New York Suffers Loss In The Finale As Cleveland Earns Split

Instead of winning the finale New York had to settle for a split in the finale.

Two seasons ago, the Yankees faced the Indians as postseason underdogs, their overachieving band of "Baby Bombers" outlasting a 102-win juggernaut in the American League Division Series en route to advancing within one victory of the World Series. Those franchises may well be on a collision course for another October showdown. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

That was the overriding takeaway from a four-game weekend set at Yankee Stadium that seemed to have a sprinkle of everything. The Indians secured a split by rudely welcoming CC Sabathia back from the injured list in the Yankees’ 8-4 loss on Sunday afternoon, but the series as a whole offered a tantalizing appetizer for what we might witness in a couple of months.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

"We’d have liked to have won all four, but that’s a good ballclub over there that we’ll probably see down the road," Aaron Judge said. "It was fun. Those are series you like to play. It was tough. They were scoring runs, we were scoring runs, back and forth. It was a fun one to compete in.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

The Bombers were trounced by 14 runs in Thursday's lopsided opener, then responded with a taut one-run win behind Masahiro Tanaka's sharp effort on Friday. New York slugged four homers in a spirited Saturday contest that featured the ejections of manager Aaron Boone, outfielder Brett Gardner and Sabathia, who was a day away from being activated from the injured list. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

Boone remains supremely confident in his club, which dressed in button-down shirts sporting the Yanks' top hat logo and “Savages” in red script for their flight to the West Coast. When Boone looks across the way at Cleveland, he sees a versatile team that could improve its championship odds with an addition or two on the pitching side. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

"We know that’s a team that is very capable," Boone said. "After a slow start to the season, they’ve really righted the ship and are playing really well in the second half here. Nothing changes with us. I think we’re really good. We still have a long way to go. We’re still in position to do something special." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

Returning from his second right knee-related IL stint of the season, Sabathia bypassed a rehab assignment in order to spend his bullets on the big league stage, so Boone only reasonably expected 60 or so pitches from the lefty. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

"Just a little rusty, but I felt really good," Sabathia said. "I feel like it's something I can build off of." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

Most of those offerings were tossed in Cleveland's four-run second inning. Greg Allen knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice before the Tribe's No. 9 hitter, Mike Freeman, pounced on a lazy slider to blast his fourth homer of the year over the right-center-field wall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

It was just a bad pitch, just hung up there like a real hanger," Sabathia said. "I've been doing that a lot this year to the lefties, way too much. I need to tighten that up and start getting those guys out at the clip I normally do." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

The Yankees had few answers for right-hander Mike Clevinger, who picked up the win by striking out 10 over five scoreless innings. DJ LeMahieu hit a seventh-inning homer to keep the Yankees’ no-shutout streak alive. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

“He just kind of kept us off-balance all day and we weren’t able to have that big inning against him," Judge said of Clevinger. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

The Yanks have scored at least one run in 208 consecutive games since July 1, 2018, tying the 2000-01 Reds for the third-longest streak ever. The Major League record is held by the 1931-33 Yankees, who scored in 308 consecutive games. The 1978-79 Brewers (212) are second.

Francisco Lindor added a fourth-inning homer off Nestor Cortes Jr., and Oscar Mercado hit a two-run shot in the eighth off Luis Cessa.

New York scored twice in the ninth off Brad Hand, with LeMahieu and Judge driving in runs, but Hand retired Gio Urshela on a deep flyout that sealed just the Yanks' fourth loss in 20 games. Now they'll try to keep that pace on the road, playing 19 of their next 25 away from the Bronx. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

"We’re going up against Oakland and the Dodgers and Seattle, good ballclubs right there -- especially that Dodgers series," Judge said. "It’s going to be like another postseason matchup, so it’s going to be rowdy and we’re motivated for those. We can’t wait. We want to play the best teams, and those are some of the best teams out there, so I’m looking forward to it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-yankees-lose-finale-to-indians

Meanwhile Cleveland earned a split in the finale.

Mike Freeman doesn’t play every day for the Indians, but when manager Terry Francona gave him a chance to face the Yankees on Sunday -- starting him at third base in place of the red-hot Jose Ramirez -- the utility infielder made it count. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

In his first at-bat against CC Sabathia -- making possibly his final start against his original club while returning from the injured list -- Freeman rocked a 1-1 slider deep to right-center, notching a three-run homer to cap off a four-run second inning for Cleveland. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

That was the beginning of a breakout 3-for-4 day at the plate for Freeman, as he paved the way for the Indians’ 8-4 victory at Yankee Stadium. He also knocked a pair of leadoff doubles that led to three more runs for Cleveland, courtesy of Oscar Mercado's RBI single in the sixth and Mercado’s two-run homer in the eighth.”according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

Those insurance runs came in handy when New York attempted a last-ditch rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs before closer Brad Hand shut the door. The Indians earned a series split with the American League East leaders, finishing a tough weekend by keeping pace with the Twins in the AL Central race. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

How about Mike Freeman?” Francona said. “[He] plays maybe once a week, every so often, and he gets a game where he has to face a lefty and he ends up being our most productive hitter. That’s kinda been the way he’s been all year for us, that true professional. When we say, ‘Stay ready’ -- that’s my definition. Everybody was thrilled for him.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

Freeman’s offensive performance backed a strong outing from Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger, who threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10. The right-hander watched as Freeman helped provide the run support he would need to earn the victory -- upping his record to 6-0 since July 17. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

“It’s incredibly impressive for him, having time off, not seeing pitches, to [then] step in,” Clevinger said. “It speaks volumes for him.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

Prior to the game, Francona said that Sunday had been planned as a scheduled off-day for Ramirez. Freeman, however, only found out the night before that he would be filling in for his team’s best hitter in the series. Ramirez has a career .370 batting average in 37 games against the Yankees -- his highest batting average against any AL opponent and the highest vs. New York among active players -- and he had gone 6-for-11 with three homers and seven RBIs in the first three games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

Freeman, meanwhile, had only appeared in the series at the tail end of Cleveland’s 19-5 blowout win in the opener. But Francona knew Ramirez could use two days of rest between the Yankees and Mets series on the team’s Big Apple road trip, so he put his trust in Freeman, who rewarded his manager’s confidence, jokingly saying after the game that he was “trying to do my best Jose Ramirez impression.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

“I feel like it’s just my mindset more than anything -- certainly it’s easier said than done to have the results.” Freeman said. “... But I think a lot of guys that are in my position, that’s the reason they say it’s one of the tougher things to do, because results aren’t always there. It’s different than guys who play every day because [they] have tomorrow. As a utility guy, it makes those days like today a little extra special to contribute and help the team win a game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

For the 32-year-old journeyman -- who was drafted in the 11th round in 2010 and didn’t make his Major League debut until 2016 -- Sunday was extra special because it was also the first time he had ever played a full game at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

Before the game, Freeman said that he took a walk through Monument Park, looking in awe at all of the history surrounding him. His grandfather on his mother’s side helped him appreciate the sport from a young age, so it felt surreal to be standing in the midst of it while it was quiet and empty. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

“It’s special when no one’s there,” Freeman said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

Now, he has his own little piece of history in the Bronx. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mike-freeman-leads-indians-to-win-over-yankees

New York has the day off Monday so they can travel out west where they will play nine games starting in Oakland with a three game series on Tuesday night.