On Sunday in Jacobs Field, 43,607 fans braved an October chill and 30-mph gusts off Lake Erie to watch Cleveland's 3-2 victory in Game 5 of the American League championship series.
Jim Thome followed Eddie Murray's double in the sixth inning with a two-run homer into the second deck in right field to put the Indians ahead, 3-2, but even with temperatures dipping into the 40s, Cleveland sweated out the victory.
With two on and one out in the seventh, Indians' reliever Paul Assenmacher struck out Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner. With two on and one out in the eighth, Indians' shortstop Omar Vizquel turned a potential RBI single into an unassisted double play.
And with two out in the ninth, Indians' center fielder Kenny Lofton turned Edgar Martinez's drive to the deepest part of the field into a game-ending out, as hearts resumed beating in the Cleveland dugout.
"That was about as exciting as I'd like it to get," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said.
Cleveland is now one victory away from its first World Series appearance in 41 years, but looming large in Game 6 on Tuesday is Seattle left-hander Randy Johnson, perhaps the game's most feared pitcher.
"We're going into the mouth of a lion," said Hargrove, who will start 40- year-old Dennis Martinez.
Starter Orel Hershiser gave up only five hits in six innings to improve his career postseason record to 7-0.
Braves 6, Reds 0. In Atlanta, the Braves got a three-run homer from Most Valuable Player Mike Devereaux and a combined three-hitter from four pitchers to beat Cincinnati 6-0 on Saturday night and finish a four-game sweep.
Atlanta, which reached the World Series in 1991 and 1992, has six days off before starting the Series at home against Cleveland or Seattle.
Atlanta trailed only once in the four games, won twice in its last at-bat and outscored Cincinnati 19-5. The Reds hit just .103 with runners in scoring position.
Aside from starting pitcher Pete Schourek, the Reds didn't put up much of a fight in their last game under manager Davey Johnson, who will be replaced by Ray Knight next season. Cincinnati struck out 10 times and hit into three double plays.
The Braves broke open the game in the seventh when Marquis Grissom led off with a triple and scored on a passed ball. After a pair of walks by Mike Jackson, Devereaux hit a three-run homer to left field. (LAT, AP)
(For other results, see Scorecard.)
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