CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians' starting pitching continues to get better, and so does the team's record.

On Thursday night at Progressive Field, rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run and four Cleveland pitchers combined on a four-hitter as the Indians beat the Houston Astros 3-1.

Cleveland has won eight of its last 11 games, including three of four against the American League West-leading Astros. Indians pitchers gave up just three runs in the final three games of the series.

"Their pitching handed it to us in this series. They really held us down," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.

Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson (2-1) worked into the seventh inning to get the win. Through his first four major league starts, Anderson has a 0.89 ERA.

"I'm not looking at my numbers. I'm just trying to keep us close and help us win games," Anderson said.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona said, "We didn’t have much going on (offensively), but because Cody held them down, it gave us a chance."

Right-hander Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to pick up his 18th save.

Trailing 1-0, Cleveland scored three runs and knocked left-hander Brett Oberholtzer out of the game in the sixth. Lindor led off the inning with his second major league home run, a line drive over the left field wall on a 3-1 pitch.

Center fielder Michael Brantley followed with a double down the right field line. Designated hitter Ryan Raburn doubled down the left field line, scoring Brantley and giving the Indians a 2-1 lead.

Right-hander Josh Fields relieved Oberholtzer and was greeted by a booming triple bounced off the wall in center field by first baseman Carlos Santana, scoring Raburn to make it 3-1. The triple was Santana's first since 2013.

"When you give up four extra base hits in a row, you're going to give up a few runs," Hinch said.

Oberholtzer (2-2) pitched five innings, giving up three runs, seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Anderson retired the first two batters in the seventh and was relieved by left-hander Marc Rzepczynski.

Anderson continued his outstanding work since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on June 21. In 6 2/3 innings, he gave up one run and three hits with one strikeout and two walks.

In his four starts, Anderson has pitched 30 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs and 17 hits. He has struck out 11 and walked three.

"It's a small sample size, but obviously his confidence is very high," Francona said. "It seems like he's able to make pitches when he has to."

Anderson retired the first six batters he faced before catcher Hank Conger led off the third inning with a home run over the center-field wall, his fifth homer of the season, to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Houston's only other hits were singles by shortstop Carlos Correa in the fourth, left fielder Colby Rasmus in the fifth and second baseman Jose Altuve in the ninth.

The Astros threatened in the ninth when they had runners on first and second with two outs, but Allen retired designated hitter Evan Gattis on a first-pitch popup to end the game.

In 30 appearances since April 29, Allen has 15 saves and a 1.16 ERA.

The Indians threatened in the second when Raburn singled and Santana walked, putting runners at first and second with no outs. But Oberholtzer struck out catcher Yan Gomes and retired left fielder David Murphy and third baseman Giovanny Urshela on flyouts to end the inning.

"I thought O.B. did a good job," Hinch said. "He was very sharp early."

NOTES: Indians RHP Josh Tomlin will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron on Friday. Tomlin, who has been on the disabled list all season, had right shoulder surgery on March 29. ... Since April 29, Indians RHP Cody Allen is 15-for-15 in save opportunities with a 1.16 ERA, 48 strikeouts in 31 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .157 batting average. ... Astros RHP Collin McHugh will start Friday's game at Tampa Bay. Since Aug. 1, 2014, McHugh is tied with Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole for the major league lead in wins. McHugh is 16-4 with a 3.49 ERA during that period.