Indians lead series 1-0
Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Added @ Fangraphs
Highest WPA:
Victor Martinez .177
Kenny Lofton .162
Ryan Garko .099
Lowest WPA:
LeBron James -∞
Travis Hafner -.023
CC Sabathia -.014
printf("hello, world");
}
This is but one win, but what a win it was, holding the vaunted Yankee offense to five hits, knocking the Yankees' ace out of the game, hitting four home runs, and doing it all before a roaring home crowd.
CC Sabathia walked six, and had to throw 115 pitches in five innings. He was down 3-0 on Jorge Posada with the bases loaded in the fifth, and in an impressive feat, came back to strike Posada out, and induced Hideki Matsui to pop out. But however Sabathia finished, the Indians were left trying to hold a one-run lead for four innings.
That's where the offense came in, knocking Chien-Ming Wang out of the game in the bottom of the inning. Neither starter fared well with Bruce Froemming's miniscule strike zone, but Wang also continued to leave sinkers up in the strike zone. Victor Martinez's two-run home run was the key hit in that crucial fifth inning. Later, Casey Blake's two-run double finished Wang's night, and the rout was on.
Eric Wedge used his primary relievers the rest of the way, probably to get their postseason debuts over with. Rafael Perez was particularly impressive, striking out four of the six batters he faced. Jensen Lewis, an Indians fan growing up, pitched a scoreless 8th, striking out Hideki Matsui to end the inning, and walked off the field to a standing ovation. Rafael Betancourt finished things off.
What a night.
Next Up: Carmona vs. Pettitte, 5:07 PM.