His team’s got bite, but Francona loses tooth with chew

Six different bullpen arms contributed in a historic winning effort. The Nationals-whose closer Mark Melancon entered the game only after a parade of five relief pitchers coughed up four runs in the seventh inning-did not. The final scores so far have been 2-0, 2-1 and 4-2. And now, they are on the precipice of returning to the World Series for the first time since 1997.

The Blue Jays added on in the seventh against Bryan Shaw.

It turned out that the cut reopening wound up gashing the Blue Jays as the Indians’ bullpen ran a relay race to the finish.

Cleveland will have to find a way to get through eight-plus innings with its bullpen now.

“We’ve come together as a group, as one, starting from spring training”. October 20 is an off day in the ALCS, so if Francona does use Miller, Bryan Shaw and Allen without success October 19, they at least would have a day to recuperate. The cut was so gnarly, in fact, that the team’s manager, Terry Francona, had to push Bauer’s scheduled start back a day.

Miller, who struck out 10 in 3 2/3 innings through the first two games of the series, fanned three this time and earned the save. He has yet to allow a run in nine innings during these playoffs and 17.1 career postseason innings.

“I’ve gone through some pretty long slumps. When I was down there, they told me I was gonna be after Otero, so I could get my mind right and get ready and do what I needed to get done”. “I just didn’t locate on certain pitches and they capitalized on mistakes”. “That thing came off and I’m chewing and it felt crunchy”.

Napoli went deep again to open the fourth, hammering a Stroman fastball 411 feet into centre field for a 2-1 lead. The location mistake cost Toronto the game as Kipnis yanked the ball over the right center field wall just beyond the 375 foot sign. “I think I have a nervous habit of kind of picking at my face a little bit”. This team had the make-up to survive just about everything that could happen in a major league season and have certainly tested those limits. If they’re not going to throw me strikes, I’ve got to take my walks.

The Blue Jays will counter with Aaron Sanchez. Kluber would be the starter in Game 7 if it gets that far. There’s Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Saunders, and most of these guys have been stifled in the ALCS.

In addition to a lights-out bullpen and clutch hitting performances, the Tribe defense continued its consistent form and did not make an error.