Indians’ season on line in Game 5
Wild-card Yankees have come back from 0-2 deficit.
CLEVELAND — There were no noticeable signs of panic or pressure. Now is not the time to show any weakness.
As the Cleveland Indians got ready for their biggest game this season, a winnertake-all Game 5 against the New York Yankees, everything seemed normal, routine.
Before answering questions at his news conference, manager — and Cavs season-ticket holder — Terry Francona asked about the NBA team’s new lineup, joked about his limited vocabulary and later tried on All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s diamond-encrusted, $30,000 necklace.
The mood around the cage was typically loose Tuesday during batting practice, with a few players shagging flies while keeping an eye on slugger Edwin Encarnacion as he tested his sprained ankle.
Their season is on the line, and the Indians, who haven’t lost three straight since Aug. 1, know it.
“Boils down to the loser goes home,” Cleveland ace Corey Kluber said.
Unable to put the Yankees away in the booming Bronx, the Indians, who are chasing their first World Series title since 1948, have another chance to advance tonight — for a date with Houston in the ALCS — against a New York team riding momentum into the finale of this AL Division Series.
Cleveland’s 2-0 series lead seemed to vanish in a New York minute.
Backed by a raucous crowd that rocked Yankee Stadium on every pitch, the wild-card winners edged the Indians 1-0 in Game 3, and then took advantage of four errors by one of baseball’s best defensive teams in Game 4 to win 7-3 on Monday night.
After the Yankees blew a five-run lead and lost Game 2 in 13 innings on Friday night, it appeared their days were numbered. Instead, they fought back. Left-hander CC Sabathia said he knew the Yankees would.
“This is a team that I felt like every time, whether it’s in a game or coming up through the season, we had tough times or backs against the wall, I felt like we responded really well,” said Sabathia, who will face Kluber in Game 5 tonight.
“So I didn’t see why we couldn’t go home and play well and end up back here.”
And here they are, these Yankees, who have staved off elimination three times in the past week.
They battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the first inning against Minnesota in the wild card, shook off Game 2, and are poised to possibly dethrone the defending AL champions.
The Indians may have Encarnacion for the first time since Game 2, when he sprained his right ankle. Cleveland’s cleanup hitter has responded well to treat- ment and tested his ankle by jogging in the outfield.