Thursday, October 5, 2017 07:30 PM (ET)

Bauer, Indians blank Yankees in ALDS opener

The Sports Xchange
Oct 5, 2017

CLEVELAND -- Trevor Bauer pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter, and Jay Bruce had a home run and three RBIs as the Cleveland Indians beat the New York Yankees 4-0 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday night at Progressive Field.

Bauer (1-0) did not give up a hit until Aaron Hicks doubled with one out in the sixth inning. The only other hit against Bauer was a single by Starlin Castro with two outs in the seventh.

Bauer, who was a surprise choice by Indians manager Terry Francona to start Game 1 ahead of ace Corey Kluber, threw 98 pitches, striking out eight with one walk.

Bauer was 17-9 during the regular season. In three starts vs. the Yankees this year, Bauer is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA. In 19 2/3 innings against New York, he has allowed two runs and 13 hits with 19 strikeouts.

Andrew Miller followed Bauer to the mound and struck out three of the five batters he faced, but the left-hander walked two in the eighth inning.

Closer Cody Allen relieved Miller with runners at first and second and two outs, and he struck out Aaron Judge to end the inning.

Allen retired the side in the ninth to pick up the save.

Judge, who led the American League with 52 home runs, was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Cleveland's three pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.

Yankees starter Sonny Gray (0-1) pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and three hits with two strikeouts and four walks.

Bauer held the Yankees hitless and scoreless through the first five innings. Only two Yankees reached base in that span -- Greg Bird on a four-pitch walk in the second inning and Judge, who struck out but reached first on a wild pitch in the fourth.

The Indians took an early lead when Bruce led off the bottom of the second by bouncing a double off the left field wall. Bruce went to third on a single by Carlos Santana, and Lonnie Chisenhall was hit by a pitch.

Bruce scored when Roberto Perez grounded into a double play. Giovanny Urshela flied out to end the inning.

The Indians scored two runs in the fourth. Edwin Encarnacion led off with a walk, and Bruce hit a towering fly ball to right field that sailed into the seats for a home run, giving Cleveland a 3-0 lead.

Santana walked, and after Chisenhall popped out for the first out, Perez walked. Gray was replaced by Adam Warren, who gave up a single to Urshela to load the bases with one out.

Warren wiggled off the hook by striking out Francisco Lindor on three pitches and getting Jason Kipnis on a flyout to center for the third out.

The Indians added to their lead in the fifth inning, thanks to two wild pitches by Warren. Jose Ramirez singled, went to second and third on wild pitches, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bruce against reliever Jaime Garcia to make it 4-0.

NOTES: RHP Corey Kluber, who will start Game 2 for the Indians, was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this year. In seven career starts against New York, Kluber is 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA. ... The Indians have won five of the eight AL Division Series they have been in (1995, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2016). ... Yankees RHP Sonny Gray's 3 1/3 innings marked the shortest outing of his 12 starts since being acquired by New York from the Oakland A's at midseason. ... LHP CC Sabathia, who will start Game 2 for the Yankees, was Cleveland's first-round pick in the 1998 draft and won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award as a member of the Indians. Sabathia was 19-7 that year.
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