," manager Jeff Banister said.
Michael Brantley added two-out RBI single for the Indians in the seventh, when Texas used three relievers.
Texas closed to 3-2 in the second when Gallo hit a two-run homer deep into the second deck of seats in right field. The young slugger, playing third base with Adrian Beltre on the disabled list, is 3 for 32 with two homers and 23 strikeouts since the start of last season.
Gallo's homer accounted for the only runs against Carrasco, who yielded four hits and walked one while throwing 78 pitches.
"After he gave up that home run that might still be going, he settled down, he threw strikes," Francona said. "He threw some really good off-speed, made some big pitches."
 

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