10th-inning mistakes by Cleveland Indians lead to 4-3 loss, four-game sweep by Houston Astros – cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians forced extra innings against the Houston Astros on Sunday with the hopes of preventing a four-game sweep. Two Indians’ mistakes ended those hopes as an error and a failed bunt led to a 4-3 loss in 10 innings on Sunday.

An error by Emmanuel Clase (3-3, 1.01) allowed Yuri Gurriel to score what was the winning run. Clase couldn’t handle a throw from Amed Rosario as the Indians tried for an inning-ending double play.

The Indians’ chances in the 10th died quickly, as Roberto Perez popped a bunt into the glove of pitcher Brooks Raley, who threw back to second to nab Harold Ramirez for a double play. The Indians end their homestand on a six-game losing streak.

“That one, we were going to bunt probably for one strike and try to bring the infield in,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “If he gets it down, good. If he doesn’t, we probably would have let him hit.”

The top of the 10th started with Myles Straw on second and Gurriel safe at first on a wild pitch on strike three. Ernie Clement fielded a Carlos Correa grounder and tagged out Straw in a rundown between third base.

The next hitter, Jason Castro, grounded to first. Bobby Bradley threw to Rosario to get the out at second, but Clase couldn’t handle the return throw at first. The ball got away long enough for Gurriel to score the game-winning run.

Cal Quantrill went 5.1 innings, his longest outing as an Indian, giving up three runs on six hits. All three runs he gave up came off the bat of right fielder Chas McCormick. He scored the game’s first run in the fourth with a two-out single to center, and then hit a two-run homer in the sixth.

“He held his stuff the entire game. He pitched really, really well, and he needed to because their guy (Zack Greinke) was putting on a clinic on how you pitch,” Francona said. “That ball (to McCormick), he was trying to go down and away. It went up and away, and it cost him two (runs) at the end there. That was a shame because he did a really good job.”

Eddie Rosario’s solo home run to right in the sixth got the Indians to within 3-2. Two innings later, Cesar Hernandez tied the game with another solo shot to right.

The Indians got on the board in the fifth when Bradley scored on an RBI groundout by Bradley Zimmer. Bradley led off the inning with a walk, which snapped a stretch of 11 consecutive batters retired by Greinke. He moved to second on a Ramirez infield single and to third on a sacrifice bunt by Perez.

Greinke went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out eight.

Clement, playing for the injured Jose Ramirez, made the defensive play of the game with a diving stop at third and throw to retire Jose Altuve in the third inning.

“That was one of the better plays you’re ever going to see,” Francona said. “He had a couple tough plays today, and he did a good job over there.”

Blake Taylor (1-2, 2.95 ERA) got the win for Houston as he pitched 1.1 innings without giving up a hit.

Next: The Indians head to Tampa Bay to start a three-game series against the Rays on Monday night. LHP Logan Allen (1-5, 8.38 ERA) will start for the Indians, and LHP Rich Hill (6-3, 3.70 ERA) gets the nod for Tampa Bay. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. with Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM, WMMS and the Indians radio network carrying the game.