[jg2977]

Michael Kay:
You know, when you look at this game, there are two things that jump out immediately. And neither of them should surprise you.
Number one: the Yankees lose to Cleveland in the postseason again.
Number two: they give away a game that they controlled for most of the afternoon.
That’s the story.
The Yankees came into Jacobs Field and, for seven innings, they were the better team. They got length out of Mike Aragon, who was terrific—seven innings, two hits, and he kept Cleveland quiet. They scored early, they answered every little push the Indians made, and they were in position to close the door.
And then the eighth inning happened.
This is where October baseball exposes you. The Yankees go to the bullpen, and suddenly everything unravels. Walks. Base runners. Big hits. And Cleveland, a team that does not panic, took full advantage. Four runs later, a 5–3 Yankees lead is gone, and the stadium knows exactly where this is headed.
Antonio Barrios was the difference-maker in the series. Calm, controlled, professional at-bats. He wins MVP honors, and frankly, he set the tone for Cleveland all series long. They didn’t need a lot of hits—five today—but every one of them mattered.
Meanwhile, the Yankees? Defensive mistakes. Missed opportunities. Zero walks at the plate. And when the moment demanded shutdown relief pitching, they didn’t get it.
That’s not bad luck. That’s not circumstance. That’s who they’ve been in these spots.
Cleveland wins it 7–5, completes the sweep, and now moves on to face the Anaheim Angels in the Division Series—a rested, powerful team that’s been waiting. The Indians have momentum. The Yankees are left asking the same questions they’ve asked before.
And until those answers change, the results won’t either.
Final score from Cleveland: Indians 7, Yankees 5.
Cleveland advances. New York goes home. Again.