The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Tribe on the spot in Game 3
Indians need to win three in a row against Houston
The Indians are out of wiggle room.
Veteran manager Terry Francona is well aware his team, having dropped Games 1 and 2 of the American League Division Series in Houston, are on the brink of elimination in the best-of-five series against the defending World Series champion Astros.
Game 3 is set for Oct. 8 at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled at 1:30 p.m.
“I’d rather be up 2-0 than down 2-0, but it’s still the first one to get to three (victories),” Francona said Oct. 7 before the Indians held an optional workout at Progressive Field.
“I’d rather have a chance than no chance,” Francona added.
“I understand that the odds start to not go in your favor. Been on both sides of this, and have come back and have people come back on us.”
In last year’s ALDS, for instance, the Indians took a 2-0 lead against the Yankees only to drop three straight games and lose a series they were on the verge of winning.
That was then. Francona is focused on the now.
“We need to figure out a way to beat them, because the first two games, they’ve really kind of had their way with us,” Francona said. “We need to change that.”
In the two games at Minute Maid Park, Astros batters scored 10 runs on 21 hits, including five home runs.
Houston pitchers, meanwhile, limited the Indians to three runs on six hits, all singles.
Indians batters are 6-for60 (.100) with 24 strikeouts in the series. They were throttled by Astros starters Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole as well as the Houston bullpen.
All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is 2-for-8 in the series with two runs scored and an RBI. His solo home run in the top of the third inning of Game 2 off Cole accounted for the Indians’ only run.
Lindor shook his head slowly from side to side when asked about his team’s futility at the plate thus far in the series.
“It’s baseball. This is part of the game,” he said. “We have a good team. We have great hitters and great pitchers. It’s a matter of coming through when we have baserunners, taking
leads, putting pressure on them.”
Lindor gave the Astros credit for shutting down a lineup that averaged just over five runs per game during the regular season.
“They’re a good team. They have a plan and they’re executing it,” Lindor said. “We need to make adjustments.”
Getting the start for the Indians in Game 3 is Mike Clevinger.
The 27-year-old righthander had a breakout regular season, finishing 13-8 with a 3.02 ERA. In 32 starts covering 200 innings, he posted a career-high 207 strikeouts.
Clevinger had a rough time in two starts this season against the Astros. He was 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA, surrendering eight runs on 15 hits in 11 2/3 innings. In four career starts against Houston, he’s 1-3 with a 3.98 ERA.
“Our backs are against the wall,” Clevinger said. “We know this could be our last game if we don’t show up.”
Houston manager A.J. Hinch said Clevinger’s outings against the Astros in the regular season will have no bearing in the playoff setting.
“I expect him to be at his best,” Hinch said.
Dallas Keuchel will get the start for the Astros. The 30-year-old left-hander was 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA during the regular season. In eight career appearances against the Indians, seven of them starts, he’s 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA.
“They play well at home,” Keuchel said of the Indians. “I know the place will be packed and rocking.”
Game 4, if needed, is set for Oct. 9 at Progressive Field.
First pitch would be 4:35 p.m.