For 8 innings on Thursday night, the Indians' offense was utterly hopeless.
Facing a mediocre Blue Jays' pitching staff, the Tribe wasted 1 golden opportunity after another.
As a result, Toronto enjoyed a 4-0 cushion when the bottom of the 9th began.
What happened next almost defies explanation.
Travis Buck lined a single to center field. Matt LaPorta drilled a double into the right field corner. Jack Hannahan worked a walk. Suddenly the Indians had the bases loaded, the Jays were yet to record an out, and the tying run, Michael Brantley, was striding toward the batter's box.
Sensing disaster, Toronto manager John Farrell yanked Frank Francisco and inserted Luis Perez, a young lefty who had never earned a save at the major or minor league level. The decision, though, paid dividends initially because Perez whiffed Brantley.
Cleveland's comeback bid appeared to be losing steam.
But the Tribe is a team that refuses to quit, and that never-say-die attitude was about to be rewarded.
Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single pulled the Indians to within 3 and brought Travis Hafner to the plate. Pronk is usually a patient hitter, but on this occasion the slugger launched the 1st pitch he saw deep into the right field bleachers. The Indians stormed the field to celebrate the walk-off grand slam that capped what was arguably the Tribe's most dramatic victory of the season.
Prior to Hafner's heroics, Zach McAllister made his major league debut. McAllister allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4 frames of work. McAllister was shaky, but he never imploded. If he had crumbled, the Indians would have probably been unable to stage their late rally.
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| A home plate celebration capped this improbable win |
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