ALDS Game 3 In Game Blog

Stat of the game to start:

The Indians also made a lineup change, putting Trot Nixon in right field. Nixon's combined numbers in the regular season and playoffs against New York starter Roger Clemens were striking: 15-for-39 (.385) with four homers, five doubles, eight walks and 12 RBIs.

TOP 1st

Grady leads off and he's even at 1-1. Clemens seems to be dealing quickly.

Sizemore with a dribbler to second, one down.

AC up and gets behind 0-1. And Cabrera safe on an error by Jeter!

But AC hurt after hitting Juicer Giambi.

Ruled an infield hit!? That's a crock, but whatever.

I'm so tired of the stats they give on the Yankees in post-season play. They've been to the post-season so many times, that you can find a case when they were 0-1, 0-2, 1-1, whatever and won the series. It doesn't mean anything other than that they've been to the post-season a lot.

Pronk up, takes the first pitch for a ball. And another. I'm kind of surprised at how Clemens is pitching Pronk.

Hafner now ahead 3-0. Taking all the way for the first strike.

Big swinging strike and the count is full. Pronk fouls off the next pitch still full.

Ball four!! Pronk on with a walk, two on!

Victor up to bat. He takes the first pitch high for a ball. Let's go, Victor. Let's make an early statement. We need to get to that bullpen.

Ball two low. Strike one down the center. We're looking relaxed up there, which is good. Hopefully Victor can get ahold of one.

Fouls off the next pitch, 2-2. Pitch away and another full count. Good stuff, guys. You like to see us working the count. You'd also like to see us get a hit here.

Victor flies out to left. Two down.

Let's go, Garko. Takes first pitch for a strike. Man, I'm nervous. I'm probably more nervous than the first two games.

Ball in the dirt, 1-1.

GARKO!! Single up the middle drives in AC!!

Hell yes. HELL YES.

Jhonny up. Let's get this going. Let's keep the presure on.

First pitch ball. Jhonny swinging for a 1-1 count. A big hit from Jhonny would mean a lot here.

Ball low and JP's got a 2-1 count. Let's go. Let's go, Jhonny. Fouls away a good pitch and we're even, 2-2.

Grounder to short and Jeter doesn't have to make a throw to get an out, three down.

BOTTOM 1st

Okay, Jake. Here we go. We all know this could go one of two ways. Good god, I'm nervous.

Damon up, Jake even at 1-1. Jake looks pumped up. Foul ball and he's ahead, 1-2.

Single through the hole. Double play ball in order!

Man, I don't know if I can handle this. I don't know if I can watch. God, I hate the Yankees. I hate their fans, too, for that matter.

Jeter bunts, but it rolls just foul. Not for nothing, but it seems like a sign of desperation when a line-up like the Yankees tries to bunt to get on base.

JHONNY!! Peralta takes the double play ball like he does it in his sleep!

Okay, let's get Abreu now, Jake. Let's get through this inning quick. That would be nice.

Close third pitch and it's a 2-1 count. Fucknuts, now it's 3-1.

Grounder to Garko, over to Jake and we're out of the inning!

TOP 2nd

Kenny Lofton leads off the second as we listen to the ground rules at Yankee Stadium. Kenny tries to lay down a lead off bunt, but it goes foul.

I would love to see us keep up the attack. Clemens has already thrown 30 pitches.

Kenny takes another ball and strike and it's 2-2.

Ball outside and we're full.

Kenny pops out to Jeter, one down.

This is what we paid Trot Nixon for and he's getting the appropriate boo's as he comes to the plate.

Takes ball one. Let's go, Trot. Takes ball two. Good stuff. I'm actually really glad we've got Trot in there. I feel good about this.

OH MY GOD. I should feel good about more things!! NIXON GOES DEEP!

Oh my god. That's just awesome and hilarious.

Casey down 1-2. Let's keep it on, Casey. Let's go.

Grounder to second, two down. Good hustle by Casey down the line, though. I know that's an odd comment to make, but it's something I noticed.

Grady to the plate. Let's go, Grady. Let's keep this alive. The only downside of that homer is that it came on the second pitch. We need to make Clemens work some more.

And Grady singles into right!! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, Grady!

AC up to the plate now. Does Grady go? He's got a good lead going.

Grady steals second!! Runner in scoring position! Nice dodge by Grady.

AC down 1-2. Let's go, Cabrera. Let's get another one in this inning. You're due for a big hit, I think.

Takes low, 2-2. I'm trying to manufacture my good feeling again. Good patience by AC. Let's go.

Flies out to the other Cabrera, three down.

BOTTOM 2nd

A-rod up, starts off with a foul, now Jake's behind 2-1. Easy, Jake. Nice and easy.

And he's behind 3-1. Not a good sign. We can't let them back into this game.

Jake goes right at him! Fouls it off and we're even, 2-2.

A-rod singles to the left side. The crowd is back into it.

Double play ball in order.

Big at bat here. Jake gets hosed on the first pitch and he's behind 1-0. It's amazing that my two least favorite Yankees bat next to each other in the order.

DOUBLE PLAY!! God bless you, Jake Westbrook! That is what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Jake's behind on Juicer, 1-0. Let's go, Jake.

Shift played perfectly and we're out of the inning!!

TOP 3rd

Man, we need to keep it going. We need to keep up the attack. Clemens is pushing 50 pitches already!

Pronk up, takes a first pitch strike. He's hitting .300 in the post season. That's a great sign for us. Fouls off the second pitch and he's behind 0-2. Let's go, Travis.

Torre comes to the mound to...check on Clemens? Not sure what that was about, but he's back to throwing.

Ball outside and it's 1-2. Ball away and it's 2-2. Good AB, Pronk. Let's go. Let's get the payoff.

Nice! Pronk gets it back to full! Let's get what you've worked for, Pronk. It's all yours.

WALK!! That was a GREAT AB. That is exactly what we need to keep doing.

Victor is due! I can feel it. Victor is due. And please no double play ball. I had to say it. Let's go, Victor.

Fouled off the first pitch and Victor is down 0-1. For as much composure as the Tribe is showing, I don't think any of them are sitting down. I think they're all on the steps.

Called second strike. Good pitch, actually. Let's work it back, Victor. Let's work it back and make it happen.

Ball in the dirt for ball one. Good stuff. Make him work. Let's get it. You're due, Victor! And outside for 2-2.

Outside for ball three and we're full! Torre sends Posada out to talk to Clemens aka stall for Hughes. The rookie pitched well against us in Game 1, but gave up a homer to Garko, so he could be a mixed bag.

Let's make him work here, Victor.

Dammit. Victor goes down swinging. That was the pitch to hit, too. I think Clemens got lucky on that one.

Torre comes out again.

Well, as my friend Matt just said, you have to wonder if this pitching change will lead to a line-up change for the Indians. Don't get me wrong, Trot, you're forever in my heart for that homer, but we might be better off going with someone else.

Wow, I just realized Hughes' first hitter is Garko! God, Garko, it would be great for you to pick up where you left off against this guy.

Garko down 0-1 to start. Wild pitch sends Pronk to second!! Count 1-1 now.

Garko grounds out to short stop, two down, Pronk still on second.

Let's go, Jhonny. I think you're due for a big hit. You were robbed of being the hero Friday night. I think you've got karma on your side.

Swing and a miss for a 0-1 count.

JHONNY DOUBLES INTO RIGHT!! Pronk comes home to score!!

And another runner in scoring position with two outs! And Lofton up to the plate!

Let's go, Kenny. Let's get to this kid. Nice, starts off 2-0.

Lofton fouls one off and we're 2-1. Let's keep it going, Kenny. Big swing and we're even, 2-2.

Low for a ball and we're full. Let's go. Let's go. Kenny fouls off another.

Man, another good AB for the Tribe. This is great to see.

C'mon, Kenny. Let's go.

Flies out to left, three down.

BOTTOM 3rd

Okay, Jake, let's keep the momentum up. He's got the bottom of the order here. This line-up makes me so nervous.

Jake gets a called strike and it's 2-1. I worry about Jake starting from behind so much. Foul makes it 2-2.

Ball outside and it's full.

Bloop grounder and Matsui singles.

Double play ball in order.

Jake facing Cano now and starts behind 1-0. Jake is scaring me with this. Again, he's 2-0. He's given up three lead off hits and has started 2-0 on the first two batters this inning. That's worrying.

Jake throws it in there for a strike and it's 2-1. Let's go, Jake. I know you have it in you. Ball outside and it's 3-1. Jake's going to give me an ulcer here. I'd love a double play ball, but I'll settle for an out. Let's just get the first one down.

Foul ball and it's full. Let's go, Jake. Let's get him here.

Okay, grounder to Garko and we get an out. They move the runner, but we still get an out. I'll take it. He's going to have to do more work this inning than he has so far, though. That makes me anxious.

This is killing me. Jake starts off behind again, but a foul ball makes it even, 1-1.

Dammit. This is a double edged sword. The double play is there to save us, but now they have two aboard. GAH!!

We can't lose the momentum. We cannot let this crowd or this team back into it. C'mon, Jake, just pitch your game. Don't let them pull you out of it.

We have to keep Cabrera close to first so we can get the double play ball. This is one of those times when it would be nice if Jake were a strikeout pitcher. But he's not, so we need the double play ball. We really need it.

Fouled off and we're 1-1.

Jake behind 3-1 now and if I'm not updating as much it's because I'm terrified.

DAMMIT. Damon singles and the Yankees score.

Jake has to get out of this with only one run given up. He HAS to.

BOOYAH!! Jake gets out of it with ANOTHER double play ball!

We gave up a run, but I'll take it.

TOP 4th

Trot still in there with a 2-1 count, fouls it off for 2-2.

Trot works a full count. Another good AB for the Tribe. Let's go, Trot. Make the most of this chance.

A dribbler foul and Trot's still alive.

Trot goes down swinging.

Casey up and it's 1-1. Casey's due here. He fouls off another and it's 1-2. Let's go, Casey. We need to keep them out of the dug out.

High fly to center and there's two down. But we're back to the top of the order.

Grady with a big swing and he's behind 0-1.

Pitch outside and we're back to even. Let's go, Grady. A hit here would be big.

Big curve and Grady's down 1-2.

This crowd is back into it. I'm not a fan of that.

Grady looks at a ball and we're back to even, 2-2. Let's go, Grady. Keep it going.

Fights off a pitch, sends it foul, stays alive. I wonder how many balls we've fouled off as a team so far today? It's a great thing to see. A hit would be even better.

Grady fouls off another one. Let's go, Grady. Let's go!

Ball down low and it's full! You have to love our line-up doing this today. They are really grinding these pitchers.

And ANOTHER foul! Grady has earned a base or two with this one. He's worked for it.

Called strike three. That was debatable. Three down and we go to the bottom of the 4th.

BOTTOM 4th

Jake trying to get ahead this inning, starts off with a ball, but comes back with two strikes. Good sign.

Weakly hit to Westbrook who makes the play, one down.

A-rod hits the first pitch he sees high into left and Kenny catches it, two down.

Split screen between the game and the Yankees hitting coach as Jake goes 2-0 on Posada. Jake is killing me with this. He's absolutely killing me with this.

Posada fouls off and we're 2-1. And now it's 3-1. Posada fouls another one off and it's full. Let's go, Jake.

Yes! Groundball to second! Three down and we're out of the inning!!

TOP 5th

AC up, takes a strike and a ball.

Damn, Cabrera got a hanging breaking ball, but didn't get enough of it. He flies out to right, one down.

Pronk up. I would love to see Pronk go deep here. He looks ready for it. Takes a first pitch strike.

And we're even at 1-1. Pronk with a blazing shot that almost took Cano's arm off! We've got a guy on base and Victor coming up.

Let's go Victor. He's definitely due and he draws a first pitch ball.

Damn. Victor pops up to center, two down.

Okay, fine, Garko is due! I will say that before every hitter since it seemed to work for Jhonny.

Good lord, Garko is hitting .444 in the post-season. And he takes a strike, which is what he's done pretty much every time up.

Gark fouls off the second pitch and he's down 0-2. Let's go, Garko. Let's make him work. Let's keep it going.

Fouls another off to stay alive. That's what I like to see.

Garko strikes out looking and we go to the bottom of the 5th.

BOTTOM 5th

I think this is a big inning for Jake. It was the bottom of the order that gave him problems before. He needs to stay ahead of these hitters.

Juicer leads off the inning with the Tribe working the shift and Jake throws a first pitch strike! Nice.

Jake throws inside for a ball, but then gets a low strike, which might have been a make up for that last pitch. And Juicer goes down swinging!! Jake gets his first K!

Split screen with Carl Willis, or at least coming up in a minute as he's full screen now.

Willis clearly not the charm that John Adams was and Matsui singles into left. Matsui is a thorn in Jake's side today.

Double play ball in order.

DAMMIT. Cano doubles into left and there are runners on second and third with only one out. I said it before, the bottom of the order is killing Jake. I don't know why.

I can't look again. I don't see how we get out of this without giving up at least one run. Where's my Jack Daniels?

Do you walk Cabrera to set up the double play ball? Can you take that risk for the top of the order? I don't think we can. Fuck.

DAMMIT. Cabrera singles and they score again. What is the deal with the bottom of the order? Why can't he get them out?

He's got to get a double play ball here. He really does.

And that would be the opposite of a double play ball.

FUCK.

And now we're down.

I've said it all damn game, he's been behind on every single batter. You can't do that with the Yankees. You just can't.

TOP 6th

As much as I value the double play ball, it's always driven me nuts that he pitches from behind. Pitch strikes!

Okay, can't dwell. We need Jhonny to get us going, get us back into it. I suppose it's only two runs.

Jhonny starts us off with a single!!

Kenny comes up. Let's keep it going, Lofton. Let's go.

Hey, bug joke! How clever.

Lofton takes a ball low. Let's go, Kenny. Let's get it going.

Kenny down 1-2 now after two foul balls. We need baserunners, Kenny. Let's go.

Lofton down on strikes.

Nixon still in and comes up. Takes a strike, then a ball, 1-1.

Hughes gets the low strike called and it's 2-2. I'd argue that call, but Westbrook has been getting it, too.

Full count on Nixon now. Let's go, Trot. Let's keep it alive. Let's keep it going.

Trot fights it off, stays alive. And another one. At least we're sticking with our game plan. We don't seem to be pressing too much yet. Let's go, Trot.

It's up to Casey now to keep it going. Streaky, streaky Casey has to keep us moving.

And he flies out to right.

BOTTOM 6th

A-rod leads off the inning with a single. Jhonny wasn't going to get him regardless of the throw.

Of course, the first guy Jake has actually been ahead of gets a hit.

Fultz is in and who the hell knows what we're going to get from him.

Oh, he gives up a single and there are now two on and no out.

This doesn't look good. I'm sorry to say it, but it really doesn't look good.

And I was right.