[jg2977]

Mike Francesa:
Alright, alright, let’s get right to it—this is a brutal loss for Cleveland. Brutal. You score nine runs, you get eighteen hits, your first baseman goes four-for-five with a homer and a triple, and you still lose the game? At home? In October? That’s a crusher.
Chris Russo:
Mike, I’m tellin’ ya, this game had everything—and none of it worked out for Cleveland! They hit, they ran, they answered Houston every time—and every time they did, Houston came right back. This was one of those games where you keep sayin’, “Alright, now they’ve got it,” and then—boom!—Astros again!
Mike:
Berthiaume. That’s the name. That’s the swing. Top of the tenth inning, tie game, crowd finally sittin’ down for a second—and bang, two-run homer. That’s postseason baseball right there. That’s a guy who knows the moment.
Russo:
And Mike, this is what Houston does. They don’t play clean—three errors, pitchers all over the place—but they play tough! They make you beat ‘em twice. Cleveland couldn’t do it once!
Mike:
And I’ll tell ya something else—you give Houston two chances to close out a short series? That’s dangerous territory. This team’s been here before. They don’t panic. Cleveland had chances—tons of chances. Thirteen men left on base! Thirteen!
Russo:
That’s the game right there! You got traffic all night, Mike! First, second, third—nobody out, one out, two outs—and they just couldn’t land the knockout punch. Kresse was unbelievable, but you needed one more big hit from somebody else.
Mike:
And Cleveland’s bullpen—this is where it falls apart. Turner can’t find the zone, Perezchica gives up the homer, and suddenly you’re playin’ from behind in extras. You can’t do that in October. You just can’t.
Russo:
And Houston? They’re laughin’ about it! Berthiaume talkin’ about heart and hustle—yeah, well, that’s nice, but it’s also execution. They executed when it mattered most.
Mike:
So now Cleveland’s gotta win tomorrow. Period. No wiggle room. Lose again, season’s over, and you’ll be thinkin’ about this one all winter—Game 1, at home, with everything goin’ your way, and you let it slip.
Russo:
Mike, if they lose this series, this game’s the headline. Not tomorrow’s game—this one. You don’t forget these.
Mike:
Astros take Game 1, 11–9. And Cleveland? They’re already on the ropes.