Tribe threatens late, but falls to Yanks in 10th

CLEVELAND -- It’s been a week of comebacks for the Indians. Heading into the series finale against the Yankees, the team had been unable to get on the board first in four of its five games this homestand. In the one game they did jump out in front, they ended up fighting back from a three-run deficit. That theme carried into Sunday’s matinee, but this time, the Tribe couldn’t make the final punch.

What started as a five-run deficit became a back-and-forth chase through the final two innings, as New York bested Cleveland, 7-6, in 10 frames at Progressive Field, and the Indians fell just short of completing their largest comeback of the year. The club dropped to 4-2 on their current homestand, taking two of three in series against the first-place Yankees and Twins.

• Box score

“I don’t think anybody in here is necessarily pleased with [taking two of three games],” Jake Bauers said. “You’ve gotta be happy with winning two out of three from two very good teams. But to be sitting there in the third game with a chance to sweep both, no one’s happy that we didn’t get the sweep, but we are happy that we got the series win.”

Adam Cimber gave up a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning that gave New York a one-run lead heading into the home half of the frame. Just when it seemed like it was time to pack up and go home, the Indians were gifted a second chance. With two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth, Francisco Lindor hit a ground ball to shortstop Didi Gregorius, who booted it into left field, allowing the tying run to cross the plate.

“Well, I mean, it didn’t feel good, but you kinda always hope until the last gasp,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Lindor’s grounder. “Then, after he missed it, I was trying to push it down the line a little farther.”

That gift didn’t last long, as Oliver Pérez gave up an RBI double to Aaron Hicks in the top of the 10th inning that the Tribe could not answer, eliminating their chance at sweeping the Yankees at home for the first time since 1970.

The bunt
Prior to Gregorius' error, which forced extra innings, the Indians had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, trailing by one. Bauers -- who had already hit a home run earlier in the game -- attempted to bunt the runners to second and third against Aroldis Chapman, but he popped up to first baseman DJ LeMahieu without getting the job done.

“You know, I looked at Tito and said ‘Hey, if [Roberto Pérez] gets on, what do you want me to do?’” Bauers said. “He said, ‘Well, can you get it down?’ I said ‘Yes.’ So, bunt was on. Bottom line, I’ve gotta get it down. Obviously, it’s not easy with a lefty throwing 100 [mph] on the mound, that is what it is. Bottom line is, that bunt’s gotta be on the ground.”

Bieber matches shortest start of career
Indians starter Shane Bieber put his offense in a 5-run hole through just 1 2/3 innings. He struck out the side in the first and recorded two quick outs before allowing seven consecutive Yankees to reach.

“I’ve never seen it go that quick with him like that before,” Francona said.

“I felt like I obviously got two quick outs in that second inning and then things just kind of started to unravel,” Bieber said. “Thought I had plenty of opportunities to get myself out of that inning, and just couldn't capitalize on them. … Can't say enough about the fight we had today. Really proud of this group of guys for picking me up. … Just dug too deep of a hole.”

Leonys Martin snapped an 0-for-16 stretch with a homer in the sixth before Mike Freeman -- who replaced an injured Jason Kipnis (right hip tightness, expected back in the lineup Tuesday) -- launched his first blast of the year and the second of his career to cut the Tribe’s deficit to one. His last home run came on April 12, 2017. Then, Bauers delivered the tying solo shot in the seventh.

“Yeah, I was actually really proud of the way they competed today,” Francona said. “It’s a tough way to start the day and then knowing what’s sitting out there ready to come in. ... That was a heck of a game. There was a lot going on.”