CLEVELAND _ One night after erasing a one-run lead at the last possible moment, the Indians couldn't hold a one-run lead and fell 3-2 on Wednesday to the Colorado Rockies in 12 innings at Progressive Field.
The Indians entered the ninth leading 2-1, but closer Cody Allen couldn't shut the door. Carlos Gonzalez singled with one out and was followed by Jonathan Lucroy, who rifled a double into right-center field. Bradley Zimmer slid to cut the ball off but misplayed it, which allowed Gonzalez to score from first to tie it 2-2.
"It's easy when the play's over to go back and walk him through it and say, 'Don't do that,' " Indians manager Terry Francona said of Zimmer. "When the game's going fast, his thinking was, 'I'm going to keep this in front of me.'
"Well, he ended up sliding and knocking it away from him, which is probably the last thing you want to see happen."
The Rockies finished the job in the 12th. Zach McAllister (1-2) entered as the sixth Indians pitcher and Charlie Blackmon, who led off Tuesday's game with a home run, belted a two-out solo shot to right-center field.
Tyler Chatwood then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 12th for his first save.
The Indians (60-51) won 4-1 Tuesday on Yan Gomes' walk-off home run after the Rockies had led nearly the entire game. On Wednesday, the roles were reversed as the Indians led 2-1 from the third inning until the ninth, when the Rockies found their opening against Allen.
Earlier, the Rockies (65-49) struggled to do much of anything against Indians starter Trevor Bauer, whose lone blemish was a solo home run by Alexi Amarista in the third inning to break a scoreless tie.
Francisco Lindor answered in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run to right field to put the Indians on top 2-1. It was the 19th home run of the season for Lindor, who sets a career high with each new blast.
Bauer pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits but only the lone run. He also struck out nine in his third consecutive quality start. In all three, he has gone at least seven innings, given up seven hits but only one run and struck out at least six batters.
Bauer left the mound on Wednesday to a standing ovation from the home crowd, and his performance was the biggest positive on a day that turned sour for the Indians not long after his exit.
"You always set out to win, and (sometimes) it ends up being a frustrating day," Francona said. "But you'll always take good pitching. I thought (Bauer) competed, he did a really good. Anytime you get that deep into a game, giving up one (run), you've done a hell of a job."
