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Harry Doyle:
“Well folks, grab your scorecards and your aspirin, because the defending World Champion Cleveland Indians are one win away from punching their ticket back to the American League Championship Series. Final from a brisk afternoon at Jacobs Field — Indians 5, Mariners 3.
And if you like good pitching, timely hitting, and a little late-inning drama, this one had just enough of all three to keep you from nodding off between innings.”
(pause for a sip of something that’s probably not coffee)
“Mike Niccolai — the man they call ‘Steady Mike’ — went seven strong innings, gave up three runs, none of ‘em cheap, and still found a way to leave the mound with that same calm look like he just finished mowing his lawn. Kid’s got ice water in his veins… or possibly antifreeze. Hard to tell in this weather.”
“Seattle got a brief spark in the fifth — a double from A. Brown that started some trouble, then a couple of runs to make it 3–2. But then… here came Jesús Satiago. Leading off the sixth, Cleveland down by a run, and—boom!—he turns on a fastball and sends it into the left-field seats faster than you can say ‘It’s long gone!’ That’s a two-run homer, and just like that, the Tribe’s got the lead, 4–3. Fans on their feet, cowbells ringing, seagulls scattering… chaos, Cleveland-style.”
“After that, the bullpen shut the door tighter than my ex-wife’s lawyer. Matt Grondin came in for the final two innings, picked up his third save of the postseason, and sent 36,697 fans home to defrost with smiles on their faces.”
“Offensively, Cleveland spread it around — nine hits from nine different guys. Rookie second baseman M. Saldana added a little insurance with a two-run shot in the fifth, and from there it was smooth sailing on the good ship Wahoo.”
“On the other side, poor I. Dickey of the Mariners — seven innings, five earned runs, a couple of souvenirs for the cheap seats. Not his day. Not really anybody’s day from Seattle, unless you’re counting hits that didn’t matter.”
“So here we are, folks. The Indians take a 2–1 lead in the Division Series. One more win, and it’s back to the ALCS — the land of champagne baths and bad celebratory goggles.”
(slight pause, mock serious)
“And if they can pull it off tomorrow, we may have to start calling this ‘The Reign of Cleveland.’ That’s right, the reigning champs still reign… at least for one more night.”
Harry Doyle, signing off:
“Final again from the Jake — Cleveland 5, Seattle 3.
And remember, folks, don’t drink and bunt.”
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