Bullpen brilliance gives Indians ALCS stranglehold
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[October 18, 2016]
(The Sports Xchange) - Mike
Napoli homered and hit an RBI double, the Cleveland bullpen was
stellar from the first inning on, and the Indians defeated the
Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 Monday night to take a three-games-to-none
stranglehold in the American League Championship Series.
The Indians will aim for a sweep of the best-of-seven set on Tuesday
at Rogers Centre.
Jason Kipnis also homered for Cleveland, while Michael Saunders
homered for Toronto.
Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer left the game after with two outs in
the first inning following his second walk, as his previously
injured right pinky finger began bleeding while he was on the mound.
The Cleveland bullpen took over, and six relievers held the Blue
Jays to two runs.
Toronto starter Marcus Stroman (0-1) allowed three hits, including
two home runs, three walks and four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Bauer was trying to pitch after cutting his finger while playing
with a drone. The injury required several stitches and prevented him
from starting Game 2.
Kipnis led off the sixth inning with his second home run of the post
season, a liner to right on a 2-2 fastball, that gave Cleveland a
3-2 lead.
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Joe Biagini replaced Stroman after a one-out walk to Napoli in the
sixth. Napoli took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by
Jose Ramirez, and Cleveland led 4-2.
Kevin Pillar led off the bottom of the seventh with a single against
Bryan Shaw (1-0), who had pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the
win.
Cody Allen took over on the mound for Cleveland and retired Ezequiel
Carrera on a fly to right. Pinch hitter Justin Smoak was at the
plate when Pillar stole second. Smoak struck out swinging and Jose
Bautista walked before Josh Donaldson lined out to left for the
third out.
Allen retired the first two batters of the eighth before Andrew
Miller replaced him and Russell Martin struck out for the third time
of the game.
Toronto reliever Roberto Osuna pitched around a one-out single to
Coco Crisp and a ground-rule double to Tyler Naquin in the ninth.
Miller pitched around a leadoff single from pinch hitter Dioner
Navarro in the ninth to earn the save. He had three strikeouts in 1
1/3 innings, giving him 13 K's in the series.
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![](../images/101816pics/sports51.jpg)
Indians first baseman Mike Napoli (right) hits a solo home run in
front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (left) during the
fourth inning in game three of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series
at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out RBI double by
Napoli. The hit scored Carlos Santana, who led off with a walk.
Napoli's double to the wall in right was in and out of the glove of
Bautista.
Bauer came out after he gave up his second walk to his fourth
batter, Troy Tulowitzki.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons came out to talk to plate umpire
Brian Gorman, who then went to the mound as did Cleveland manager
Terry Francona and a trainer.
After work was done on the cut finger, reliever Dan Otero replaced
Bauer and retired Martin on a grounder to second to end the inning.
The Blue Jays tied the game on the first post season home run by
Saunders, a drive to left on a 1-1 changeup that led off the bottom
of the second.
Jeff Manship replaced Otero for the third inning and allowed one hit
in 1 1/3 innings.
Napoli led off the fourth inning with his first homer of the post
season on a 0-1 fastball to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead.
Zach McAllister, who replaced Manship with one out in the bottom of
the fourth, allowed a leadoff triple by Carrera in the bottom of the
fifth. Carrera scored the tying run on a groundout to shortstop by
Ryan Goins, a ball up the middle that deflected off the pitcher.
(Compiled by Ian Rodricks)
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