The Yankees had Cleveland’s number all season, so it was only a matter of time before the Indians finally won a game, and that moment came tonight:
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rocked right off the bat, the Cleveland Indians quickly found their October swing.
C.C. Sabathia settled down after giving up a debated homer on his fifth pitch and the Indians returned to the postseason after a six-year disappearance by thumping the New York Yankees 12-3 in their AL playoff opener.
Alex Rodriguez, you ask? Well, A-Rod never got a chance to repair his tarnished postseason image. Sabathia and three Cleveland relievers simply took the All-Star third baseman’s powerful bat out of his hands.
The Indians’ inexperience at this time of year was never a factor.
Cleveland’s kids were all right.
I will hand to to Cleveland. Right off the bat, they’ve turned this series into a competition. But it ain’t over yet guys.
And, as Peter Abraham notes, losing Game 1 of the ALDS isn’t necessarily a bad thing:
Since 1995, the Yanks are 5-0 in the ALDS when they lose the first game, and 2-5 when they win the first game.
So get off the roof.
No, the series isn’t in the bag, but it’s far from over.
