Cleveland Versus Everybody in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (Photo : Getty's images)
The Cleveland Indians have jumped out to a series lead by taking the first two games off the Toronto Blue Jay, 2-0 and 2-1, respectively. The 2016 American League Championship Series has seen the tribe use a familiar formula for success in October.
The Indian's starters have both been masterful. The bullpen has been lights out. And, the offense has simply been clutch.
Game 1, on Friday, saw Corey Kluber go 6 1/3 scoreless innings to record a win with Francisco Lindor powering a two-run jack in the sixth inning.
Today seemed like more of the same, with Josh Tomlin toeing the rubber to keep the Toronto hitters at bay. Carlos Santana's blast and Francisco Lindor's single was all the tribe's bullpen needed to put another W in the books.
The series will shift from Cleveland's Progressive field to Toronto's Roger's Centre on Monday, with tomorrow being a travel day.
The heart of the Blue Jay's batting order needs to find a solution and fast. Currently, Donaldson, Bautista, Encarnacion, and Tulowitzki are an abysmal 1 for 14 with two walks and four strikeouts.
You have to give Cleveland manager Terry Francona a lot of credit and he has looked like a genius relying on Andrew Millar and Cody Allen out of the bullpen. Both relievers seem unhittable at the moment.
Everything seems to be going Cleveland's way. In the Division Series, the Indians held the Boston Red Sox to just seven runs in three games. Thus far, they are easily handling the Toronto Blue Jay in this year's ALCS.
The Indians have spent a considerable amount of the season overcoming their share of obstacles and injuries with key players going down. With that being said, they've scored the second-most runs in the American league this year and have the second-best ERA.
With two more W's to record until getting back to the World Series for the first time since 1997, Toronto has to find some offense quick, because the Tribe is the only team to not have had a losing streak of more than three games.
