Indians Tidbits...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 7, Chi White Sox 5</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
September 20, 2005
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<SMALL>AP - Sep 20, 12:11 am EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CHICAGO (AP) -- Aaron Boone hit one of the most dramatic homers in playoff history two years ago, sending the New York Yankees into the World Series.

Now, after missing 2004 with a knee injury, he's doing his best to help the surging Cleveland Indians make the postseason.

Boone delivered a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning Monday night as the Indians rallied past the sliding White Sox 7-5, cutting Chicago's once huge lead in the AL Central to 2 1/2 games.

``They're all important now,'' Boone said after the Indians' 13th victory in the last 14 games and sixth straight. ``This was a great game. They came back. We came back. It was a good win. You can't get enough of them.''

Boone, who homered earlier to help the Indians build a 4-0 lead they couldn't hold, worked his way out of an 0-2 hole and lined a single up the middle off Bobby Jenks to silence an electric crowd of 35,748 at U.S. Cellular Field.
``It was loud,'' said Boone, who won Game 7 of the 2003 AL championship series with his 11th-inning drive off Boston's Tim Wakefield. ``Kind of like the Super Bowl before the game. All the fireworks and the music blasting.''

The Indians trailed the White Sox by 15 games after Chicago swept a four-game series at Jacobs Field from July 14-17, and were still 14 behind in early August.

But they've played their best while the White Sox have lost eight of 11 in what is turning into a colossal collapse.

``We all know it's there,'' Jenks said of the shrinking lead.

``It's been a race for a few weeks in my opinion,'' Chicago's Paul Konerko said. ``But that doesn't mean we have to lose just because we have lost so much ground or they have gained so much. I think it's a combination of both.''

Cleveland also maintained its 1 1/2 -game lead for the AL wild card over the Yankees, who beat Baltimore 3-2 Monday night.

Travis Hafner hit a run-scoring double in the ninth to make it 7-5 and finished 3-for-3 with two walks and three RBIs.

``Our goal right now is to make it into the playoffs, any way we can,'' Hafner said. ``This is the kind of game that can get you pretty high for tomorrow or else be tough to come back from.''

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 19, 11:56 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Carl Everett homered in the seventh off Rafael Betancourt (4-3) to give the White Sox a 5-4 lead. Konerko's two-run, two-out double had capped a four-run fifth off Kevin Millwood -- three of the runs were unearned -- to tie the game.

The teams play twice more at U.S. Cellular Field before closing the season with three at Jacobs Field.

``I will be concerned if we are one game behind,'' Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. ``You get nervous when you don't do anything about it. ... We just have to keep fighting.''

Down 5-4, the Indians rallied against Damaso Marte, who relieved with out in the eighth, walked Hafner and gave up a double to Victor Martinez. Marte (3-4) then fanned Ben Broussard for the second out and was replaced by rookie Jenks, whose fastball is nearly 100 mph.

Boone got the count back to 2-2 before hitting a liner to center just past Chicago shortstop Juan Uribe.

Chicago threatened in the bottom half when pinch-hitter Pablo Ozuna led off with a double, but former White Sox reliever Bobby Howry got the next three batters.
Bob Wickman pitched the ninth, getting Konerko to pop to second with two men on to earn his 44th save in 49 chances, including 15 straight.

Hafner hit an RBI double in the first and his 27th homer in the fifth to make it 4-0. Boone added a solo shot in the second and Broussard had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the third off Chicago starter Freddy Garcia.

Chicago finally broke through for four runs in the fifth against Millwood, who entered the game with the AL's lowest ERA at 3.02.

Right fielder Casey Blake dropped Aaron Rowand's leadoff liner for a two-base error and Joe Crede, who just missed a home run in his previous at-bat, hit an RBI single to center. Scott Podsednik followed with a single to make it first-and-third before Tadahito Iguchi delivered an RBI single and advanced to second on the throw.
Millwood got Everett on a popup, but Konerko hit a long liner that a leaping Grady Sizemore just missed in center for a two-run double to tie the game.

Coco Crisp drove a pitch from Neal Cotts to deep left in the seventh, but Podsednik leaped against the fence to pull it down.

Garcia, with one win in his last nine starts, lasted 6 1-3 innings, giving up seven hits and four runs. Millwood went six, surrendering eight hits and four runs.

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> The White Sox lead the season series 10-4. ... Indians 2B Ronnie Belliard missed his fourth straight game with an abdominal injury.
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[vrbryant]

I'm sorry, what the fuck was Hernandez doing cutting Blake's throw off? The throwing error aside, you at least try to get the run at the plate. Getting the guy out at third doesn't mean the fucking lead isn't gone.

That said, hats off to Uribe and Crede - two average players that stepped up and owned us tonight.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Chi White Sox 7, Cleveland 6, 10 innings</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer
September 21, 2005
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<SMALL>AP - Sep 21, 12:02 am EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CHICAGO (AP) -- Put simply, the Chicago White Sox needed this. With their lead in the AL Central shrinking, with a back-and-forth game tied in the 10th inning and with a fan base collectively holding its breath, Joe Crede delivered.

Crede's home run leading off the 10th -- his second of the game -- lifted Chicago to a 7-6 victory over the surging Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.

Chicago increased its lead in the AL Central to 3 1/2 games, snapping the Indians' six-game winning streak and sending them to only their second loss in 15 games. The three-game series ends Wednesday night.

Crede turned on a 1-0 pitch from David Riske (3-4), sending it an estimated 422 feet to left for his 19th homer. It was the fifth game-ending homer of Crede's career and his first since last September against Kansas City.
``I've had other walk-off home runs, but they've either been earlier in the season or we were out of it,'' Crede said.
Dustin Hermanson (2-4) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.

The White Sox have been in first place all season, but a lead that was 15 games on Aug. 1 was down to 2 1/2 before this one. And until Crede homered, they were staring at the possibility of it dwindling to a half-game before Cleveland leaves town.


``Two and a half, 1 1/2 , we just can't worry about that stuff,'' Cleveland left fielder Coco Crisp said. ``Whether we're playing the White Sox or Kansas City, we just have to win. This was one of the best games I've ever played in.''
Teammate Aaron Boone agreed.

``When we came in here after the game, there were smiles on our faces,'' he said.
The White Sox scored three runs in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead, but Cleveland tied it against Bobby Jenks in the ninth.

Aaron Boone hit a two-run homer for the Indians, and Travis Hafner and Casey Blake added solo shots. Crisp had three hits.

Cleveland, which rallied for a 7-5 victory Monday, appeared poised for its seventh straight win after the top of the seventh.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 21, 12:00 am EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Blake hit a 2-2 pitch over the center-field fence leading off the inning for his 22nd homer, chasing White Sox starter Mark Buehrle, and Hafner added an RBI double off Neal Cotts to make it 5-3. After Victor Martinez was walked intentionally to load the bases, Cliff Politte relieved, and Ronnie Belliard ended the threat with a double-play grounder.

Just as the pressure mounted, the struggling White Sox fought back. A team that had lost eight of 11 did what it has done often this season -- it pulled out a close win. The White Sox are 56-32 in games decided by two runs or less.

Carl Everett's double off the right-field wall chased Indians starter Jake Westbrook with one out in the seventh.

Bob Howry relieved, and the Indians unraveled. After Paul Konerko walked, A.J. Pierzynski drove in Everett with a double to the right-field corner, and the Indians walked Jermaine Dye intentionally to load the bases.

Aaron Rowand sent a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Konerko with the tying run. Cleveland first baseman Jose Hernandez cut off the throw home and threw wildly to third for an error, allowing Pierzynski to score for a 6-5 White Sox lead.

Jenks relieved in the ninth and blew his second save chance in two nights. He walked Jhonny Peralta leading off the inning and allowed Martinez's double to center with one out on a ball that Rowand misjudged, putting runners at second and third. Belliard's RBI groundout tied it at 6.

``The toughest road is a line drive right at you, especially when it's hit off a 98 mph fastball,'' Rowand said.

Konerko and Pierzynski singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth, and Cleveland's David Riske hit Rowand in the back with a pitch to load the bases with two outs. But Juan Uribe flied to right.

Buehrle allowed four runs and seven hits and tied a season high by allowing three homers. He left after Blake's homer leading off the seventh and did not figure in the decision.

Nor did Westbrook, who allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.

``This can do nothing but help our confidence,'' Crede said.
<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Belliard was back in the lineup at 2B after missing four games with an abdominal injury. ``I feel like I'm almost 100 percent,'' he said. ``I wanted to take a shot.'' ... Buehrle allowed three homers in a win over Kansas City on May 3.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 8, Chi White Sox 0</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
September 22, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 21, 11:30 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CHICAGO (AP) -- Scott Elarton's pitching and Travis Hafner's power got the surging Cleveland Indians back within 2 1/2 games of the struggling White Sox in the AL Central.

Elarton pitched five-hit ball into the eighth inning and Hafner homered twice, leading the Indians to an 8-0 victory over first-place Chicago on Wednesday night. Cleveland took two of three in the crucial series, helped by Hafner's four home runs.

``Probably in my dream we would have won all three,'' Hafner said. ``I was able to get in a pretty good groove and put some good swings on some pitches.''

The Indians, who trailed by 15 games on Aug. 1, won for the 14th time in 16 tries and bounced back from a 10-inning loss Tuesday night when Joe Crede hit a game-winning homer.

``Every game from here on out is big. To push it back to 2 1/2 was big,'' the 6-foot-8 Elarton said. ``We think that we can still shoot for it. If it doesn't happen, so be it. We just want to make the playoffs.''
Hafner, who has homered in four straight games overall, hit a long, three-run shot to center off Jon Garland in the eighth to quiet a loud sellout crowd of 36,543. He added a two-run shot off Jeff Bajenaru in the ninth, giving him a career-high 30 for the season and 100 RBIs.

``I really didn't feel like I was able to get any good swings off Garland all night, just had trouble getting anything timed,'' Hafner said. ``I was just able to get a pitch and stay inside of it.''


Garland left the clubhouse before most reporters arrived, telling a team spokesman ``tell them I didn't have it.''

Casey Blake and Grady Sizemore also connected for Cleveland, which had 12 hits.
The Indians pushed their wild-card lead to one game over Boston while also putting more pressure on the White Sox, who've been in first place every day this season, but have lost nine of 13.

And on paper, at least, the Indians have an easier schedule over the final 11 days of the season -- four games at Kansas City, an off day, three home games against Tampa Bay and then a three-game finale at home against the White Sox.
Before the White Sox go to Jacobs Field, they must play four games at home against the Twins and then four in Detroit.

``It's tough to tell with baseball. We've been playing pretty well and hopefully we can continue to win games,'' Hafner said. ``Hopefully, that series at the end of the year means something, it would be pretty exciting.''

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 21, 11:20 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Facing Elarton for the third time this season, the White Sox couldn't generate a rally and spent most of the night hitting popups and fly balls.

``They are definitely playing the best of any team in baseball. And we wanted to take two out of three, so it's disappointing,'' Chicago's Paul Konerko said.

``I said before the series it was not the end of the season for any team, if they swept us or we swept them. ... It's still up for grabs, everything is up for grabs. But we are still 2 1/2 games up, and I like having the lead.''

Winning his fourth straight start, Elarton (11-7) allowed a third-inning single by Tadahito Iguchi and then not another hit until Aaron Rowand singled to lead off the eighth. After giving up another single to Crede, he was replaced by Bob Howry.
Garland (17-10), who started the season 8-0 and was 13-4 at the All-Star break, has just two wins in his last 10 starts. He gave up five runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings.

Blake homered for the second time in two games, a solo shot to right to give Elarton a 1-0 cushion in the third.

Sizemore's speed produced a second run in the sixth. He doubled leading off when Jermaine Dye couldn't handle his sinking liner to right and moved to third on Coco Crisp's sacrifice.

When Garland's pitch went behind the shoulder of Jhonny Peralta and got past catcher A.J. Pierzynski, Sizemore raced home, beating a throw to Garland with a good slide after Pierzynski made a quick retrieval and tossed to the plate.

Garland pitched out of a tough jam in the seventh after Victor Martinez singled and Ronnie Belliard doubled with none out. After getting a groundball for the first out with the runners holding, he intentionally walked Aaron Boone before Blake hit into a double play.

But in the eighth, Sizemore singled and, after another sacrifice by Crisp, Peralta walked. After getting in an 0-2 hole and then fouling off several pitches, Hafner connected on a full count.

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Hafner, hit in the face by a pitch from Chicago's Mark Buehrle in July, has eight career multihomer games, including three this year. ... Elarton's only major league shutout came on Aug. 29, 2004, when he pitched a two-hitter against the White Sox in Cleveland.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 11, Kansas City 6</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By DOUG TUCKER, AP Sports Writer
September 23, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 22, 11:55 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Losing a 5-1 lead on one swing hardly fazed the hottest team in the major leagues.
The Cleveland Indians weren't affected by Mark Teahen's grand slam. A two-run homer by Coco Crisp put them back ahead and they rolled to an 11-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, trimming Chicago's once-commanding lead in the AL Central to 1 1/2 games.

``That's the way we've been all year,'' said center fielder Grady Sizemore, who was 5-for-6. ``This isn't a team that panics.''

Travis Hafner walked with the bases loaded and hit a three-run homer, his sixth in five games for the Indians, who have won 15 of their last 17 games.

The Indians trailed the White Sox by 15 games on Aug. 1. They have not been this close since April 11, when they were one game behind and then lost to the White Sox.
While the Indians were handing the Royals their 100th loss, the White Sox were losing 4-1 to Minnesota in 11 innings, their 10th setback in 14 games.

But Chicago's rapidly dwindling lead was the last thing the businesslike Indians wanted to discuss.


``We're controlling what we can control, and that's playing Kansas City,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``It was a long, hard-fought game tonight and we'll expect another one tomorrow.''

A less-than-sharp Cliff Lee (18-4) won his ninth straight decision, allowing six runs and a season-high 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings.

``I was pretty lucky out there,'' said Lee, who hasn't lost since the New York Yankees beat him 5-4 on July 8. ``We got off to a pretty quick lead and I had some cushion to work with and I just gave it right back to them.''

Lee's winning percentage of .818 leads the American League.

``The credit tonight definitely goes to the hitters,'' he said.

Hafner, who hit two home runs in an 8-0 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday, connected off Runelvys Hernandez in the third, his 31st of the year that put the Indians ahead 4-1. He walked with the bases loaded in the eighth.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 22, 11:31 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>After Sizemore's RBI double put Cleveland ahead 5-1 in the fourth, Lee began the bottom of the inning by giving up singles to Matt Stairs, Angel Berroa and John Buck.
Then Teahen hit Lee's first pitch 441 feet for his first career grand slam.

``That might have been the first home run that I've ever been able to watch,'' Teahen said. ``He gave me a good pitch to hit and I jumped on it.''

It was the third grand slam Lee has given up in what has been a breakthrough season for the left-hander.

Sizemore greeted Andrew Sisco (2-4) with a leadoff single in the seventh. Crisp then hit a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center to make it 7-6.

The Royals' bullpen had not allowed a run in 17 innings.

Sisco pitched one inning and allowed two runs and three hits.

The Royals snapped the 5-5 tie in the sixth when Justin Huber led off with a high fly which popped out of shortstop Jhonny Peralta's glove in shallow left-center and was ruled a double. Huber went to third on Teahen's single and scored on Andres Blanco's sacrifice fly.

The Indians, who have homered in all but three of their last 29 games, tied it 1-all on Ronnie Belliard's RBI single in the second.

Hernandez gave up five runs and seven hits.

The Royals loaded the bases with no outs in the first but got only one run on a double-play grounder by Stairs.

``We got something going and took the lead but we couldn't hang on,'' Teahen said. ``They are a pretty good team.''

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> It's the third time in four years the Royals reached 100 losses. They are four losses short of the club record set last year. ... Royals 1B Mike Sweeney was a last-minute scratch with what the club said was a back problem. ... Teahen's grand slam was Kansas City's fourth of the year, and the fifth allowed by the Indians this year. ... In their last 29 games, the Indians have hit 57 home runs.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 7, Kansas City 6</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" type="block" width="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>September 24, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 24, 12:16 am EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Cleveland players had seen the scores.

Chicago had won, and so did Boston and New York.
The Indians needed another big victory, and once again they came through.

Travis Hafner homered in his sixth consecutive game and the Indians scored an unearned run in the ninth inning to defeat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 Friday night, remaining 1 1/2 games behind the first-place White Sox in the AL Central.

``It's fun,'' closer Bob Wickman said. ``When we win, we don't have to look at the standings. When we lose, we have to hope that someone else lost.''

Cleveland recovered after wasting a 6-2 lead and won for the ninth time in 10 games, maintaining a 1 1/2 -game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL wild-card race. The White Sox, who led the Indians by 15 games in the division on Aug. 1, beat Minnesota 3-1.

``The bullpen and starters have been strong all year,'' Wickman said. ``This series the hitters are picking us up.''

With the score 6-all in the ninth, Grady Sizemore reached on a one-out error by second baseman Andres Blanco, who failed to come up with a routine grounder.
``I just missed it,'' Blanco said. ``I was just trying to make a play and it took a little hop. It wasn't hit too hard. Those things are going to happen.''

Sizemore was running full speed down the line.

``That's the way I play,'' he said. ``It is nothing new. I want to put the pressure on the defense to get rid of the ball quick. At the end of the year all games are big. Kansas City is trying to be a spoiler.''

Coco Crisp followed with a high bouncer that pitcher Mike MacDougal (4-6) threw wildly over the head of first baseman Joe McEwing for another error, and Jhonny Peralta hit a run-scoring single. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ronnie Belliard popped out.

``He's a fast guy and I was trying to make the play,'' MacDougal said. ``We battled back. I gave up a run at the wrong time.'' <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 24, 12:11 am EDT</SMALL>
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Bob Howry (7-3) won despite allowing a two-out homer in the eighth to Mark Teahen that tied the score at 6-6.
Wickman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his league-leading 45th save in 50 chances.


Hafner hit a two-run homer off Jose Lima in the third inning and is one short of tying the Cleveland record for consecutive game with home runs, set by Jim Thome from June 25-July 3, 2002.

``He's making them count. He's done a good job of carrying this offense, being in the middle part of the order,'' Sizemore said. ``He's been a big guy for us. What he's going through now, he's doing what we all know he can do. It's nice to have a hitter like that hot at this time of year.''

Hafner's last 10 hits have been for extra-bases.

``Two weeks ago, I couldn't hit anything,'' he said. ``I've been working hard, trying to get a good pitch to hit to try to help the team. Our whole lineup, one through nine, there are no easy outs. If you walk a guy, we've got guys up and down the lineup who can drive the ball.''

The game was delayed for 14 minutes in the bottom of the eighth because of a power outage that caused the left-field lights to go dark. Cleveland led 6-5 at the time, and Teahen homered after play resumed.

Kansas City is 5-12 against the Indians this year, losing its last nine games. The Royals dropped to 52-101, three shy of the franchise record for losses set last year.

Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, 8-1 in his previous nine starts, allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings, leaving with a 6-5 lead.

``He was not quite like has been, but he still gave us a chance to win,'' Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said.

Lima gave up five runs and five hits in 2 2-3 innings and has a 7.11 ERA, the highest in major league history for a pitcher with 30 or more starts. He has yielded 31 home runs, third in the AL.

Chip Ambres led off the Royals' first with a home run -- the second leadoff home run by the Royals this season and third first since David DeJesus connected on April 23 against Chicago.

Jose Hernandez's RBI single tied the score in the second, and the Indians opened a 5-1 lead in the third on Peralta's run-scoring infield single, Hafner's homer and Belliard's RBI single that chased Lima.

Sabathia's run-scoring wild pitch cut the lead in the bottom half, and Victor Martinez made it 6-2 in the fifth an RBI double.

Kansas City closed within a run in the bottom half on Emil Brown's run-scoring single, Matt Stairs' sacrifice fly and John Buck's RBI single with two outs.

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> The Indians have homered in 27 of their past 30 games. ... The Royals are 39-64 since Buddy Bell became manager.
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[JCOSU86]

Tribe stole one last night. That's what champs do.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Tampa Bay 1, Cleveland 0</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
September 28, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 28, 10:02 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- Aaron Boone sat silently in his recliner at the far end of the Indians' quiet clubhouse, his only companions two ice wraps to help comfort a season's worth of bumps and bruises.

On Wednesday night, the pain was a little deeper.

``I just didn't get it done,'' said Boone, who failed to get a sacrifice bunt down in the eighth inning of Cleveland's 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay. ``It's frustrating.''

Suddenly, there's another AL Central team cracking under the pressure.

And for the Indians, it's happening at the worst time possible.
Seth McClung pitched eight shutout innings as the Devil Rays beat Cleveland for the fifth straight time, dropping the Indians three games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox with four to play.

McClung (7-11) allowed four hits and only two runners to reach second base while outpitching Cliff Lee (18-5) and handing the Indians their third straight setback -- the club's first three-game slide since being swept by the Devil Rays on Aug. 12-14.


The second-place Indians, who trailed the White Sox by 15 games on Aug. 1, host Chicago for three games to end the regular season. But by Friday, it might not matter who they play or where.

``It's still in our hands,'' said Lee, who lost for the first time since July 8. ``It's just going to be a little tougher.''

Despite the loss, the Indians stayed tied for the wild-card lead with Boston, which lost 7-2 to Toronto.

Lee, who had gone 9-0 with four no-decisions since his last loss, took a five-hit shutout into the eighth when Toby Hall led off with a double and was lifted for pinch-runner Joey Gathright.

Damon Hollins sacrificed and Julio Lugo's sacrifice fly made it 1-0.

Cleveland's Ben Broussard opened the bottom half with a double. Boone, though, twice failed to bunt him over before grounding out to third. Boone popped the first pitch straight back before his second attempt trickled foul down the first-base line.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 28, 9:55 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``I can count on one hand how many times I've screwed that up,'' he said.

After Boone's failed tries, Casey Blake bounced out and Grady Sizemore popped out to end Cleveland's best scoring threat against McClung, who is 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three starts this season against the Indians.

``He had intensity tonight,'' said Hall, the Devil Rays' catcher. ``He sensed blood and went after it.''

The Indians, who have been staging a season-long comeback, got a leadoff single from Coco Crisp in the ninth. But closer Danys Baez, who got Ronnie Belliard to hit into a game-ending double play on Tuesday, made Jhonny Peralta hit into one before retiring Travis Hafner on an easy grounder for his 41st save -- and 28th since the All-Star break.

The Devil Rays have four shutouts this season -- two against the Indians.
``I'm not thinking about their playoff run,'' said McClung, who came in with a 7.11 ERA. ``Tonight, I was just trying to beat them. I don't need to be thinking spoiler to be motivated.''

Boone credited McClung with handing the Indians a loss they might dwell on for months.

``We look up and see that 7.00 ERA,'' Boone said. ``We haven't seen that guy yet. He was tough. He was in control of the game, but we couldn't mount anything.''

Belliard made a remarkable defensive play at second base in the seventh to thwart a potential Tampa Bay rally and keep it scoreless.

With a runner at first, Aubrey Huff hit a grounder toward center that Belliard stopped with a headlong dive. While lying face down, Belliard blindly flipped the ball backhanded and behind his back to Peralta at second for the force, drawing a gasp from the crowd and a lengthy standing ovation.

``That was one of the best plays you'll ever see at second base,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

Belliard had a chance for more heroics in the bottom of the inning. Victor Martinez doubled with two outs for Cleveland's third hit off McClung, but he was left stranded when Belliard struck out.

Tempers flared briefly in the fourth inning when Crisp and Hall exchanged words near home plate, briefly emptying both benches and bullpens. As McClung stared in at his target, Crisp, who goes through a lengthy routine before each pitch, was taking his time before getting into the batter's box.

The delay agitated Hall, who motioned for Crisp to step in before the players had to be separated by plate umpire Rick Reed and Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella, in the unusual role of peacemaker.

Later, all was forgiven.

``We kissed and made up,'' Crisp said.

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> The Indians have sold out all three weekend games for their showdown series against the White Sox. ... In Mark Hendrickson and Scott Kazmir, the Devil Rays have two 10-game winners for the first time in club history. ... With 92 wins, the Indians have won more games than the Cleveland teams in 1997, 1998 and 2001 that won AL Central titles. ... Indians RHP Bob Howry made his 76th appearance, breaking Sid Monge's club record (1979).
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland 6, Tampa Bay 0</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
September 29, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 29, 9:45 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- The mind-bending mathematics and head-scratching scenarios aren't so complicated. And the big weekend series isn't quite so big anymore, either.
For the Cleveland Indians, it's become pretty simple: three wins and they're in the AL playoffs.

``Anyway we can get in is fine,'' C.C. Sabathia said. ``I just want to get in, period. We all know what we have to do.''

Sabathia pitched eight shutout innings, Travis Hafner homered and the Indians, who conceded the AL Central title to Chicago earlier in the day, stayed tied for the wild-card lead by rolling to a 6-0 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday night.
In salvaging the series finale, the Indians (93-66) snapped a three-game losing streak that helped the White Sox hold onto their dwindling lead and clinch the division. Cleveland is tied with the Boston Red Sox atop the wild-card standings with three games left.
Even if they sweep three from the White Sox this weekend, the Indians won't win the division crown. But they would capture the wild card, which as recent postseason history has shown isn't such a bad thing. The last three World Series champions -- Boston, Florida and the Angels -- all entered the postseason as wild cards.

``When the White Sox were 15 games ahead, we were looking at the wild card anyway,'' Sabathia said. ``Now, it's up for grabs.''


Sabathia (15-10) allowed five hits and improved to 9-1 in his last 11 starts as the Indians ended Tampa Bay's five-game win streak at Jacobs Field. He walked two, struck out nine, and the 290-pound left-hander even outran Aubrey Huff to first after barehanding the outfielder's comebacker to end the fourth.

``I don't think he wanted to collide with me,'' Sabathia said with a laugh. ``He slowed up a little bit for me.''

In the fifth, Sabathia, who has not allowed a run at home in 19 innings, retired the side on just three pitches.

Hafner and Ronnie Belliard hit two-run homers in the first off Casey Fossum (8-12) and Jhonny Peralta hit a solo shot in the third as the Indians enjoyed an easy night in the midst of the season's most nerve-racking week.

Although they dropped three one-run games in a row, the Indians have insisted they aren't feeling any pressure of the playoff chase. Just in case, someone wrote: ``Have Fun'' on the erasable message boards throughout Cleveland's clubhouse before the game.

They took it to heart, relieving some of the tension in the first inning when Hafner connected for his 33rd homer and Belliard hit his 16th, putting the Indians up 4-0 and giving them their first lead of the series.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Sep 29, 9:41 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``We did a great job of jumping on them early,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ``C.C. did the rest.''

Peralta drew a two-out walk from Fossum before Hafner snapped an 0-for-12 slide by ripping a 3-2 pitch over the wall in straightaway center. Victor Martinez followed with a single and Belliard pulled his homer to left.

``Before the game,'' Belliard said, ``I told C.C., 'You're the guy and we're going to score runs for you.' We just have to keep winning now.''

The big lead helped Sabathia cruise through the early innings as he retired 13 of 14 after allowing a pair of singles in the first.

``It was too much Sabathia,'' Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said.

The Indians went ahead 5-0 in second and Peralta made it 6-0 an inning later with his 24th homer, the most in one season by a Cleveland shortstop. The leadoff shot broke Woodie Held's team record set in 1961.

Peralta's homer also gave the Indians 50 in September, tying a club mark set in 1997 and 1950.

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> With Sabathia and Cliff Lee (18-5), the Indians have two left-handers with at least 15 wins for the first time since 1940 when Al Milnar (18-10) and Al Smith (15-7) did it. ... Devil Rays SS Julio Lugo and OF Carl Crawford became the ninth set of teammates since 1900 and the fourth since 1925 to have at least 180 hits and 35 steals in one season. The last duo to do it was Cleveland's Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel in 1999. ... Sabathia is 6-1 in seven career starts against Tampa Bay. ... Martinez has hit safely in 12 straight games. ... Tampa Bay rookie RHP Chad Orvella is done for the season with a sore right shoulder. ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Tampa Bay's two 1-0 shutouts at Jacobs Field this season were the first by a visiting team at the ballpark. Also, the Devil Rays are the first team to post a pair of 1-0 shutouts on the road against the same opponent since Minnesota did it to Detroit in 1999.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>So Close And Yet ... Another 1-Run Loss

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Casey Blake dislikes Brian O'Nora's strike zone.

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Chuck Murr Indians Ink
Date: Oct 1, 2005

The 160th game of the season was exactly like so many others for the Indians -- another one-run loss. After falling to the Chicago White Sox in 13 innings, 3-2, Cleveland has only two more scheduled games left in the regular season yet could play a 163rd game.
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"We win them both, we know we've got at least a playoff on Monday," said Indians starter Kevin Millwood after another gut-wrenching performance in which he got no run support.

The latest heartbreaking loss dropped the Indians one game back of both Boston and New York in the wild-card race.

But two Cleveland wins gets them into the postseason as the wild-card winner should either the Yankees or Red Sox win twice more to clinch the AL East. If the Indians win twice and Boston and New York split, all three would finish with 95-67 records. The Yankees and Red Sox would have a one-game playoff to decide the AL East winner -- with the loser facing Cleveland for the wild-card berth.

Winning only one more could get Cleveland (93-67) another chance, but only if either the Red Sox or Yankees sweep. Then Cleveland and the loser of the other series would each be 94-66 and play one game for the wild-card berth.

None of those games could be as exciting as the one before a nervous crowd of 41,062 at Jacobs Field on Friday night that sat on the edge of their seats for eight tense innings, then stood and cheered as the Indians tied it in an exciting ninth-inning rally.

"We did a nice job of coming back, but the story of the game was not being able to get the big hit," said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge.

The Indians are 0-for-23 with runners in scoring position since Tuesday night -- and have lost four of five games this week, all by one run.

The great American statesman Benjamin Franklin described it perfectly more than 200 years ago when he said: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Cleveland continues to play one-run games and hopes to win them, but is now 22-35 in one-run results, including 0-8 against the White Sox.

This time, they did it against a lineup comprised of reserves and prospects as Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen rested many of his regulars, one day after the White Sox clinched the AL Central championship. One of those replacements, Ross Gload, lined a two-run double in the 13th that put Chicago ahead 3-1 and the White Sox hung on to clinch the best overall record in the AL and secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Willie Harris hit a one-out triple off rookie Fernando Cabrera (2-1), but was out at the plate when first baseman Ben Broussard fielded a bunt by Scott Podsednik and threw home for the easy out. Podsednik went to second on the play and pinch-hitter Paul Konerko was intentionally walked. Gload, who was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, lined a 2-1 pitch to center for two runs.

"It was a fastball and he jumped on it," Cabrera said. "The ball was supposed to be away, but it was down the middle. One mistake. It is frustrating."

"Both teams battled and we had several opportunities, but didn't take advantage," Wedge said. "This was a tough one."

It was made tougher by the inablity to score in the 11th with the bases loaded and one out. Or by failing to score in the first after leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore doubled and went to third with none out.

They did rally to tie it in the ninth. Travis Hafner poked a single the other way and was replaced by pinch-runner Franklin Gutierrez, who raced to third on a double down the left-field line by Victor Martinez. Ron Belliard then hit a broken-bat grounder to short that scored Gutierrez, with Martinez holding second.

Ben Broussard was intentionally walked and Aaron Boone hit a grounder to second baseman Willie Harris, who tried to tag Broussard halfway to second, but missed before throwing to first for the second out of the inning. Meanwhile, Martinez rounded third and headed for home as first baseman Gload threw back to Harris to get Broussard in a rundown, tagging him out before the run could score.

In the 11th, the Indians loaded the bases, but Broussard struck out and Boone bounced into a forceout.

"We had chances tonight," Boone said. "We just have to be better tomorrow."

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in a painful fifth for Millwood, who had started the game by yielded two singles and two stolen bases before getting out of that jam and retiring 13 in a row. With one out, Chris Widger singled. Geoff Blum then lined a wicked shot off Millwood's left knee for another single -- the ball ricocheting all the way out to right-fielder Casey Blake and Widger went to third.

"I'm OK, but it'll probably be real sore tomorrow," said Millwood, who was attended to by trainer Lonnie Soloff.

Harris lined his next pitch for an RBI single.

White Sox starter Mark Buehrle gave up only three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless, striking out six.

Millwood allowed only five hits and the one run over seven innings, striking out nine without a walk. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.86 as he tries to become the first Cleveland pitcher since Rick Sutcliffe in 1982 to lead that category. If he does hold off Minnesota's Johan Santana (2.92 ERA and pitching Sunday), Millwood would become the first AL pitcher with a losing record to lead in ERA since Cleveland's Mel Harder went 15-17 with a 2.95 ERA in 1933.

While five Indians pitchers combined to strike out 15; eight Chicago pitchers combined to fan 16. Cliff Politte (7-1) pitched a scoreless 12th. Bobby Jenks allowed Belliard's 17th homer on a 1-2 pitch with two outs in the 13th, but got Broussard to pop to short to end it for his fifth save.

"We'll bounce back," Boone said. "As tough as a loss this is to swallow, I am not worried about us bouncing back."
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Chi White Sox 3, Cleveland 1</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
October 2, 2005
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Oct 2, 5:31 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians' surprising season won't be remembered for six months of stirring comebacks, scintillating streaks or personal milestones.
Unfair or not, one agonizing week erased it all.
With the AL playoffs again in their sights, and just as September turned to October, the Indians simply collapsed.

``It's disappointing,'' third baseman Aaron Boone said. ``We were so close.''

Needing to win their home finale and hoping the New York Yankees could win at Boston to force a one-game tiebreaker with the Red Sox for the AL wild card, Cleveland lost 3-1 to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
The loss concluded a disastrous final seven days for the Indians (93-69), who dropped six of their last seven games and barely missed the playoffs. The defeat also handed the wild card to the Red Sox -- a postseason spot that appeared reserved for Cleveland just a few days ago.

``We played so well for so long, we were bound to hit a tough stretch,'' Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia said in a somber Cleveland clubhouse. ``It just happened in the last week of the season.''


After Grady Sizemore bounced to second for the final out, several Indians lingered in the dugout, simply staring out to the field as the sellout crowd gave the team one last standing ovation to acknowledge a season few thought possible.
On his way to the dugout, Sizemore, one of the Indians' rising young stars, tossed his helmet and yanked out his jersey before being stopped by Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen.

``I told Sizemore, 'Keep playing kid, you and your team had a great season,''' Guillen said. ``He's a player who is great for baseball. The bad news is that I've got to face him.''

Rookie Brandon McCarthy (3-2) took a shutout into the sixth, Jermaine Dye homered and the White Sox tuned up for their first-round series with Boston. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago.

The White Sox (99-63) had already clinched the AL Central by the time they arrived on Friday for a series that was mostly meaningless for them, and many wondered how hard they would play with their fate determined.

On Friday, they clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 3-2 win in 13 innings. On Saturday, they held on for a 4-3 win, and Sunday they completed a three-game sweep to finish 14-5 -- 9-1 at Jacobs Field -- against the Indians.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
<SMALL>AP - Oct 2, 5:22 pm EDT</SMALL>
More Photos</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>``We played these three games the way we did earlier in the season,'' Aaron Rowand said. ``We had so much stuff thrown at us, but once we clinched, we relaxed and beat a very good team.''

Cleveland, on the other hand, fell apart.

Entering last Sunday's game at Kansas City, the Indians were 1 1/2 games ahead in the wild-card race and 1 1/2 behind the free-falling White Sox, who led the division by 15 games on Aug. 1 and were on the verge of an historic collapse.

But beginning with a 5-4 loss to the Royals, a defeat that was sealed when Sizemore lost a ninth-inning fly ball in the Missouri sunshine, the Indians played more like the team that started 9-14 in April, not the one that went 39-18 since July 31.

``I don't know what happened this last week,'' Travis Hafner said. ``We just didn't finish it off.''

Cleveland fans will look back and remember the clutch hits that never came despite countless chances in the past few days. The Indians went 7-for-56 (.125) with runners in scoring position in the final seven games -- five of them one-run losses.
``We expected to win today. We expected to win the whole last week,'' outfielder Casey Blake said. ``When we really needed the runs, they were hard to come by.''

The Indians' offensive woes wasted strong pitching performances by starters Cliff Lee, Kevin Millwood and Jake Westbrook. And sadly for them, the Indians' turnaround -- they went 80-82 in 2004 -- will be overshadowed by a stumble at the finish.

``We ended like we started,'' said closer Bob Wickman, who is eligible for free agency. ``We came up one game short. But the guys should be very proud of what they've accomplished.''

Trailing by three, the Indians tried to rally in the sixth as Hafner and Victor Martinez hit consecutive doubles to pull Cleveland to 3-1. McCarthy, trying to convince Guillen to put him on the postseason roster, was lifted for reliever Luis Vizcaino, who retired three straight.

Orlando Hernandez worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth and finished for his first save since 2002 with the Yankees.

``We'll definitely get over this,'' Boone said. ``The good thing is that we'll go to spring training with a focus and a confidence that we can do this. But now we'll go home and think about what could have been.''

Dye, who rested his sore left leg in the first two games of the series, gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the first with his 31st homer, a 409-foot shot into the left-field bleachers off Scott Elarton (11-9).

Dye's homer gave Chicago 200 this season, making the White Sox and Yankees the first teams in major league history to hit at least 200 in six straight years.

Chicago added a run in the second on Joe Crede's RBI single, and an inning later the White Sox made it 3-0 on Paul Konerko's sacrifice fly.

<SMALL>Notes</SMALL> Millwood (2.86) won the AL ERA title, edging Minnesota's Johan Santana (2.87). Millwood is the first Cleveland pitcher to lead the league in ERA since Rick Sutcliffe in 1982. ... With 36 one-run losses, the Indians are the first team to drop more than 50 percent of their losses by one run since 1971, when the Houston Astros went 79-83, losing 43 by a run. ... Guillen hasn't set his playoff rotation, but it's likely he'll go with Jose Contreras in Game 1 followed by Mark Buehrle in Game 2. ... The White Sox have won seven straight in Cleveland, their longest streak since July 1, 1959, to May 13, 1960. ... Chicago's 99 wins were its most since 1983, and one shy of the club record set in 1917 -- the last time the White Sox won the World Series.
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