The Indians win their first pennant since 1997 by defeating the Blue Jays, 3 – 0, in Game 5 of the ALCS. Homers by Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp give them the runs they need, while rookie Ryan Merritt gives up no runs in 4 1/3 innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen, which shines once again. Reliever Andrew Miller pitches another 2 2/3 scoreless inning and is named the Series’ MVP in recognition of a four dominating outings, all during critical phases of wins by the Indians.

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The Indians win their first pennant since 1997 by defeating the Blue Jays, 3 – 0, in Game 5 of the ALCS. Homers by Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp give them the runs they need, while rookie Ryan Merritt gives up no runs in 4 1/3 innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen, which shines once again. Reliever Andrew Miller pitches another 2 2/3 scoreless inning and is named the Series’ MVP in recognition of a four dominating outings, all during critical phases of wins by the Indians.

The Cubs tie the NLCS at two wins apiece with a 10 – 2 beating of the Dodgers as they tee off on two rookie pitchers, Julio Urias and Ross Stripling. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo both end long hitting droughts with homers.

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The Cubs tie the NLCS at two wins apiece with a 10 – 2 beating of the Dodgers as they tee off on two rookie pitchers, Julio Urias and Ross Stripling. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo both end long hitting droughts with homers.

Rich Hill pitches 6 scoreless innings to lead Los Angeles to its second consecutive shutout win over the Cubs, 6 – 0, in Game 3 of the NLCS. Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner hit homers off Jake Arrieta to lead the offence.

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Rich Hill pitches 6 scoreless innings to lead Los Angeles to its second consecutive shutout win over the Cubs, 6 – 0, in Game 3 of the NLCS. Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner hit homers off Jake Arrieta to lead the offence.

Toronto staves off elimination by winning Game 4 of the ALCS, 5 – 1, over Cleveland. Josh Donaldson homers off Corey Kluber in the 3rd to give Toronto its first lead of the series and the Blue Jays score three late runs to make a winner of Aaron Sanchez.

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Toronto staves off elimination by winning Game 4 of the ALCS, 5 – 1, over Cleveland. Josh Donaldson homers off Corey Kluber in the 3rd to give Toronto its first lead of the series and the Blue Jays score three late runs to make a winner of Aaron Sanchez.

The Indians take a three games to none lead over the Blue Jays in the ALCS with a 4 – 2 win. Starter Trevor Bauer is forced to leave the game with two outs in the 1st because a pre-existing cut on the little finger of his pitching hand has started bleeding, but six relievers combine to suffocate the Jays bats again, with Bryan Shaw getting credit for the win and Andrew Miller picking up the save. Mike Napoli wakes up from a postseason-long slump with a solo homer and an RBI double while Jason Kipnis puts Cleveland ahead to stay with a homer off Marcus Stroman in the 6th.

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The Indians take a three games to none lead over the Blue Jays in the ALCS with a 4 – 2 win. Starter Trevor Bauer is forced to leave the game with two outs in the 1st because a pre-existing cut on the little finger of his pitching hand has started bleeding, but six relievers combine to suffocate the Jays bats again, with Bryan Shaw getting credit for the win and Andrew Miller picking up the save. Mike Napoli wakes up from a postseason-long slump with a solo homer and an RBI double while Jason Kipnis puts Cleveland ahead to stay with a homer off Marcus Stroman in the 6th.

The Dodgers even the NLCS at one win apiece with a 1 – 0 win ver the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Adrian Gonzalez accounts for all the offense with a solo homer off Kyle Hendricks in the 2nd inning, while Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen combine on a two-hitter.

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The Dodgers even the NLCS at one win apiece with a 1 – 0 win ver the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Adrian Gonzalez accounts for all the offense with a solo homer off Kyle Hendricks in the 2nd inning, while Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen combine on a two-hitter.

The Cubs take the opening game of the NLCS, 8 – 4, over the Dodgers. The score is only 3 – 1 for the Cubs in the 8th, when a two-run, two-out single by Adrian Gonzalez off Aroldis Chapman ties it, but Chicago comes right back when pinch-hitter Miguel Montero hits a two-out grand slam off Joe Blanton, followed by a solo homer by Dexter Fowler.

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The Cubs take the opening game of the NLCS, 8 – 4, over the Dodgers. The score is only 3 – 1 for the Cubs in the 8th, when a two-run, two-out single by Adrian Gonzalez off Aroldis Chapman ties it, but Chicago comes right back when pinch-hitter Miguel Montero hits a two-out grand slam off Joe Blanton, followed by a solo homer by Dexter Fowler.

The Indians win Game 2 of the ALCS, 2 – 1 over the Blue Jays, in a game that’s almost a carbon copy of Game 1. The Indians’ runs come on a solo homer by Carlos Santana and a single by Francisco Lindor that scores Rajai Davis, who had previously stolen second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Josh Tomlin is the winner against J.A. Happ.

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The Indians win Game 2 of the ALCS, 2 – 1 over the Blue Jays, in a game that’s almost a carbon copy of Game 1. The Indians’ runs come on a solo homer by Carlos Santana and a single by Francisco Lindor that scores Rajai Davis, who had previously stolen second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Josh Tomlin is the winner against J.A. Happ.

2016 – The Indians win Game 1 of the ALCS, 2 – 0, over the Blue Jays, behind the combined pitching of Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. Francisco Lindor accounts for both runs with a homer off Marco Estrada in the 6th.

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2016 – The Indians win Game 1 of the ALCS, 2 – 0, over the Blue Jays, behind the combined pitching of Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. Francisco Lindor accounts for both runs with a homer off Marco Estrada in the 6th.

2016 – The Dodgers eliminate the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS, 4 – 3, thanks to an epic 7th inning that takes over an hour to play. With the Dodgers trailing 1 – 0, Joc Pederson hits Max Scherzer’s first pitch of the inning for a homer, ending the Nats ace’s night. Dusty Baker uses five relievers in a vain attempt to try to stop the bleeding, but a pinch-hit RBI single by Carlos Ruiz and a two-run triple by Justin Turner give L.A. a three-run lead. Washington comes right back with a walk and a two-run pinch homer by Chris Heisey off Grant Dayton, who then puts another runner on base. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t mess around though: he brings in closer Kenley Jansen early, and he gets seven outs even if he walks four batters; when Jansen is out of gas, Roberts brings in his ace, Clayton Kershaw, to retire the final two batters.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2016 – The Dodgers eliminate the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS, 4 – 3, thanks to an epic 7th inning that takes over an hour to play. With the Dodgers trailing 1 – 0, Joc Pederson hits Max Scherzer’s first pitch of the inning for a homer, ending the Nats ace’s night. Dusty Baker uses five relievers in a vain attempt to try to stop the bleeding, but a pinch-hit RBI single by Carlos Ruiz and a two-run triple by Justin Turner give L.A. a three-run lead. Washington comes right back with a walk and a two-run pinch homer by Chris Heisey off Grant Dayton, who then puts another runner on base. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t mess around though: he brings in closer Kenley Jansen early, and he gets seven outs even if he walks four batters; when Jansen is out of gas, Roberts brings in his ace, Clayton Kershaw, to retire the final two batters.