Left fielder Cameron Maybin was also out of the lineup

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CLEVELAND (AP) — The master plan was for Trevor Bauer to be Cleveland’s secret weapon Logan Forsythe Jersey , the October surprise.But that idea, and just about everything else the Indians tried, was tossed away.Bauer’s two throwing errors in the seventh inning helped Houston rally for three runs and the Astros overwhelmed the Indians 11-3 in Game 3 to complete a surprising sweep in the AL Division Series.After waiting months for a chance at redemption from blowing a 2-0 lead and losing to the New York Yankees in last year’s ALDS, the Indians fell flat in the fall once again.And the majors’ longest World Series title drought has aged to 71.“We were just outplayed,” said center fielder Jason Kipnis, who was moved from his normal spot at second for the second year in a row. “I wish it weren’t that simple. It just seems from top to bottom we were out-scouted, out-pitched, out-coached a little bit. They really did just a fantastic job over there of being ready and prepared before the series.“I don’t think we were underprepared, they just went out and executed and played the way you need to play to win.”The Indians were inept across the board.They batted a collective .144, with All-Star Jose Ramirez continuing his postseason slump by going hitless in 11 at-bats. He’s now batting .064 (2 of 31) over the last two playoffs, hardly numbers worthy of an MVP-caliber player.Josh Donaldson, whose acquisition was supposed to put the Indians over the top, didn’t get his first hit until the ninth inning of Game 3 and the Indians were outscored 21-6 in the three-game blowout.But pitching, and more precisely Cleveland’s flawed bullpen, was the main reason why the club watched a third straight team celebrate on its field before trashing the visitors’ locker room at Progressive Field.For months, the Indians managed to work around their bullpen issues, which were exacerbated by injuries. But when it mattered most http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-mark-lowe-jersey , the same problems popped up again.Andrew Miller, the star of Cleveland’s 2016 postseason run, was never himself as the left-hander spent three stints on the disabled three times for his hamstring, knee and shoulder.Miller wasn’t charged with a run in his two appearances, but he retired only one batter, walked three and gave up a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning of Game 2.“There were certainly times it was a grind,” said the 33-year-old, who is almost certain to sign elsewhere as a free agent. “Missing time was the hardest part for me. I felt like I was ready to go when the season wound down and I was in a good spot. There were certainly pitches that I didn’t execute in the series.“We tried to script things as best we could for me personally and for other guys on the team as well to be as sharp and as ready as we could for the playoffs. When the games started, obviously, it wasn’t good enough.”Bauer, who was having a Cy Young Award-worthy season before his leg was broken by a line drive in August, absorbed the brunt of Cleveland’s relief issues.Manager Terry Francona chose to use him in a relief role, mostly because it was his best option with both Miller and closer Cody Allen struggling.Bauer pitched in Games 1 and 2, and entered Game 3 with the Indians clinging to a 2-1 lead in the seventh. But the right-hander made two throwing errors, one on a pickoff throw and the other on a comebacker he should have turned into an inning-ending double play.Instead, the Astros scored three runs and wound up scoring 10 in their final three at-bats to put a bow on the blowout.Bauer accepted the role Kenta Maeda Jersey , but it wasn’t the one he envisioned having.“I executed pretty well pitch-wise,” he said. “Obviously didn’t execute defensively. But it is what it is, man. That was my role. Tito and I and a couple other guys had a meeting in Chicago towards the end of the year. I let them know what I had to say and they let me know what they had to say. I told them when I leave this room, ‘I’m 100 percent bought in on my role.’ That’s what I did. I left that room and got ready to pitch out of the bullpen. It is what it is.”And it is going to be another long winter for the Indians, who could look drastically different next season with Miller, Allen and All-Star Michael Brantley all eligible for free agency.“We tried. It’s tough,” Miller said. “There’s probably a million things you can point to why we didn’t win three games. It’s tough. It’s one of those things. You take the hand you’re dealt and make the most out of it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for us.” ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Nelson Cruz has enjoyed plenty of success over the years against the Los Angeles Angels.This season has been the best yet.The veteran slugger hit a three-run homer, Mike Leake pitched seven strong innings and the Seattle Mariners started a 10-game road trip with an 8-2 victory over the Angels on Thursday night.Cruz’s shot to center field off Neal Ramirez in the fourth was his eighth homer this season versus the Angels, the most by one player in a single year against the franchise, according to Baseball-Reference.“That ball was in the air forever,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Nelson has always swung the bat good against them, for whatever reason. He sees the ball good in this ballpark. There’s really no ballpark that can hold him, but he sees real good pitches here.”The home run was also Cruz’s 50th against the Angels, which gave him the second-most for any player against the team. Alex Rodriguez hit 70.“I play a lot against them,” Cruz said. “So maybe that’s why.”Cruz Matt Kemp Jersey , Mitch Haniger, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager each had two of Seattle’s 12 hits.Los Angeles was eliminated from playoff contention.Leake (10-9) threw a season-high 114 pitches (80 strikes), allowing one run and four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. His only costly mistake came in the seventh when Justin Upton homered to left.After going 0-5 in July and August, Leake has won two straight starts for the first time since June 12. It was also the ninth time in 29 starts this season that the right-hander has gone seven innings or more.“It’s kind of nice to see. I had to work to get down in the zone a little bit more,” Leake said.Angels starter Odrisamer Despaigne (0-3) went only one-plus inning, allowing three runs and four hits while facing eight batters. He promptly gave up two runs in the first as the first three batters reached base. Haniger led off the game with a double and was driven in two batters later when Cano singled. A sacrifice fly by Ryon Healy scored Denard Span.“When you have a negative ball-strike ratio, you know things aren’t going your way,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Haniger’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the second scored Ben Gamel and extended the lead to 3-0.The Mariners added two runs in the ninth. Seager’s single scored Cano, and Cruz came home on a bases-loaded walk.Upton had two hits and Mike Trout added a pair of doubles for the Angels.Los Angeles got a run in the ninth when Trout scored on Jose Fernandez’s fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.ANOTHER MILESTONETrout became the fifth player in major league history and the second in the American League with seven seasons of 60 extra-base hits or more by his age 26 season. He joined Rodriguez, Orlando Cepeda, Frank Robinson and Mel Ott. Trout is batting .375 (18 for 4 over his last 15 games with three home runs and eight RBIs.BULLPEN GAMESIt was the second time in three games that the Angels essentially resorted to a bullpen game. Tuesday’s was planned as eight pitchers combined on a two-hitter to beat Texas 1-0. Scioscia said Thursday that it’s likely he will have to go with another bullpen game next week.TRAINER’S ROOMMariners: SS Jean Segura missed his third straight game with a flu-like illness, according to Servais. Segura did take part in batting practice and could return to the lineup sometime this weekend. Left fielder Cameron Maybin was also out of the lineup for the second straight day due to illness.Angels: Tyler Skaggs threw a 48-pitch simulated game in Arizona. The left-hander has been on the disabled list since Aug. 12 due to a groin strain. Scioscia said Skaggs will return to Anaheim to determine his next step.UP NEXTMariners: With lefty James Paxton scratched due to pneumonia, Seattle had not announced a starter for Friday. Servais said it will be a bullpen game.Angels: Matt Shoemaker (2-0, 3.45 ERA) will make his first start at home since June 14, 2017. The right-hander has missed most of the season after injuring his right forearm on March 31 against Oakland.
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