CLEVELAND (AP) -- Tim Drew planned to glue the game ball to a plaque, frame the lineup card and maybe even retire his cleats.

"You only get one first major league win," he said.

Drew got his first major league victory as Travis Fryman's three-run double capped Cleveland's six-run fifth inning Monday night and sent the Indians to an 8-6 victory over the Houston Astros.

Jim Thome homered twice -- one a 479-foot shot -- and Kenny Lofton, batting leadoff again and feeling no fear in center, went 2-for-3 with two steals and made two nice catches before crashing into the wall for the Indians.

Drew, making his second big league start, allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. The younger brother of St. Louis outfielder J.D. Drew walked four, struck out three and gave the Indians a reason to keep him around for a while as their No. 5 starter.

"I hope so," said Drew, whose more famous brother went on the 15-day disabled list Monday. "Hopefully, I won't come in tomorrow and find my stuff all packed up."

That's not likely. Cleveland's pitching staff has been decimated by injuries all season and the Indians have been hoping to find someone, anyone to give them innings.

"I thought he did a pretty good job," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "He kept the ball down in the strike zone and moved the ball around. He didn't make too many mistakes."

Neither did Houston rookie starter Wade Miller -- until the fifth.

In the inning, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Omar Vizquel sandwiched RBI doubles around a run-scoring single by Lofton. After Miller got two outs, Houston manager Larry Dierker had Miller intentionally walk Thome to face Fryman, the Indians' All-Star third baseman and best player this year.

Down 0-2 in the count, Fryman doubled to the gap in left-center off Miller (0-2), who limited the Indians to one run and two hits before the fifth.

"He pitched well except for that one inning," Dierker said. "He needs to learn more about pitching up here and is doing that. He certainly has the stuff to be successful."

Daryle Ward and Richard Hidalgo hit two-run homers for the Astros.

Lofton wasn't initially supposed to be back until the All-Star break after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery. He was afraid to go all out during the first half, but since being given the OK by doctors to play hard, he's looked more like the player who led the AL in steals five straight years and roamed center field with reckless abandon.

"I had some fear," Lofton admitted. "But right now I'm confident and I'm just going to go out and play the way I can."

Hidalgo's 26th homer gave the Astros a 2-0 lead in the second. He followed a one-out walk to Moises Alou by ripping a 1-1 pitch from Drew over the wall in left.

Thome brought the Indians within a run in the bottom of the inning with his 24th homer of the season and first since June 27.

Ward hit his 14th homer in the seventh off Jamie Brewington to make it 7-4. The Astros got within 7-5 when Craig Biggio hit into a double play, but Lofton ended the inning by running down Jeff Bagwell's drive to deep center.

Thome gave the Indians a little breathing room with his tape-measure shot in the seventh, the third-longest homer in Jacobs Field history.

"I threw a sinking fastball to Thome and he hit it two miles," Miller said. "Then I threw a changeup and he hit it 2½ miles."

Game notes
Lofton was moved back into the leadoff spot after 12 games batting lower in the order. ... The Indians' 40-26 four-year interleague record is the AL's best. ... Houston is 6-8 vs. the AL this season after going 22-7 in interleague play the past two years. ... Crew chief Jim McKean returned to his home in St. Petersburg, Fla., after partially tearing his left Achilles' tendon while working home plate during Sunday's game. McKean was replaced by umpire Lance Barksdale, and Dan Morrison took McKean's crew chief duties. ... Drew lasted just one-plus innings in his big league debut May 24. ... Indians OF Ricky Ledee was a late scratch with the flu. ... Lofton robbed Julio Lugo of extra bases with an over-the-shoulder catch before crashing into the wall in deep center in the third.