Indians land last blow in topsy-turvy victory
Unlikely home run in 14th stuns Houston
CLEVELAND — Greg Allen had one thought as he saw his teammates waiting for him at home plate.
“Just don’t get too roughed up in there,” he said. “It’s something I’ll remember forever.”
Allen homered on Brad Peacock’s first pitch in the 14th inning as the Cleveland Indians stunned the Houston Astros 10-9 on Sunday.
Allen’s first home run of the season landed in the seats in right and triggered a wild celebration for the Indians, who rallied twice to overcome another impressive performance for Jose Altuve.
Cleveland scored five runs in the ninth. Michael Brantley’s two-out RBI single off Hector Rondon tied it at 8.
Evan Gattis’ two-out homer off Dan Otero (1-1) put Houston up 9-8 in the 13th, but Yonder Alonso responded with a leadoff drive against Collin Mchugh in the bottom half.
Peacock (1-2) got the loss on the lone pitch he threw.
Houston wasted a stellar day for Altuve, who had four hits and drove in two runs. The reigning American League MVP had a streak of 10 consecutive hits, breaking his club record, before he lined out to center in the ninth.
The Astros trailed 3-2 before Altuve’s tying RBI single in the eighth. Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel followed with run-scoring singles before Gattis made it 8-3 with a three-run shot to center.
The late offensive eruption upstaged the anticipated pitching matchup of former UCLA teammates Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer.
Jose Ramirez sparked Cleveland’s big ninth with a leadoff double against Ken Giles, capping a 17-pitch battle. Singles by Edwin Encarnacion, Alonso, Jason Kipnis and pinch hitter Erik Gonzalez then trimmed Houston’s lead to 8-6.
Rondon replaced Will Harris and retired Allen on a liner to left for the second out. But Lindor and Brantley delivered consecutive singles, tying the game.
First baseman Gurriel robbed Ramirez of a game-winning hit with a diving catch of his line drive near the line, ending the inning.
Brantley extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a leadoff single in the third, and Ramirez had a two-run homer in the first.
Cole and Bauer met for the first time since they were selected in the first round of the 2011 draft.
The right-handers reportedly had a strained relationship in college.
Cole allowed three runs in seven innings. Bauer struck out 13 in 7 1/3 innings but was charged with four runs.