Indians take Game 2 in extra innings, Encarnacion hurt
Yan Gomes singled home Austin Jackson from second base with none out in the 13th inning as the Cleveland Indians rallied from five runs down to stun the New York Yankees 9-8 and snatch a 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series.
Jackson drew a leadoff walk in the 13th from Dellin Betances and stole second in Friday’s game. Gomes went to a full count before pulling his bouncer just inside the third-base bag, easily scoring Jackson. The Indians poured out of their dugout to mob Gomes, who ended the 5-hour, 8-minute thriller.
The Indians overcame an 8-3 deficit, a terrible start by ace Corey Kluber and a potentially serious injury to slugger Edwin Encarnacion. Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam in the sixth to rally Cleveland, right after a close call on a hit by pitch that the Yankees didn’t challenge.
The Yankees had their chances late, but they stranded the go-ahead run at third in the ninth and 10th — and had pinch-runner Ronald Torreyes picked off second in the 11th by Gomes from the behind the plate.
Cleveland will try for a sweep in Game 3 Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
Encarnacion, the former Blue Jay, was scrambling to get back to second base in the first inning when he jammed his right foot into the bag and rolled his ankle. He dropped to the ground in obvious pain and writhed in the infield dirt while waiting for medical personnel.
The Indians said he has a sprained ankle and is undergoing further evaluation.
Michael Brantley, who made it all the way back from a serious ankle injury to make the post-season roster, replaced Encarnacion as Cleveland’s designated hitter in the second inning and struck out on three pitches to leave the bases loaded.
In his first season with Cleveland, Encarnacion hit 38 homers with 107 RBIs. Cleveland signed him to a three-year, $60 million contract in January after he spent seven-plus seasons with Toronto. The loss of Encarnacion for any significant time would be a major blow to the defending AL champions, who are trying to get back to the World Series and end a 69-year title drought.