Indians blank Blue Jays to earn World Series berth

TORONTO, Canada – Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp smacked solo home runs to help the Cleveland Indians blank the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0, and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1997. The Indians defeated the Jays four games to one in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

Cleveland awaits the winner of the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers as it looks to break a 68-year championship drought.

The Indians got off to a hot start behind an unlikely hero. Twenty-four year-old Ryan Merritt, making just his second Major League start, tossed four-and-one-thirds scoreless innings on 49 pitches. Merritt struck out three and conceded just two hits in the effort.

Mike Napoli gave Merritt early run support with an RBI double off Marco Estrada in the top of the first inning, scoring Francisco Lindor. Santana and Crisp added insurance runs with round-trippers in the third and fourth innings, respectively.

Cleveland relievers Bryan Shaw, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen combined for four-and-two-thirds innings of shutout ball to close the door for the Tribe. Miller earned ALCS MVP honors, tossing seven-and-two-thirds shutout innings with 14 strikeouts, no walks and one save.

The Indians have now captured six American League Pennants (1920, ’48, ’54, ’95, ’97, 2016) to go along with two World Series titles (1920, ’48). The quest for a third begins Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Progressive Field.