CLEVELAND _ The Indians' season is over, and another year of their competitive window has gone to waste.
After waiting all season to get to the playoffs with little need for urgency, the Indians will pack up the Progressive Field clubhouse without a win to show for it when it mattered most. Taking advantage of the struggling Indians bullpen, the Houston Astros rolled to an 11-3 win Monday afternoon in Game 3 of the American League Division Series to complete a three-game sweep.
The Indians have now lost six consecutive postseason games dating back to last year and seven of their last nine since leading 3-1 in the 2016 World Series. It was the first time the Indians have been swept in a postseason series in 64 years _ when they lost the 1954 World Series to the New York Giants in four games.
The defending champion Astros advanced to the American League Championship Series to face either the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox.
The Indians held a one-run lead for the second consecutive game and again watched it slip away. This time, it was partially self-inflicted.
With the Indians ahead 2-1 on Francisco Lindor's fifth-inning solo home run, Astros No. 9 hitter Tony Kemp led off the seventh with a single against Trevor Bauer, who was in his second inning of relief. Kemp then advanced to second on a throwing error by Bauer on a pick-off attempt, and George Springer followed with dribbling infield single to put runners on the corners with nobody out and the most dangerous part of the Astros lineup due up.
Jose Altuve tied it with a ground ball to the left side for a fielder's choice that scored Kemp from third, and Alex Bregman followed with a tapper back to the mound to Bauer, who turned to second for a potential inning-ending double play. Instead, Bauer's throw was errant and pulled Lindor off the base, and Lindor's throw to first was late. So, instead of possibly getting out of the inning, both runners were safe.
Yuli Gurriel walked to load the bases before Bauer fell behind Marwin Gonzalez 3-0. Bauer delivered one strike, but Gonzalez drove his 3-1 pitch to left field for a two-run, back-breaking double and a 4-2 Astros lead.
The Astros then pounded the Indians for a six-run eighth inning in front of a Progressive Field crowd that grew quiet as the inevitable drew near.
Springer belted his second home run of the game, a solo blast off Cody Allen to center field to make it 5-2. Springer had earlier homered off Indians starter Mike Clevinger (5 innings, three hits, 1 ER, nine strikeouts) to tie the score at 1 in the fifth inning.
A double, wild pitch and two intentional walks loaded the bases again. Brad Hand entered, and the Astros put the series away for good when Gonzalez singled home a run, Bregman scored on a wild pitch and Carlos Correa belted a three-run home run.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead on Michael Brantley's sacrifice fly in the third inning off Astros starter Dallas Keuchel. After Springer tied it in the fifth, Lindor launched a 446-foot blast that hit the facing of the clock that hangs from the walkway behind the Home Run Porch.
It was all a disaster after that for the Indians, who watched an opposing team celebrate on their home field for the third consecutive year.
