Cleveland realistically needed to take at least 3 if not all 4 games in order to catch the Bosox for the final wild card slot. Instead the Tribe was only able to manage a split with the lowly Jays and had to settle for a .500 season. Game 1 was a good start for Cleveland as Stan Coveleski (4-4, 2.39) went the distance and allowed just 3 earned runs as his offense recorded 13 hits, which included 3 by Tris Speaker, who increased his average to .391. Game 2 was a tense 2-1 pitcher’s duel that went Cleveland’s way and gave hope to their fans that they could possibly catch Boston. Guy Morton (2-1, 3.21) was able to go the distance and protect the 2 runs that he was afforded in the bottom of the 1st off of Jay starter Dave Stewart (0-3, 4.30). The Tribe scored 3 runs in the top of the 5th to cut Toronto’s 6-2 lead to 1, but they would never get closer as the Jays got 2 runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to some shoddy defense by the Tribe. With the Indian’s season riding on his shoulders starter Ray Caldwell could not come through. Toronto’s Juan Guzman (4-2, 2.11) took a comfortable 4-0 lead into the 8th when the Tribe offense finally awoke. Cleveland would score solo runs in each of the final 2
innings, but that would not be enough as Mike Timlin came on to post his 9th save of the season to preserve the win and eliminate the Tribe from contention. Tris Speaker would go 2 for 4 for the Tribe to finish the season with a .388 average. Pat Borders would go 2 for 4 along with his 3rd homer of the season and 3 RBI’s to ensure the series split for the woeful Jays.
League Park
GAME 1 – Indians 7, Blue Jays 4
GAME 2 – Indians 2, Blue Jays 1
Skydome
GAME 3 – Blue Jays 8, Indians 5
GAME 4 – Blue Jays 5, Indians 2
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