Indians Beat Red Sox 4-3 For ALDS Sweep In David Ortiz’s Final Game

The Cleveland Indians entered the American League Division Series as underdogs, but have now reached the AL Championship Series.

Indians Beat Red Sox 4-3 For ALDS Sweep In David Ortiz’s Final Game

The Tribe held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3 at Fenway Park on Monday night to complete a three-game sweep in veteran slugger David Ortiz’s final career game.

Cleveland made history. Four more victories, and the Indians will reach their first World Series since 1997, and their first ALCS since 2007.

“We might not be the most talented team in this league,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, champagne dripped from the brim of his hat. “But, that doesn’t mean we can’t win. And I think everybody in here believes that. We get to keep playing. That’s the best thing I can say. We get to keep playing. Hopefully, when it’s time to go home, it can be on our terms.”

Right-hander Josh Tomlin ignored the jeers of a Fenway crowd that mockingly chanted his name and delivered a strong, five-inning effort. Coco Crisp hit a critical home run, and Francona relied heavily again on his bullpen to secure the win.

The Indians will now face the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, beginning on Friday at Progressive Field. Toronto is led by team president Mark Shapiro, who spent the previous 24 years in Cleveland’s front office.

As Cleveland’s players celebrated inside the cramped confines of Fenway’s visitors’ clubhouse, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti stated he was eagerly anticipating the upcoming challenge against Shapiro’s familiar face.

“I wouldn’t be standing here today and having this opportunity, if it wasn’t for Mark,” Antonetti said as the players partied behind him. “For both of us to advance to the ALCS is really a dream come true. At a minimum, we know one of the two of us is going to end up in the World Series. Obviously, right now, I’ve got a strong preference on which one.”

Cleveland’s bullpen led the team into the ALCS. After a 4-1 lead with none out in the sixth, Francona turned to Andrew Miller. The lefty got six big outs and left with a two-run lead. Bryan Shaw recorded the first two outs in the eighth, and closer Cody Allen got the final four outs of the game.

“It’s impressive because we got it done,” Miller said. “This offense that we faced, this team is so great, but particularly from the perspective of a relief pitcher, this offense is just unbelievable. To find a way, it doesn’t have to be pretty, and it wasn’t tonight.

“I think certainly, Bryan and Cody and I would like to be more efficient and effective and straightforward, but it’s just these guys are so darn good. And just find a way to get it done is all that matters at the end of the day.”

Allen struggled at first in the eighth as the retiring Ortiz walked. Hanley Ramirez smacked a single to make it a one-run game. However, Xander Bogaerts lined one right to second, and the Indians escaped yet another threat. Allen again evaded trouble in the ninth, working out of a two-on, two-out jam and clinching the series by inducing Travis Shaw’s flyout to right.

Just like that, the end of this season also marked the end of Red Sox slugger Ortiz’s career, 11 months after the veteran Dominican star announced he would be retiring.

“Given how we performed as an offensive team throughout the year, and it’s not to take anything away from their pitching, but I think there was no more than one run we were able to score in any one inning,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “The inability to string some hits together, generate the bigger inning, that wasn’t there.

“So that puts us in a spot where we are today.”

Due to the three-game sweep against the Red Sox, the Indians can align their rotation as they see fit. The Game 1 starter hasn’t been announced, but ace Corey Kluber would be a safe bet to take the ball in the ALCS opener against the Blue Jays on Friday night.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 10: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after the second inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the American League Divison Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)