New York Salvages Finale In Cleveland

After losing the first two games of the series New York who is a member of the American League East was able to salvage the finale against Cleveland who is a member of the American League Central at Progressive Field.

After the large early lead had been erased, after the sure-handed shortstop had surprisingly booted a ball, after the kid who had been driven in overnight from Scranton was thrust into a save situation, the Yankees could finally celebrate Sunday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Thanks to Aaron Hicks’ go-ahead RBI double, the Yanks won, 7-6, in 10 innings at Progressive Field, avoiding a sweep at the hands of the Indians and sending them home happy for the Subway Series that begins Monday night. The Yankees blew a 5-0 advantage, as well as a ninth-inning advantage, and probably created more questions than they answered. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

But a win is a win. And oh, how the Yankees needed this win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

“It was,” said manager Aaron Boone, “a different sort of game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

This victory wasn’t easy, but, then again, what was easy for the Yankees in a week in which they routinely lost leads, had another important piece hit the shelf with Domingo Germán’s injured hip, saw their vaunted bullpen get battered and dropped five of seven? “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Before this one went off the rails, the Yankees enjoyed a two-out eruption against Indians starter Shane Bieber in the second. A two-run, slump-breaking homer from Brett Gardner, who had been 0-for-22 and had gone viral on Saturday when his heaved helmet had bounced back to smack him in the bottom lip, made it 2-0. Two more runners reached to set up a DJ LeMahieu RBI single, and the Yankees loaded the bases to set up a two-run double from Luke Voit. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Just like that, it was 5-0, and the Yankees, who were going with a bullpen day with Masahiro Tanaka out on paternity leave, had chased Bieber to turn it into an unexpected ‘pen day for the Indians, too. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

“It looked like it was going to be an easy one,” reliever Adam Ottavino said. “That wasn’t the case.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

No, it wasn’t. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

In the sixth, Tommy Kahnle arrived for a rare rough outing in an otherwise splendid 2019. For the first time in his career, Kahnle yielded two homers in a game. He served them up to Leonys Martin (solo) and Mike Freeman (two-run shot), who had hit just one homer in his big league career and was only in the game because Jason Kipnis was yanked with an iffy hip. Suddenly, it was a 5-4 game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

The Indians tied it in the seventh, when Ottavino fell behind 3-0 to Jake Bauers, who had the green light on the next pitch and smacked it 434 feet to dead center. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

That fit an unfortunate pattern for the ‘pen, which has now given up 21 earned runs in its past 23 1/3 innings. But while some might be quick to cite overwork as the culprit in that calamity, Ottavino aptly pointed out that both he and Kahnle entered this game having not worked in three days. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

“There’s nothing wrong with the bullpen,” Ottavino said. “That was probably Mike Freeman’s best swing of his career off Kahnle there for that oppo homer. I gave up a 3-0 homer. Home runs are how good pitchers give up runs. No walks in there, really. It was just a couple good swings by them.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

In the ninth, the Yankees loaded the bases off Adam Cimber with one out, and Clint Frazier delivered the sacrifice fly to center that allowed Voit to easily tag up to make it 6-5.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Aroldis Chapman was one out away from the save with runners at first and second. He got what could have been the game-ending ground ball from Francisco Lindor, and it was headed for Didi Gregorius, who had entered for defensive purposes in just his third appearance since his return from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

“If I had a nickel for every time we root for them to hit it to Didi,” said Boone, “I’d have a lot of nickels.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

But this grounder turned up like a bad penny, allowing Jose Ramirez to score from second on the play. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

“I tried to get an easy backhand setup, but it took a quick hop straight to my knee and then went to the outfield,” Gregorius said. “It was the worst feeling I could have.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Because Chapman struck out Oscar Mercado for the last out of the ninth, the Yankees were in position to recover in the 10th. Cameron Maybin doubled off Oliver Pérez with one out, and Hicks brought him home with a sharp line drive to left-center with two outs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Left-hander Stephen Tarpley, who had arrived in Cleveland in the middle of the night after a car service transported him on the six-hour drive from Scranton, was able to close out an eventful and necessary victory for the Yanks. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

“We had to fight for this one,” Hicks said. “These are games you need throughout a season to show you have a fight.””according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-top-indians-in-extra-innings-after-wild-9th

Meanwhile instead of sweeping New York Cleveland had a setback.

- 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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“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.” “according to “I don’t think anybody in here is necessarily pleased with [taking two of three games] “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“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.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“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.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“I’ve never seen it go that quick with him like that before,” Francona said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“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.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

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. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“I’ve never seen it go that quick with him like that before,” Francona said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“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.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

“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.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/indians-rallies-fall-short-in-extra-innings-loss

With the win, New York improves to 40-24 while Cleveland drops to 33-32 on the season.