It’s been since 1997 since the Indians were able to raise the flag as American League champions, but they finally were able to reach the promised land of the World Series yet again thanks to their fourth victory against Toronto in the ALCS. Ryan Merritt looked anything but nervous as he dominated the Blue Jays sluggers and Andrew Miller was exactly what we’ve grown to expect this post-season.
First Inning
The extensive foul territory at the Rogers Centre cost the Indians quite a few outs offensively in game four and the first one in game five as Marco Estrada got Carlos Santana to pop out to Russell Martin far beyond where the stands would begin in most stadiums. Jason Kipnis gave one a ride to left, but flew out to the warning track for the second out.
Despite there being two outs, the Indians got a little rally going as Francisco Lindor hit a hard line drive to left, then scored when Mike Napoli absolutely mashed an Estrada change up off the wall in left. Ezequiel Carrera misplayed the ball off the ricochet and Lindor scored from first. While he probably would have scored anyway, the play was ruled a double and an error, costing Napoli and RBI, but still leaving the Indians with a one run lead. Jose Ramirez grounded out to Troy Tulowitzki at short to end the inning.
Ryan Merritt began his second Major League start with a couple off-speed pitches to get ahead of Jose Bautista, then went full speed with nothing but his 82 MPH cutter and 84 MPH four seam fastball to put away Bautista and Josh Donaldson. He did mix things up to Edwin Encarnacion, who struck out looking on Merritt’s second curve of the inning.
Second Inning
Estrada dealt with Lonnie Chisenhall in short order, striking out the right hander swinging. Coco Crisp also fell behind in the count early and flew out to short center. Tyler Naquin fouled off some tough pitches and even took a high fast ball, but when Estrada brought it into the zone he struck out swinging to end the inning.
Merritt continued to confound Blue Jays hitters with fast balls slower than most of their opponents’ curves as Tulowitzki popped out, Martin struck out looking at an 86 MPH fastball that had quite a bit of the plate, then Upton did the same on a better placed fastball, low and inside, that was his fasted to this point in the game at 87 MPH.
Third Inning
Roberto Perez struck out on a fastball, low and outside, to finish Estrada’s first time through the order, but Santana started the second time through with style, launching his second home run of the ALCS out to right. His first home run came off the left handed Marcus Stroman in game two, so this was the first one from the left side of the plate for Santana. Kipnis also hit one to right, but flew out easily to Bautista. Lindor singled to left for the second straight at bat, but this time he was stranded at first when Napoli struck out looking.
Carrera took Crisp to the wall in left with a fly off Merritt for out number on in the bottom of the inning, then Ramirez flashed the leather picking off a Kevin Pillar grounder. It only took two more pitches to retire Darwin Barney and end his third straight baserunnerless inning.
Fourth Inning
Estrada continued to pound the zone in the fourth as he got Ramirez on an infield fly and struck out Chisenhall swinging for the second time. Crisp was able to wait back on Estrada, however, working the count to 2-2, then hitting a change-up out to right for his second home run of the post-season. Estrada made very few mistakes and left very few balls in the middle of the hitting zone early in the game, but those to Crisp, Santana and Napoli were definite mistakes and the Indians made him pay. Naquin popped out to third to end the inning.
Bautista looked less nervous in his second at bat against the ALCS game five veteran Merritt, but still managed just a fly to center for the first out of the inning. Merritt’s perfect game attempt would end on the next pitch as Donaldson ripped a single to left center, but it had already lasted considerably longer than many expected he would stay in the game in any fashion. Merritt lost the zone after the hit, throwing three well that Encarnacion easily let by to get behind in the count, but showing no fear he worked his way back into the count, then induced a ground ball double play to Lindor to end the inning.
Fifth Inning
Perez began the fifth with his best attempt to hit the roof at Rogers Centre, but came up short as Carrera caught the easy fly in short left field. Santana grounded out weakly to short and Kipnis hit another easy fly to center as the Indians were retired in order for the second time.
After retiring Tulowitzki, Merritt allowed a bloop single to right to Martin on a play that nearly saw a collision between Kipnis and Chisenhall in right field. At 49 pitches (33 strikes), Terry Francona pulled Merritt here despite allowing just one baserunner beyond the minimum and no runs.
With Bryan Shaw coming in, John Gibbons brought in his biggest threat from the bench as Michael Saunders pinch hit for Melvin Upton, Jr. Saunders singled up the middle, his sixth hit in the ALCS, tied with Lindor and Donaldson for most in the series. Despite looking wild against Carrera, Shaw eventually struck out the left fielder and he used that wildness to his advantage in striking out Pillar on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning and strand two.
Sixth Inning
Now pitching down three, Estrada buckled down and struck out Lindor swinging and Napoli looking. Each took wild swings during their at bats and Ramirez also looked badly fooled on a change-up outside before flying out to left to end the inning in order.
Shaw stayed out for the the sixth after striking out the last two in the fifth and quickly got a ground out to short from Barney. With the menacing Merritt now out of the game, Bautista was finally able to handle his nerves and ripped a single to center off Shaw, prompting the entrance of Andrew Miller. Not wanting to strike out, Saunders swung at the first pitch and grounded into a double play to Lindor to end the inning. The play was challenged because Gibbons thought Santana’s foot may have come off the base at first, but the call was upheld.
Seventh Inning
The left handed Brett Cecil came in for Estrada in the seventh after dominating in game four and throwing 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings overall in the ALCS against Cleveland. He retired Chisenhall with a ground ball, then Francona went to his bench for Rajai Davis, who struck out on three pitches. Wanting to keep his best defense in, he let Chisenhall and Naquin hit against the left hander and Naquin grounded out to Encarnacion at first to end the inning.
Encarnacion hit the hardest ball Miller has allowed this post-season, but Davis was able to grab it at the wall with a little jump. Lindor retired the next two Jays as Miller abandoned the strike out to make use of another valuable defensive weapon.
Eighth Inning
Joe Biagini came in for Cecil to start the eighth against the right handed Perez. While Perez initially looked to bunt, but after the first one went foul, he ended up striking out swinging. Santana flew out to left and Kipnis hit one back to the pitcher to end the inning.
After finishing the sixth and pitching a perfect seventh, Miller was back on the mound for the eighth. Dioner Navarro pinch hit for Martin to lead off and got his second hit off Miller in the series, one of three total allowed by the left hander. With a runner on, Miller went back to that big breaking ball and he got Carrera swinging on a slider that just kept running away. Pillar took a hack at the next pitch and grounded out to Lindor, who made an impressive turn to get Navarro going to second. With a pop to Davis off the bat off the bat of Barney, Miller had the Indians three outs away from a return to the World Series.
At this point, everyone should be aware of the greatness that has been Miller Time and he finished the ALCS with 7.2 scoreless innings with just three hits and no walks allowed. He struck out 14, more than any other pitcher in the series, but he also pitched more innings than all but Kluber. He pitched in every single Indians win in the ALCS and all, but the 6-0 blow out against Boston in the play-offs.
Ninth Inning
Lindor is never one to give up an at bat and he lead off the ninth against Roberto Osuna with a ground rule double to the gap in right center. Napoli then lined out to center, keeping Lindor at second. Ramirez grounded out to move Lindor to third, but he stayed there as Chisenhall struck out to finish the frame. While the Indians didn’t score, they still handed a 3-0 lead to one of the best closers in baseball, Cody Allen.
Allen faced Bautista to begin the ninth and the right handed slugger roped a line drive down the left field line for a double. Donaldson, who has been a tough out all series, struck out swinging for the first out in the ninth. The other big Jays slugger, Encarnacion, followed suit with a strike out as well on a pitch in the dirt. Allen didn’t throw a ball to either hitter. He didn’t get Tulowitzki as easily, but he finished him all the same with a fly ball in foul territory that fell into the glove of Carlos Santana for the final out of the series.
Player of the Game – Ryan Merritt 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
ALCS MVP – Andrew Miller 7.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 14 K
Final Score: Toronto Blue Jays 0 – Cleveland Indians 3
On Deck: The Indians now have the benefit of sitting around to see who their opponent will be rather than fighting for the chance to move on. The World Series will begin October 25th and game one will be in Cleveland with Corey Kluber on the mound.
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