#27 1919 World Champion Cincinnati Reds v. #38 2017 AL Central Champion Cleveland Indians
Battle of Ohio; both of these franchises have a representative who has already advanced and both have one more shot after this. One of them will have at least two advancing.
Reds 96-44 Mgr. Pat Moran
Won NL Pennant
d. White Sox in WS
d. #102 1945 Cubs (MVP Larry Kopf)
Hall of Famers: Edd Roush
Indians 102-60 Mgr. Terry Francona (2nd AL MoY)
1st in AL Central
lost ALDS to Yankees
d. #91 1957 Yankees (MVP Carlos Santana)
All-Stars: OF Michael Brantley, SP Corey Kluber (AL Cy Young) SS Francisco Lindor (5th NL MVP) RP Andrew Miller, 3B Jose Ramirez (3rd NL MVP)
Indians-Terry Francona
CF Jackson (30) 126 2
3B Ramirez (24) (SH) 145 6.4
SS Lindor (23) (SH) 116 5.6
1B Santana (31) (SH) 112 3.1
RF Chisenhall (28) (LH) 126 1.4
LF Brantley (30) (LH) 108 2.2
C Gomes (29) 83 2.1
2B Gonzalez (25) 77
P Kluber (31) 202 8.2
Bench
DH Encarnacion (34) 128 3.3
C Perez (28) 72
2B Kipnis (30) (LH) 81
3B Diaz (25) 80
3B Urshela (25) 44
RF Bruce (30) (LH) 108
RF Almonte (28) (SH) 78
CF Zimmer (24) (LH) 80 1.5
OF Guyer (31) 72
SP2 Carrasco (30) 139 6.1
SP3 Clevinger (26) 147 3.2
Plan is a platoon at second and to go with the hot hand behind the plate. We might see a platoon in both center and right.
Reds-Pat Moran
CF Roush (26) (LH) 146 4.9
3B Groh (29) 149 5.5
C Wingo (28) (LH) 114 2.5
1B Daubert (35) (LH) 104 1.7
2B Rath (31) (LH) 95 4.3
SS Kopf (28) (SH) 94 1.9
RF Neale (27) (LH) 92 1
LF Duncan (25) 116 .4
P Ruether (25) (LH) 154 3.9
Bench
C Rariden (31) 70
DH Bressler (24) 88
DH Cueto (27) 87 .3
DH Magee (34) 83
SP2 Sallee (34) (LH) 136 3.8
SP3 Eller (24) 117
All the Indians starters are RH, so no Reds platooning; 3 possible DHs sitting on the Reds bench.
WAR:
C Reds
1B Indians
2B Reds
SS Indians
3B Indians
LF Indians
CF Reds
RF Indians
DH Indians
SP1 Indians
SP2 Indians
SP3 Indians
Bullpen Indians
WAR: Indians 10 Reds 3, Reds have the seed advantage but Indians have an overwhelming WAR advantage, Indians have best position player and a substantial pitching advantage at every level. Indians are favored. Winner goes on to meet the '16 Cubs - who, of course, beat the '16 Indians in the World Series.
GAME ONE
1st: Redland Field. Cincinnati, Ohio. Cross-state rivals meet for the 22nd spot in the round of 32. 25 year old lefty Dutch Ruether on the mound for the Reds. 19-6, 1.82. Ruether broke in with the Cubs in '17, released mid season and picked up by the Reds. This is easily his career year, he'll be traded to Brooklyn in '21 for Rube Marquard and finish his career with the '27 Yankees. 1-2-3.
1st: 31 year old RH Corey Kluber counters for the Tribe; 18-4, 2.25. He broke in back in '11, won the Cy Young in '14, 9th in '15, 3rd in '16 and won it again this year. He'll finish 3rd next year and then fall off the table, he's a Ranger in 2020. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Larry Kopf singles with one out, the game's first hit. Kopf was the MVP in round one for these Reds; he broke in with the Indians back in '13, the Reds bought him from the A's in '16, he spends four seasons as their starting shortstop and then he (and the aforementioned Marquard) head to the Braves where he finishes in '23. That's it.
3rd: Yan Gomes walks, Cleveland's first baserunner, Gomes is '29, broke in 5 years prior with the Jays, Cleveland gets him the next season; he splits time behind the plate through next year (he's an All Star next year) and then is sent to the Nats in '19 where he remains in '20. Two outs later Austin Jackson singles - that's it.
3rd: Edd Roush doubles. The only Hall of Famer in this series (as of today) broke in in '13 at the age of 20, the Reds get him from the Giants in '16 along with the end of Christy Mathewson's career. He leads the league in batting average in '17, in OPS+ last year, in batting average this year, in doubles in '23, finishes 10th in the MVP in '24 and '25, heads back to the Giants in '27 for High Pockets Kelly and finishes back with the Reds in '31. That's it.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: After two out, Kopf singles again. That's it.
5th: 1-2-3, just one hit allowed by Ruether.
5th: Pat Duncan walks. Duncan played in just 31 games this season but his bat gets him in the lineup for the series. He broke in with the Pirates back in '15, this is his first year with the Reds, he'll be in Cincinnati the rest of his career, through '24. That's all.
6th: Jose Ramirez draws a 2 out walk. He was 20 back in '13 when he broke in, he finished 3rd in the MVP this year and will do so again next year, he remains an Indian in '20. Nothing else.
6th: 1-2-3, Ruether and Kluber locked in battle here in game 1.
7th: 1-2-3, still just one hit for the Indians.
7th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Kluber, he's allowed just 3 hits himself and this battle continues.
8th: 1-2-3, Ruether dominating.
8th: Ruether - hitting for himself - singles. An out later Heinie Groh singles. Groh was 22 back in '12 when he broke in with the Giants, he, Red Ames, Josh Devore were dealt to the Reds the next season. He led the league in walks in '16, in OBP in '17 and '18, in OPS this year. He goes back to the Giants for George Burns in '22 and finishes with the Bucs in '27. Kluber keeps them off the board. We head to the 9th, still scoreless in game one.
9th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Ruether, throwing a 1 hitter through 9.
9th: The Indians have a massive bullpen advantage and they turn to it now, 32 year old lefty Andrew Miller comes on with his 1.44 ERA. He gives up a 2 out single to Greasy Neale, that'a all. We head to extras.
10th: Ruether gets the first two - then walks Michael Brantley - Gomes then singles for the first Indians hit since the third inning. Erik Gonzalez had just 110 at bats his year, but got the start today at second base against the lefty Ruether -- and he makes himself a hero with a run scoring single. That's all - but maybe that's enough. Indians 1 Reds 0
10th: 28 year old RH Cody Allen comes on to close. 30 saves, 2.94.
Pat Duncan is first and he singles. The Reds have the winning run coming to the plate.
Ruether hit .261, his bat is as good as any the Reds could bring up - so he hits for himself, he pops up on the infield - Gomes takes it. One away.
Roush to the plate -- Allen strikes him out on a 3-2 pitch - Duncan running on the pitch - and Gomes shoots him down at second for a stikeout/throw out to end game one.
Indians 1
Reds 0
WP Miller
LP Ruether
Cleveland got 3 hits in game one - but they win it in 10 innings. Kluber strikes out 8, walks just one, gives up 5 hits in 8 innings.
For the Indians...
Gomes reached twice and threw out Duncan to end the game
For the Reds...
Kopf reached twice.
Duncan reached twice
One more in Cincinati - can the Reds even this up?
CF Jackson (30) 126 2
3B Ramirez (24) (SH) 145 6.4
SS Lindor (23) (SH) 116 5.6
1B Santana (31) (SH) 112 3.1
RF Chisenhall (28) 126 1.4
LF Brantley (30) (LH) 108 2.2
C Gomes (29) 83 2.1
2B Gonzalez (25) 77
SP2 Carrasco (30) 139 6.1
CF Roush (26) (LH) 146 4.9
3B Groh (29) 149 5.5
C Wingo (28) (LH) 114 2.5
1B Daubert (35) (LH) 104 1.7
2B Rath (31) (LH) 95 4.3
SS Kopf (28) (SH) 94 1.9
RF Neale (27) (LH) 92 1
LF Duncan (25) 116 .4
SP2 Sallee (34) (LH) 136 3.8
GAME TWO
1st: The Reds look to 34 year old left Slim Sallee to salvage a split; 21-7, 2.06, Sallee broke in back in '08 with the Cards, this is his first season in Cincinnati, he had been released by the Giants and he wins 20 games for the only time in his career. He's released before the end of next season and winds up back with the Giants. Francisco Lindor singles with two out and that's it.
1st: 30 year old RH Carlos Carrasco looks to give the Tribe the 2-0 lead. 18-6, 3.29. Up in '09, Carrasco finished 4th in the Cy Young this year. Through '20, he's still in Cleveland. Edd Roush greets him with a base hit. Henie Groh follows with a hit; but Carrasco stops it there.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Larry Kopf singles and two outs later he crosses the plate on a Sallee base hit - the Reds score their first run of the series. Indians 0 Reds 1
3rd: Erik Gonzales won game one and singles here; he's left at third.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Carlos Santana, MVP from round one, hits a one out single. Santana's 31, came up in '10, led the league in walks in '14, he spends next year in Philadelphia and winds up back in Cleveland in '19. Michael Brantley singles an out later, but that's it.
4th: Greasy Neale doubles with 2 out, he was 24 when he broke in back in '16, he and Jimmy Ring go to the Phillies for Eppa Rixey in '21 and he finishes back here in '24. The Indians decide to walk Pat Duncan to get to Sallee - and Sallee beats them again; his second RBI of the day. Indians 0 Reds 2
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Sallee plus the only two RBI of the game.
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Carrasco, it's still just 2-0.
7th: Lonnie Chisenhall singles. Chisenhall spends his entire 8 year career in Cleveland as a part timer, breaking in in '11 and stopping in '18. Yan Gomes walks an out later, Cleveland goes to the bench after the second out for Edwin Encarnacion - he reaches via error to score Cleveland's first run and Austin Jackson follows with a single to tie it up. Indians 2 Reds 2
7th: Andrew Miller takes over for Cleveland, after an out, Manuel Cueto pinch singles, and that's all.
8th: 28 year old Dolf Luque is the new Reds pitcher, he's a RH with 10 wins and a 2.63 ERA, 1-2-3
8th: Morrie Rath draws a two out walk and Kopf follows with a single. Back to the pen, Bryan Shaw comes on, he's a 29 year old RH with a 3.52 ERA - 2 on, 2 out, tie score in the bottom of the 8th. And Greasey Neale triples everyone home -- one run, two runs -- big, big spot in this series, Neale makes it 4-2. Duncan walks - that's it. Indians 2 Reds 4
9th: 1-2-3.
Indians 2
Reds 4
WP Luque
LP Miller
Just 6 hits given up by the Reds who even up the series. Sallee added two hits, 2 RBI.
For the Reds...
Kopf has reached 4x.
Duncan has reached 4x
Neale reached 2x in game 2 with the game winning hit.
For the Indians...
Gomes has reached 3x
Let's go to Cleveland for games 3-4.
CF Roush (26) (LH) 146 4.9
3B Groh (29) 149 5.5
C Wingo (28) (LH) 114 2.5
1B Daubert (35) (LH) 104 1.7
2B Rath (31) (LH) 95 4.3
SS Kopf (28) (SH) 94 1.9
RF Neale (27) (LH) 92 1
LF Duncan (25) 116 .4
DH Cueto (27) 87 .3
SP3 Eller (24) 117
SS Lindor (23) (SH) 116 5.6
3B Ramirez (24) (SH) 145 6.4
1B Santana (31) (SH) 112 3.1
DH Encarnacion (34) 128 3.3
RF Bruce (30) (LH) 108
LF Brantley (30) (LH) 108 2.2
C Gomes (29) 83 2.1
2B Kipnis (30) (LH) 81
CF Zimmer (24) (LH) 80 1.5
SP3 Clevinger (26) 147 3.2
GAME THREE
1st: Progressive Field in Cleveland, cross-state rivals Indians and Reds meeting for Game 3 here in Round 2. Winner to meet the 2016 Chicago Cubs in the Round of 32. 26 year old RH Mike Clevinger on the home field bump. 12-6, 3.11. Came up last year and will be in Cleveland until the '20 deadline when he's moved to the Padres. He walks Heinie Groh with one out, that's all.
1st: 24 year old Hod Eller gets the call for the Reds; 19-9. 2.39, he's only in the league for 5 seasons, all in Cincinnati - this is his third. He gives up a one out double to Jose Ramirez, and he's then driven home by a Carlos Santana double. An out later, Jay Bruce singles home the second run. Reds 0 Indians 2
2nd: Larry Kopf reaches on a one out error, Greasy Neale singles him to third - and a Pat Duncan single makes it 2-1, perhaps the shift to Cleveland has also brought some offensive life into this series. Reds 1 Indians 2
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Edd Roush walks, Henie Groh singles. After an out, Jake Daubert singles to tie the game. Daubert was a star back in Brooklyn; MVP back in '13, he's 35 now, this is his first year in Cincinnati - he'll be here the rest of his career, until '24. With men on the corners the Reds play some 20th century baseball - Daubert takes off for second and when Santana throws - Groh breaks for the plate -- it is a double steal - Groh has stolen home and the Reds are up 3-2. Morrie Rath singles - Daubert attempts to score from second and he is gunned down by a rifle shot from Bradley Zimmer; Rath takes second on the throw, and then he will score on a Kopf single. It's the biggest inning of the series - Reds 4 Indians 2
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Eller
5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Clevinger.
5th: 1-2-3, 13 straight for Eller
6th: Clevinger's day is over; Francona's got that deep pen and he's going to it - Andrew Miller pitches again. Rath reaches on an error and Kopf singles - but Miller keeps them off the board.
6th: Santana doubles with one out and then scores an out later on a Jay Bruce double. It's Bruce's first action of the series and he is paying off big with his second RBI. Bruce is 30 and he knows something about Cincinnati, having broken in with the Reds in '08 and finishing 5th in Rookie of the Year. In '12 and '13 he'll have top 10 MVP finishes; last year at the break, the Reds dealt him to the Mets - and this year at the break - the Mets sent him to Cleveland. Bruce plays in only 43 regular season games for the Indians; he's back to the Mets next year, and is with the Phillies in '20. Brantley then singles and Gomes walks and the fans are roaring now with the bases loaded -- but Eller escapes. Reds 4 Indians 3
7th: Roush singles - but that's all.
7th: Zimmer singles; this is his first action in the series - Francona loading up with lefty bats; Zimmer's 24, in his rookie season - 4 years later, he's still in Cleveland. Francisco Lindor follows with a single and the Indians are again in business and again this big crowd is ready to explode - Eller gets one, but Santana flies to right - that scores Zimmer and we are knotted at 4. Dolf Luque enters and ends it. Reds 4 Indians 4
8th: Bryan Shaw enters now for Cleveland, brand new ballgame - he gives up a Daubert double, and when Kopf singles and out later it is the Reds who regain the advantage. Neale reaches on an error and Pat Duncan triples home both men -- and man, oh man - it's a big inning for the Reds who appear like they are about to take command of this series. 25 year old RH Nick Goody is the new Indian pitcher, he ends it. Reds 7 Indians 4.
8th: Gomes singles with 2 out - and then Jason Kipnis walks - but nothing else.
9th: 1-2-3
9th: 34 year old RH Roy Mitchell is on the close this out for the Reds - he gets an out, then walks Jose Ramirez and that's enough for Moran, he brings in his 5th starter, Jimmy Ring, a 24 year old RH - and he ends the game.
Reds 7
Indians 4
WP Luque
LP Shaw
We get some offense in this one and it's the Reds who take the 2-1 advantage.
For the Reds...
Roush reached 2x in game 3
Groh reached 2x in game 3
Daubert reached 2x in game 3
Kopf has reached 7x.
Duncan has reached 6x w/triple
Neale reached 2x in game 2 with the game winning hit.
For the Indians...
Ramirez reached 2x in game 3
Santana reached 2x in game 3
Bruce reached 2x in game 3
Gomes has reached 5x
One more in Cleveland - the game 1 starters return - can the Indians stay alive?
CF Roush (26) (LH) 146 4.9
3B Groh (29) 149 5.5
C Wingo (28) (LH) 114 2.5
1B Daubert (35) (LH) 104 1.7
2B Rath (31) (LH) 95 4.3
SS Kopf (28) (SH) 94 1.9
RF Neale (27) (LH) 92 1
LF Duncan (25) 116 .4
DH Magee (34) 83
P Ruether (25) (LH) 154 3.9
CF Jackson (30) 126 2
DH Encarnacion (34) 128 3.3
3B Ramirez (24) (SH) 145 6.4
SS Lindor (23) (SH) 116 5.6
1B Santana (31) (SH) 112 3.1
LF Chisenhall (28) (LH) 126 1.4
RF Bruce (30) (LH) 108
C Gomes (29) 83 2.1
2B Gonzalez (25) 77
P Kluber (31) 202 8.2
GAME FOUR
1st: If the favored Indians are going to get their rematch with the Cubs, they must win today. Corey Kluber was outstanding in game one and returns here. Kluber's got 45 career postseason innings pitched with a 3.97 ERA. He was bad this year - the Yankees banged him around in the '17 ALDS. He gives off a leadoff single to Roush, nothing else.
1st: Dutch Ruether matched Kluber pitch for pitch in game one; he looks to close this out. He walks Austin Jackson/Edwin Encarnacion back to back. He gets one, but with Jackson on third, Lindor grounds out - scoring a run. Reds 0 Indians 1
2nd: Kluber gets two, gives up a Neale base hit and Duncan walks. Sherry Magee gets his first start today at DH and he doubles down the right field line, scoring both men and putting the Reds out front. Magee is in the final season of a 16 year career. He was 19 when he came up with the Phillies in '04, led the league in RBI in '07, led in OPS+ in '10, was 7th in the MVP in '14, The Braves released him in '17 and he came to Cincinnati to finish his career; this is the only year of his career with a sub 100 OPS+, his career average was 137 (Magee could flat rake). Reds 2 Indians 1
2nd: Lonnie Chisenhall is back in the lineup today and he singles. Jay Bruce walks - again the Indians have the first two on. Erik Gonzalez is also back today and after an out, he singles to load them up. An Austin Jackson groundout ties the score. Reds 2 Indians 2
3rd: Ivey Wingo reached on a one out error; Wingo had a 17 year career; breaking in with the Cardinals back in '11, the Reds got him in '15 and he spends the rest of his career in Cincinnati. Rath walks an out later, that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Neale singles, 2 outs later Roush walks - that's all.
4th: Gomes gets hit with 2 out, that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Jackson/Encarnacion reach on back to back Reds miscues - Jose Ramirez singles home a run. And a Lindor sac fly scores a second. Santana walks - and after the second out it's Jay Bruce - singing home Ramirez and the Tribe goes up 3 runs. Are we headed back to Cincinnati? Reds 2 Indians 5
6th: 1-2-3, Kluber starting to find the groove
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Magee singles - that's it.
7th: 1-2-3, Ruether's given up just 4 hits.
8th: For the fourth game in a row - it's Andrew Miller time. He gives up a one out single to Rath; then a two out single to Neale -- tying run coming to the plate -- but that's all.
8th: 1-2-3, Ruether retires the last 10 - but still trails by 3.
9th: Cody Allen comes on to close the door and send this series back to Cincinnati.
Magee is first - pops up to Ramirez.
Roush singles.
Groh flies to center. Two out.
Wingo singles. Roush to third.
2 on. 2 out. Tying run to the plate.
Daubert grounds to Gonzalez - onto first. Ballgame.
Reds 2
Indians 5
WP Kluber
LP Ruether
Kluber has another strong outing and the Indians keep this going.
For the Indians...
Ramirez reached 3x in game 3-4
Santana reached 2x in game 3
Bruce reached 4x in game 3-4
Gomes has reached 6x
For the Reds...
Roush reached 5x in game 3-4
Groh reached 2x in game 3
Daubert reached 2x in game 3
Kopf has reached 7x.
Duncan has reached 6x w/triple
Neale reached 2x in game 2, 3x in game 4
Game 5. Let's Do it.
CF Jackson (30) 126 2
3B Ramirez (24) (SH) 145 6.4
SS Lindor (23) (SH) 116 5.6
1B Santana (31) (SH) 112 3.1
LF Chisenhall (28) LH 126 1.4
RF Bruce (30) (LH) 108
C Gomes (29) 83 2.1
2B Kipnis (30) (LH) 81
SP2 Carrasco (30) 139 6.1
CF Roush (26) (LH) 146 4.9
3B Groh (29) 149 5.5
C Wingo (28) (LH) 114 2.5
1B Daubert (35) (LH) 104 1.7
2B Rath (31) (LH) 95 4.3
SS Kopf (28) (SH) 94 1.9
RF Neale (27) (LH) 92 1
LF Duncan (25) 116 .4
SP2 Sallee (34) (LH) 136 3.8
GAME FIVE
1st: It all comes down to this. Slim Sallee goes for the Reds; 28 career postseason innings pitched, 3.45 ERA. He gives up a one out double to Jose Ramirez but that's all.
1st: Carlos Carrasco goes for Cleveland. Only 11 career postseason innings pitched - 1.64 ERA. He walks Groh with one out and Groh scores on a Wingo double -- just like that the home team is up a run. Win or Go Home Game 5. After the second out Rath singles and that's 2 first inning runs for the Reds. Indians 0 Reds 2
2nd: This Indians offense just has not gotten it going yet all series and now they're in a hole. With one out, Jay Bruce triples -- Bruce didn't play at all in games one and two but after his performance in Cleveland he got the start back in Cincinnati where he played so much of his career and he reward Francona with a triple. Gomes grounds out to score the run. Indians 1 Reds 2
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Austin Jackson singles with one out - Ramirez follows with a single - but the Indians do not score.
3rd: Wingo hits a 2 out single but that's it.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Neale singles with 2 out and then Pat Duncan hits the first homer of the series - a 2 run bomb to dead center field. Duncan hits a 2 run homer, it's 4-1 Reds. Is that it? Is that the knockout? Indians 1 Reds 4
5th: 1-2-3. 8 straight for Sallee - these Reds fans are feeling it now.
5th: Groh singles with one out, nothing else.
6th: 1-2-3, 11 straight.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Santana and Chisenhall single back to back. Okay - if it's going to happen, it probably needs to happen. It doesn't happen.
7th: Neale and Duncan walk - even one more run and you gotta think its done. After an out - Roush singles, it clears the bases and it's done. It's 6-1 Reds and it's celebration in Cincinnati. Indians 1 Reds 6
8th: With one out, Jackson and Ramirez single, after the second out Santana singles to score Cleveland's second run. That brings in Dolf Luque and he ends it. Indians 2 Reds 6
8th: Andrew Miller pitches in all 5 games - 1-2-3
9th: 4 runs down. 3 outs left.
Bruce flies to right. One out.
Gomes flies to center. Two out.
Kipnis grounds to first. Ballgame.
Indians 2
Reds 6
WP Sallee
LP Carrasco
It's the Reds - Cleveland's bats just never came around - Sallee strong - strong in both games 2 and 5 - he and Duncan are co-MVPs.
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