History is no mystery
Indians know from experience: A 2-0 series lead isn’t safe
CLEVELAND — The Indians are very familiar with the postseason hole they’re currently stuck in. They saw one just like it last October — from above.
At least they know it can be scaled.
But their climb in this AL Division Series seems much steeper than just the 2-0 deficit they’re facing after dropping the first two games in Houston. The defending World Series champion Astros have shown their exceptional pitching and extraordinary depth while outplaying the swing-and-miss Indians in every facet of the game.
“They’ve played pretty much perfect baseball to this point,” Indians third baseman Josh Donaldson said after Saturday’s 3-1 loss. “We have had a couple mistakes the first couple games, and now, it’s our time to respond.”
Or another Cleveland baseball season will end before the leaves change colors.
Astros aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole dominated the Indians in Games 1 and 2 as Houston pitching combined on consecutive three-hitters. The Astros piled up 24 strikeouts against one of the league’s most balanced lineups, which is batting a combined .100 in this ALDS. The Indians’ offense was so anemic Saturday they didn’t have a single at-bat with a runner in scoring position.
If not for Francisco Lindor’s solo homer, they would have been blanked.
“We had good at-bats,” Lindor said. “I know we struck out a lot. We had good at-bats, but the hits Starter Carlos Carrasco gets pulled during the Indians’ loss in Game 2, which put them in a 2-0 hole in the series. Astros lead 2-0 G1: Astros 7, Indians 2 G2: Astros 3, Indians 1 G3: Astros (Keuchel) at Indians (Clevinger) 1:30 p.m. Monday, TBS G4: Astros at Indians 4:35 Tuesday, TBS G5: Indians at Astros 4:07 p.m. Thursday, TBS Games 4-5 if necessary haven’t fine.”
But as bleak as things appear for the three-time AL Central champions — who will start Mike Clevinger in Game 3 on Monday against Dallas Keuchel — they only have to look back to last October for inspiration. As painful as that might be.
The Indians jumped out to what appeared to be a commanding 2-0 lead in the ALDS before the Yankees won three straight to advance, denying the Indians a return trip to the World Series and extend- fallen. We’ll be ing the club’s title drought to 70 years.
The Yankees paved the comeback trail. It’s up to the Indians to follow it.
“It might be a little unfortunate that we know it can be done,” said usually reliable reliever Andrew Miller, who replaced starter Carlos Carrasco in the sixth inning and gave up Marwin Gonzalez’s goahead two-run double in Game 2. “We certainly have a day to regroup. That’s how I’m looking at it. I have a day to regroup, and then, I’ll be in. Ready to succeed in the same spot. We aren’t giving up just yet.”
History isn’t on their side, however. Of the teams to take a 2-0 lead at home in a 2-2-1 format, 24 of 27 have gone on to win the series.
The Astros, though, are the biggest problem.
“This is not our first playoff series,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “We know it’s not over. We’re not going to take anything for granted.”