It’s been ten years since the Cleveland Indians were in the World Series, and 59 years since they won one, but now they’re one game away from facing the Colorado Rockies and getting another chance to win it all:
CLEVELAND (AP) — Led by a throwback pitcher who looks as if he stepped out of their 1948 team photo, the Cleveland Indians moved one win from another crack at winning an elusive World Series title.
Pumping his arms with an old-school windup from yesteryear, Paul Byrd blanked Boston long enough and the Indians used a seven-run rampage in the fifth inning to beat the Red Sox 7-3 Tuesday night for a 3-1 lead in the AL championship series.
The Indians, who knocked out the New York Yankees and their monstrous payroll in the first round of the playoffs, now have the free-spending Red Sox on the ropes. Even three straight homers couldn’t rally Boston.
A victory in Game 5 on Thursday night would send Cleveland back to the World Series for the first time since 1997, when the Indians lost a seven-game thriller to the Florida Marlins.
After a day off, the Indians will turn to ace C.C. Sabathia, their left-handed leader. Boston’s Josh Beckett, who beat Cleveland in Game 1 at home, will try to send the series back to Fenway Park.
I’m not sure if it will happen on Thursday or not, but this much is certain —- the Red Sox are on the rocks and it will take a very unlikely miracle for them to keep Cleveland from advancing.
[...] the Indians went up three games to one last week, it seemed like the Red Sox were headed for another ALCS disappointment. Last night, though, they [...]