ALDS Game 2 In-Game Blog

Here we go!

TOP 1st

One, two, three go the Yankees! Carmona is doing exactly what he wants to do. Unreal. Just...unreal.

BOTTOM 1st

Grady leads off with a single!! Hot damn, Grady! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Interesting that Grady got on board to lead off the game last night, too. Cabrera looking to bunt and move Grady over. I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here, but let's not forget that Toronto stole home on Petite earlier this year...

Wow. Cabrera grounds into a double play just like last night. That's just eerie.

Pronk behind 0-2 just like last night. Petite seems to be more in command than Wang was last night, though.

Fouls off his third pitch. Good pitch inside gets Hafner looking.

TOP 2nd

A-rod pops up on the first pitch. Good stuff from Carmona, although the airborn outs are a little disconcerting, as he's a groundball pitcher. Still, I think those are coming on his change-up and not his sinker, which is a good sign that he's mixing things up at will.

Matsui, whose name I have to assume I'm misspelling every time, comes to the plate and is down 1-2. The crazed Cleveland fans make some noise as Carmona JUST misses.

Fausto nibbles and gets the count to full. We could see that sinker here...but he walks Matsui. Time for the first double play of the night, I think.

Posada gets a first pitch ball, I think the first hitter to get a first pitch ball from Fausto so far today. Carmona gets the count even, 1-1.

Fouled off and now Carmona's ahead. Again, I think we'll see the sinker here, either for the K or for the double play ball. And Posada fights it off for another foul.

Wow, that was a close pitch. I'm kind of surprised Posada took that, but I think he was fooled. And a ball in the dirt gets the count to full. We need something here...

YES!! There it is!! Fausto gets the double play ball!!

BOTTOM 2nd

Victor leads off the inning and takes a ball. And a second. Let's get something started here, Victor...

Victor pops up to Posada in foul territory.

Garko gets a hitters count, but grounds out to Jeter. Great interview with Queen Lateefa (sp?) who mentioned respect with regards to LeBron last night. The national media has not been kind to him today, with good reason.

Peralta 1-1, trying to get something going.

Jhonny works it to 3-1 and Bob Brenley has just decided that the Indians are stealing signs even though we have no one on base. That's nice.

Jhonny with a walk! Lofton up to the plate and the crowd goes crazy. It really is great having this link to the 90's. It's just nice symmetry. It would be even nicer if we won the World Series.

Petite drops a great pitch in on Kenny, 0-1. Big swing makes it 0-2.

I've just learned that there are two t's in Pettitte both times. That looks really wrong. That can't be right, can it?

Lofton breaks his bat and sends it foul.

Jhonny steals! Wow. Runner in scoring position now for Kenny, 2-2 count and he fouls off another one.

GAH!! Kenny rips one to center and Jhonny is cut down by a mile heading home.

TOP 3rd

Cano starts off with two balls, which makes me nervous.

Cabrera with a great play at second! One down.

The other Cabrera starts off with a ball. I preferred it when everyone started down 0-2, not up 2-0.

Wicked pitch to make it 2-1. Another pitch that was probably great but shown from behind the hitter gets the count to even.

Bob Brenley, who earlier accused the Tribe of stealing signs, has now announced to the world what signs the Tribe is using.

1-0 Yankees on a Cabrera home run. The Yankees seem to be celebrating as if they just won the game.

Boy, I wonder if anything strange happened to Doug Minkwhatever yesterday. And flies out to center.

Fausto going right after Damon. He doesn't seem to be too rattled by the homer. A foul ball gets Carmona ahead.

Dribbler to Fausto and we're out of the inning. Time to get the offense going!

BOTTOM 3rd

Michaels up, making his post-season debut. Takes two pitches for balls.

Michaels sends it to right for a stand up double!! And we're in business!

Casey comes up looking to move Michaels over. Gets a first pitch strike. Second pitch, knocks it to the right side and moves Michaels to third!

Grady to the plate, which is probably not our first choice. Grady strikes out a lot. But not so far in the post-season, so let's hope this is the new Grady.

Damn, Grady hits to first and Michaels is stuck at third still, two down.

But now get AC to the plate and I like our chances here. Count's at 2-1 now. Let's go, Cabrera, let's get this run in...

And now we're full. Here we go...

AC goes down looking. Damn.

TOP 4th

Jeter leads off with a single. We need another double play ball...

...but we get a hard out and a great play by Garko at first!

Not liking this situation here, A-rod up with a runner in scoring position. There's a decent chance Fausto will pitch around him, get him to nibble. He's down 2-0, if it goes to 3-0 I think they'll just walk him in hopes of getting a double play ball.

But he fouls off the third pitch, so Carmona can stay on him.

Nice pitch gets the count even. I wonder what Fausto will do here...

How 'bout a strikeout??? Hell yeah!! Great pitch, Carmona!

Now, let's get out of this inning and get back up to bat. I think we can get something started at the bottom of this inning.

Man, he's behind on Matsui, but gets a called strike to go to 2-1. We need this out right here. It would be big to strand a Yankee...

Garko takes it himself and we're out of the inning!! Hot damn!

BOTTOM 4th

Pronk up to lead off the inning. Let's go, Travis, let's get it going...

And he does! Pronk singles to center! Okay, people, let's do this!

Victor up as we're split screened with Shelton. Maybe that's good luck as Victor gets ahead 2-0.

I'm a little worried here. Victor hits into a decent number of double plays. However, he just hit into the stands, 2-1.

It's a good sign that Garko is up this inning. He made a key play last inning, so karma is on his side.

Victor has it at 3-1 now. Let's go...Big rip by Victor and we're full. We need something here, we really do. We need to take advantage of our chances. Pettitte's only at fifty pitches, so we need to make him work.

Crazy ass play and Hafner's at second! Wow. If Pettitte hadn't hit that with his glove, that was two. But instead it's a crazy sac bunt deal without bunting. And now we need Garko to step it up.

Garko takes the first pitch for a strike. We need something here, we really do. I'm worried about the last two to three innings against the Yankees. We need to score before then.

Garko grounds out to Jeter again and Pronk is still stuck at second. This is getting frustrating.

Let's go, Jhonny. Let's go...

Down 1-2. Man, this is so frustrating. Jhonny pops it foul and he's still alive.

Full count now. Here we go...

Down swinging. DAMMIT.

TOP 5th

Fausto ahead 0-1 on Posada.

I'll be honest, this game is killing me. Sure, the top of the fifth last night took a year or two off my life, but this one is peeling away the years. Carmona is doing great, but we need to help him out a bit with our bats.

Full count now and Posada fouls off a sinker. Carmona's pitch count would suggest he can go through six. He walks Posada and it's time for a double play ball -- it's odd that he's only gotten one so far today.

I'm nervous. I don't like being behind at this point, let alone having the lead off guy aboard.

WOW. Fausto Carmona does it again -- double play ball and the bases are clear.

Now Cabrera comes up and I'd expect Fausto to go after him. Let's go, Carmona, let's get him...

And Cabrera gets Cabrera on a grounder and we're clear! *whew*

BOTTOM 5th

Hot damn! Kenny drives the first pitch he sees into right for a single and we have ANOTHER lead off runner!

Even better, Michaels up to bat, and he's got great numbers against Pettitte. He's also a former NL guy, which means he can bunt.

God bless America, this is intense.

NICE BUNT BY MICHAELS!! That's what I like to see!

Okay, Casey, let's go. It's all about momentum, buddy. And he takes a strike because that's what Casey does.

Dammit, Casey down 0-2 just like that. Gwynn actually made a good point -- maybe they should send Kenny?

Meeting at the mound and I might have to pour myself a drink. My liver is not happy about the Indians making the post-season.

Lofton is just messing with Pettitte's head here. Let's hope that works in Casey's favor.

Dammit. Casey flies out to right and it's up to Grady. Fuck me, man. This is so damn frustrating.

Grady has started every at bat from behind. Killing me.

Well, FUCK. Kenny picked off at third. Inning over. DAMMIT!!

TOP 6th

I don't even know what to say anymore. Carmona 1-1 on Doug I-Tripped-Over-A-Camera-Guy.

I've poured myself a drink.

Garko gets more action, one out.

According to the TBS guys, A-rod said to Lofton "I can't believe you fell for that, we got you."

It's hard to believe more people don't like A-rod.

Damon grounds back to Carmona. Two down.

NICE PLAY BY JHONNY!! Three up, three down, and Carmona gets through six with only 75 pitches thrown.

BOTTOM 6th

Grady gets another shot.

Sidenote: They can't change the name of Jacobs Field. I love hearing the national media call it the Jake.

Grady takes a first pitch ball! Nice. Maybe Grady can make something of this second chance.

GRADY GOES THREE!!!

That is what Sizemore means to this team! HOT DAMN!!

Oh, fucknuts. Cabrera taps it back to Pettitte. You know, he was going to show his age at some point.

We still get a few more chances. Let's go, Pronk. Let's make our mark.

Pronk down 0-1 right off the bat. We've got two chances here with Victor on deck.

We are REALLY pressing. Pronk swings at a ball and he's down 0-2. We need to relax (because I clearly cannot).

And Pronk goes down swinging. Man alive, this will be devastating if we don't score.

Victor...he's exactly who I'd want up there right now. He is who I want up there.

Jesus, we're down 0-2. We're going to see Chamberlain soon, too. Man.

Fuck.

Just...fuck.

TOP 7th

Abreu to lead off the inning with a broken bat before he even faces a pitch.

That's pretty freaking hilarious, actually.

And Cabrera makes an error. I think that last AB is in his head. Someone needs to settle him after the inning, assuming we get out of this.

Freaking A-rod. This would kill me. Fausto gets ahead, 0-1.

Carmona ahead 0-2. Let's get this. I'd prefer a double play ball, but I'll take a single out.

STRIKEOUT! Hot damn, good stuff, Fausto.

I can NOT believe how great Fausto has been and the fact that he's in line for a loss right now. It is going to be completely demoralizing to waste a start like this.

Okay, a doubleplay ball would be great here. Fausto behind 2-0.

Garko makes a great play and gets the lead off runner, but no doubleplay. Still, good stuff.

Posada up to bat. Let's get this.

SIZEMORE!!! What a freaking catch!! God bless America, son! That was huge!

BOTTOM 7th

I can't believe it's just the bottom of the 7th. Thank god, though. We need all the chances we can get.

Carmona's only thrown 85 pitches. I imagine he'll be back for the 8th. Who will we see in the 7th from the Yankees?

It's still Pettitte.

Garko up, takes a first pitch strike.

He takes a second pitch strike.

Credit where credit is due. Pettitte has been amazing.

Gimpy McAnkle catches the foul ball, one down.

C'mon, Jhonny, we just need contact, not homers. Okay, we need homers, but let's just focus on contact.

It's 2-1 on Jhonny. He fouls one off to go even.

Wow. Jhonny hits a LONG double! SO close to tying this game!

And, of course, Kenny Lofton is coming to the plate. Dare to dream?

Takes a ball. This is all very familiar...

Walk to Lofton and we see Chamberlain for the first time.

The question is, who will face him first? Michaels? Gut?

It's Gut. He's down 0-1. Let's go, Franklin...

Gut down swinging, Casey flies out to right.

Son of a bitch.

TOP 8th

One pitch, one out for Fausto. I was worried there, that Wedge would pull a Wedge and go to the bullpen.

And now freaking Cabrera is up.

And back to Cabrera again, two down.

Great, the field has been attacked by bugs now. That's lovely.

God, I can't believe we're on the verge of losing perhaps his ONLY start of this series.

1-2 count and the crowd is on its feet! But we go to 2-2.

Man, those bugs look annoying as hell. Now we're at a full count and the announcer just made a horrible pun.

Swing at the bugs! Swing at the bugs!

Another bad pun and a ground out to Cabrera and we're headed to the first three of our last six outs.

BOTTOM 8th

Here we go.

Let's hope those bugs are on our side.

A ball! Is that the first ball he's thrown?

Let's go, Grady. Two balls! Is it...the bugs?

Wow, Grady's at 3-0. This should be interesting...

Walk!

God bless you, bugs.

Wild pitch gets Grady to second! Bunt will move him to third!!

Wow. I can't even believe this.

YES!! AC bunts and Grady is on third!!

Good god, we HAVE to win. We've never bunted this much EVER.

And now...PRONK. It's time. It's time.

Unbelievable. He could not have hit that any better to get out. There is absolutely nowhere else he could have hit that. Jesus.

And Victor with another chance. What freaking luck we've had. We need some karma...

Oh my god. OH MY GOD!!

Grady...TIE GAME. Unreal.

And Garko up with a chance to do some damage.

Garko has a 2-1 count. The bugs are flying. Chamerlain's all over. Give us a meatball...

3-1. C'mon...

Full count. Here we go...here we go...

Walk.

Jhonny up and takes strike one. Of everyone who's been up, he looks the most unfazed by these bugs...

Jhonny fouls it off, 1-2 count. We still haven't had a hit with RISP (aisde from Lofton's).

Jhonny down looking. And we go to the ninth.

TOP 9th

Carmona still in, thankfully. He should be allowed to keep going, as he's only at 95 pitches.

Fausto seemed like he did a good job despite the bugs at the end of the 8th. Hopefully he can keep that up.

Damon grounds to Cabrera and there's one down.

Carmona up 0-2 with pitch number 100.

Jeter fouls off a meatball, it looked like. Carmona's getting anxious, I think. Like I said, this could be his only appearance in this series -- and he gets Jeter swinging!! Two down!!

Dammit, Abreu aboard on an infield hit and freaking A-rod steps up.

I hate moments like this. It seems poetic for A-rod and I don't like that one bit.

I've poured myself another drink.

Let's go Fausto. You've earned this.

Ahead 0-1 on a foul.

"Let's go Fausto! Let's go Fausto!"

Ahead 1-2 now. God, this is killing me. Why must I be such a fan? I'm dropping years on my life left and right.

Dammit, Abreu steals. We need to get A-rod out here. We need to just get him. Count at 2-2 now.

Fouls it off, breaks his bat, still 2-2.

They're showing highlights of A-rod beating us in the ninth early in the season. We need this. It's payback time. We need this. C'mon...

Inside, count is full. I don't know if I can watch.

Where's the remote? Where's the Gameday feed? I can't watch this...it's too much for me and I'm not a strong man!

That four foul balls in this at bat. Good god, this is killing me.

STRIKEOUT!!!!

GOOD GOD.

BOTTOM 9th

And here we go. HERE WE GO.

Lofton to lead off and ready to make amends for getting picked off.

Kenny Lofton is hitting .863 in the post-season. Or at least he was, until he just flied out to center. Time for another one of our rookies to step up...

Gut down 0-1. He's 1 for 1 lifetime against Rivera! Good stuff.

Inside for a ball, 1-1.

Vicious swing, vicious pitch and it's 1-2.

And he goes down and we're down to Casey Blake who...well, he's freaking due is what he is!

I would imagine Perez will pitch the 10th, with a lefty coming up. But let's hope it doesn't get to that point...

Casey takes ball one.

Casey pops out to center and we go to extras.

Time for another drink!

TOP 10th

Pitching isn't the issue tonight, so much as gnat ignoring.

Perez in like I figured, 1-0 on Matsui, who worries me. Then again, I suppose they all worry me at this point.

Perez turns it around, 1-2. Crowd on their feet!

Pop up on the infield, Casey makes the catch. One down.

Posada up and I'm nervous again. On paper, we should be in good shape here, and that always worries me when we look better than the other guys on paper. It's like the kiss of death.

And Perez is up 0-2. A quick inning would be great here and I can't believe I'm even saying such things.

Gut at the warning track, hauls it in, and there's two down.

Cano up now and he pops up to Jhonny and it's three up, three down!!

BOTTOM 10th

Top of the order...here we go...Let's do this!!

Grady behind 0-2 on a strike and a foul. I have a good feeling about this inning. Don't ask me why. It might be the whiskey talking.

Hey, a Major League joke. Go figure.

Grady is fighting. That's a good sign. He's making Rivera work. Even if nothing comes from it, he's setting him up for AC. Good stuff, Grady.

And another foul! That's seven pitches so far.

Nine pitches so far! Grady is doing good work here for AC at least.

Sizemore strikes out but gets on!!

Grady EARNED that base. I don't care if Posada made a bad throw or not, Grady WORKED for that.

AC with a GREAT bunt! Grady at second and Pronk up now!!!

He's due...he's due...he's due...

Pronk down 0-2. He's going to beat the shift. He's going to hit it down the third baseline. I can feel it...

He's worked it back to 2-2. Good god.

Weak grounder to second, but Grady moves 90 feet closer. Now any kind of a single would do it.

And the lead of this team steps up to the plate...

And they walk him which leaves it all up to Garko. It's all up to the rookie. Let's go.

"Let's go Garko! Let's go Garko!"

Please, let's go! PLEASE!

Wow. Garko gets hit, which even I would have to question.

He DID NOT lean in. In fact, Garko pulled back AFTER it hit him. Strange.

And now it's Jhonny, hoping to make up for that single in the top of the inning.

Let's go, JP. It's time to shine.

Jhonny down 1-2 and he strikes out a lot. Dammit. C'mon. I am ready to POP!

And what did I say? He strikes out swining. FUCK!!!!!!

TOP 11th

Perez gets the first out to Gut.

Substitution, Duncan in for Mc-Kay-Vich. Perez up 0-2.

The count goes to 2-2 on a pitch just high.

PERALTA! Makes a NICE throw from the hole to get Duncan, two down!

Damon up, Perez gets ahead 0-1 on a foul. I don't like the look of Damon here.

We're at the four hour mark of this game.

Let's get him, Perez. Let's get him and get into that bullpen.

At 1-2 now and the crowd is up!

STRIKEOUT!!! Hell yeah!

BOTTOM 11th

I keep preaching symmetry. Lofton leads off the inning yet again!

This is what I'm talking about! New pitcher! And Lofton has a 3-0 count. I think he'll take...and he does! WALK!!

Gut up now, probably to bunt. He's gotten five down this year. Fingers crossed.

Gut fouls the first one. One more shot or we send Lofton, I think.

Vizcaino (sp?) is trying to hold Lofton.

Gut is 0-2 and can't bunt, I don't think. He's got to be shitting bricks, honestly. Hell, let him swing away. He's due.

Clearly, they think Lofton's going to go.

Gut 1-2 in a really long AB. Lofton is in his element.

SINGLE!!

Casey with the bunt!! Runners on second and third with one out! GRADY TO THE PLATE!!

And they're going to WALK Grady!!

AC in a position to make up for that dribbler to the mound earlier...

Down 0-2...Oh, god, I can't take much more of this.

DAMMIT

Down to Pronk now.

DAMMIT!!!!!!

Pronk at 3-2. Oh, my god.

GAME WINNER!!!!

I can't...I can't even process what I just watched for four and a half hours...