The Sports Xchange
Aug 9, 2017
CLEVELAND -- Charlie Blackmon's home run in the 12th inning lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians Wednesday at Progressive Field.
Blackmon hit a 1-0 pitch from Zach McAllister (1-2) over the right-field wall for his 27th home run.
Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez (5-0) pitched two scoreless innings to get the win. Tyler Chatwood, normally a starter, pitched the bottom of the 12th inning to pick up his second career save. Six Rockies' pitchers held Cleveland scoreless on four hits over the last nine innings.
Cleveland took a 2-1 lead into the ninth, and closer Cody Allen struck out Gerardo Parra to lead off the inning. But Carlos Gonzalez singled and scored on a double by Jonathan Lucroy to tie the game at 2. It was the fourth blown save of the year for Allen, who has 19 saves.
Trevor Bauer started for Cleveland and pitched seven strong innings, giving up one run on seven hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk.
Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and three walks.
Bauer pitched into and out of trouble in the first two innings before surrendering his only run in the third. Rockies No. 9 hitter Alexi Amarista hit an 0-2 pitch from Bauer over the center-field wall for his third home run, giving Colorado a 1-0 lead.
The Rockies' run in the top of the third inning seemed to awaken the Indians' offense in the bottom of the third. Abraham Almonte led off with a double to center field off Senzatela. A sacrifice bunt by Roberto Perez moved Almonte to second.
Senzatela retired Jason Kipnis on a pop-up for the second out. But Francisco Lindor belted the first pitch he faced over the wall in right field for his 19th home run, a two-run shot, giving Cleveland a 2-1 lead.
Bauer settled down after Amarista's third-inning homer. Bauer retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced. In the sixth inning, the Rockies had runners at first and second with one out, but Bauer struck out Gonzalez and Lucroy to end that inning.
Bauer was removed from the game after giving up a single to Blackmon to lead off the eighth inning.
Joe Smith relieved Bauer and got DJ LeMahieu to pop out to second baseman Jason Kipnis in foul territory. Blackmon, who was running on the pitch, was unable to get back to first for a double play. Nolan Arenado then grounded out to end the inning.
NOTES: Indians OF Michael Brantley was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right ankle sprain. INF/OF Erik Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. ... RHP Danny Salazar, who will start for the Indians Thursday night in Tampa Bay, is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts since coming off the disabled list. ... The Rockies lost back-to-back games in which they took a lead into the ninth inning, the first time that's happened to them since Aug. 21-22, 2013. Prior to Sunday, the Rockies were 59-0 going into the ninth inning with a lead. . . Since coming off the disabled list on July 7, Colorado OF Gerardo Parra leads the National League with a .407 batting average.