If the Major League Baseball season ended today, the Cleveland Indians would be in the playoffs. Well, they would be one of two teams in the wild card play-in game, but it’s still impressive for a team that finished a mere 68-94 last year.
I mean, the Indians finished the 2012 campaign so poorly that they fired former manager Manny Acta with six games remaining, so who would’ve imagined the turnaround the franchise would experience in just one year?
Under the tutelage of first-year coach Terry Francona, as well as the veteran leadership from new faces Nick Swisher, Jason Giambi and Michael Bourn, this year’s version of the Indians has exceeded expectations and battled through adversity.
This was the exact case at Progressive Field on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox.
Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9), who has recorded an American League-best earned run average of 1.83 since the All-Star break, struck out seven and exited after allowing just two runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched, though the Indians trailed 2-1.
However, they battled back, as they have done all season.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Michael Brantley launched a solo homer to tie the game, which sparked a rally leading up to Jason Kipnis’ RBI single scoring Mike Aviles just four batters later.
It appeared as if the Indians would coast into their fifth consecutive win, but then Chris Perez stepped on the hill.
Perez, the club’s closer, has not been a fan favorite this season to say the least, because of the many important save situations he has blown.
The first batter, Dayan Viciedo, hit a solo home run to tie the game.
Three batters later, Alejandro De Aza, hit another solo shot.
After allowing another single, Perez was pulled by Francona and entered the dugout to a chorus of boos from fans in the stands and from me watching from my living room.
But, as has been the case in Cleveland all season, the Indians did not give up hope.
With two outs, in the bottom of the ninth, 42-year-old pinch hitter Jason Giambi belted a two-run, walk-off home run, which led to a mob scene at home plate.
Radio play-by-play voice Tom Hamilton called the walk-off and described the reaction as, “Mardi Gras in September in Cleveland.”
The magic that fans experienced during the team’s two World Series appearances in the 1990s is back and I couldn’t be any more excited.
I just hope they can keep it going for the final four games of the regular season.
Chad Lindskog is the Sports Editor for The Post and a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Have you also been excited with Indians’ playoff push? Let him know at cl027410@ohiou.edu or tweet him @ChadLindskog.
