CLEVELAND _ As Cody Allen scraped gum off the bottom of his boots before exiting the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium after Monday night's Game 4 loss, the mood around him was of frustration but not panic.
The Indians had two chances to put away the New York Yankees on the road and failed to do so twice. The series has now turned to a "do-or-die" Game 5 in Cleveland on Wednesday night.
The Indians, of course, have been in a similar spot before, that being Game 7 of the World Series last year. It's not unfamiliar territory, nor was it entirely unexpected, at least the possibility of facing some adversity or eventually being in a tight spot during this postseason run. The Indians knew they wouldn't just skate through the postseason.
Now, beaten twice and with the momentum in the Yankees' favor, they have had a chance to clean up and prepare for Game 5.
"We've been in big games before," Allen said. "Unfortunately, we came into New York and we didn't quite play the baseball that we needed to play. ... It's going to be all-hands-on-deck. Everybody's ready to go. These are the games, the do-or-die baseball, playing in the backyard, front yard, [that] you want, so you just show up and try to play."
Jason Kipnis didn't have to pick anything off his shoes before leaving the clubhouse in New York. But he echoed Allen's sentiment.
"You know what? I don't think any of us were going into this thinking we were going to win every single game," Kipnis said. "I don't think we went into this thinking there'd be no adversity, no part of the process that we had to overcome. ... We'll be on full throttle when we come into Game 5."
Indians manager Terry Francona has often said he believes that momentum in baseball really only comes down to the next day's starting pitcher. It's something Allen agreed with, pointing out the Indians had all the momentum in this series until going to New York and facing a lights-out Masahiro Tanaka in Game 3. Francona has seen how a series can turn after he guided the Boston Red Sox to four consecutive wins over the Yankees after trailing 3-0 in the 2004 ALCS.
With the tables turning on the Indians, Francona did something he normally doesn't and held a quick team meeting following the Game 4 loss that evened the series. It was only about 30 seconds long, and it wasn't a yelling session.
"We just wanted to make sure, as a group, we figure this out together," Francona said. "It wasn't a rah-rah. It was just, 'Hey, let's remember who we are, how we got there and what we do.' I was glad we did it, because I felt better when we left. You might as well start heading in the right direction as soon as you can."
The Indians are likely in a spot they'd have accepted before the season began, having ace Corey Kluber on the mound at home in a decisive game. The Yankees hold the momentum and roughed up Kluber in Game 2. Still, the likely Cy Young winner taking the ball is something that can still have the Indians feeling like they're in the driver's seat.
"He's a hell of a driver," outfielder Jay Bruce said. "Yeah, absolutely. I know the regular season doesn't really matter, but we earned the right to play Game 5 at home. That's something we're going to embrace."
Not many teams have been able to light up Kluber like the Yankees did in Game 2 in the past few seasons. Even fewer have success twice. Kluber was succinct in answering what he thinks he could correct for Game 5.
"Everything," Kluber said, smiling. "I didn't pitch well, didn't have good command, didn't throw the ball where I wanted to. So that's kind of what it boils down to."
Now, the series boils down to one game with the Houston Astros waiting to take on the winner. Kluber will try to change everything for the game that means everything.
