Game 2 is scheduled for Friday back in Cleveland. Here are 10 things to know about Game 1.
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| Indians Win |
The Indians won the pitching mismatch
Going to start with something obvious: This was a huge win for the Indians. Crazy, I know. This win was big because of the pitching matchup. They started Trevor Bauer, their nominal No. 4 starter, in Game 1 because injuries struck the rest of the rotation. The Red Sox started Cy Young candidate (favorite?) Rick Porcello . It was a pitching mismatch on paper, but the Indians came out ahead. That's huge. I don't want to say the Indians stole this game, but the odds were not in their favor. Huge W to start the series.
Francona is the anti-Showalter
Earlier this week the Baltimore Orioles were bounced from the postseason in the AL Wild Card Game, partly because closer Zach Britton never pitched in the game. Manager Buck Showalter saved him for the save situation that never came. Using Britton wouldn't have guaranteed the O's a win, but it sure would have improved their chances.
In Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday, Indians manager Terry Francona did the opposite for Showalter. He couldn't wait to use his best reliever. So, with his team nursing a one-run lead with two outs in the fifth, Francona brought in Andrew Miller to face the middle of the Red Sox lineup. Miller recorded the next six outs while the Tribe stretched their lead to two runs. He threw 40 pitches and struck out David Ortiz . Francona is the anti-Showalter.
The Indians homered three times in an inning
Cleveland took their first lead of the game in the third inning, and they did it thanks to three home runs. Roberto Perez , Jason Kipnis, and Francisco Lindor all took Porcello deep. Kipnis and Lindor hit back-to-back home runs.
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