Being a baseball player is a glamorous, well-paying job, but the travel can be difficult.

The Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros played last night after traveling after midnight from New York and Pittsburgh, respectively.

Despite the grind, both teams turned in strong defensive performances as Houston defeated Cleveland 4-2.

The game started as a pitchers’ duel between the Guardians’ Logan Allen and the Astros’ Colton Gordon. Neither team scored in the first four innings.

Houston took a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. Jose Altuve drove in a run with an infield single. Christian Walker added a two-run single.

Cleveland infielder Will Wilson put the Guardians on the board with a single to score Daniel Schneemann in the fifth.

WEB GEMS

Angel Martinez hit a sinking liner down the right-field line, but Houston’s Jacob Melton made a sensational diving catch to keep the Guardians from coming closer than 3-1.

Both defenses were sharp, as they combined to turn five double plays. Also, Astros left fielder Mauricio Dubon  gunned down Martinez and Ramirez trying to stretch singles to doubles in the first inning.

Houston picked up an insurance run when second baseman Brendan Rogers homered off Allen (3-4) in the sixth inning.

David Fry hit an opposite-field solo homer for Cleveland to cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth. It was Fry’s first home run since returning from elbow surgery.

CLOSING IT OUT

Unfortunately for Cleveland, the Astros have one of the best closers in the game. Josh Hader mowed down the Guardians in the ninth for his 17th save.

Speaking of great Houston pitchers, Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.83 ERA) will start for the Astros today against Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (5-3, 3.79).

First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. at Progressive Field.