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CLEVELAND – With ski goggles perched on his head, Michael Brantley stood in the middle of the Cleveland rock club, just steps from a trash can filled with dozens of empty beer and champagne bottles.
The party was in full swing on Saturday. So were the Indians.
And as he watched his teammates aim with foaming fluids, Brantley wanted to cherish a Central AL championship that seemed preordained.
"I'm savoring every moment," said Brantley after the Indians won their third consecutive divisional title on Saturday. "It's never getting old for me, it's a hard work that this group has put in place to get to this stage.Everything is well deserved, well deserved, and I'm glad to be part of it."
Undisputed for months, the Indians scored 11 points in the first two rounds and lost 15-0 to the Detroit Tigers, who made four errors, only two hits and failed to win. face the Indians since April.
Neither the Minnesota Twins, nor the Chicago White Sox, nor the Kansas City Royals, who have spent the past three seasons in the Indian standings.
Francisco Lindor and Brantley tied Michael Fulmer (3-12) in the first inning, Jose Ramirez scored three times and the Indians became the first team to win a division title this year.
This is the first step towards a month of October when Cleveland will attempt to win its first world series since 1948, the longest drought period in the majors. After so many close calls, the Indians believe it is their year.
"It's really cool," Lindor said. "We understand that we still have a long way to go, we had an idea that we would be in the playoffs for a week now, but still, it's good to celebrate, to give this little teaser to all guys, That's what could happen if you keep winning. "
Cleveland's current three-year reign in Central is the longest since the club has won five straight victories from 1995 to 1999.
Mike Clevinger (12-8) allowed a shot in six innings, and Yonder Alonso added a two-run homer while the Cleveland offense woke up after a late fall.
The only failure for the Indians was an injury to the designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, who rolled his right ankle rounding the second goal in the fourth quarter. But Encarnacion looked good after Ramirez, Lindor and others took turns celebrating.
The Indians were not convinced they would win by scoring six goals in the first, the thrust triggered by shots of Lindor and Brantley of Fulmer, who was shot after five shots due to knee inflammation .
Lindor's 35th Circuit was also the eighth in the All-Star standings, breaking the club record he shared with Grady Sizemore (2008). Brantley followed with his 16th circuit and the rout was on.
The Cleveland hanging was a no-brainer.
The Indians had to win one of the least competitive divisions of baseball and they did it with ease. They entered first on April 21, took a two-digit lead for August 8 and withdrew. But as the standings show a runaway, the Indians, who had their eyes riveted on the upcoming playoffs after leading a 2-0 lead over the Yankees in the 2017 playoff series, had their share of adversity .
There were injuries, personal setbacks and a serious health crisis which, thankfully, ended up being just that.
Although it seemed easy, it was anything but.
"It's a tough division," said reliever Cody Allen. "You talk about the Detroit Tigers, which we have seen for years putting together incredible teams and Kansas City for two consecutive years by putting together incredible clubs, so we had to fight."
For manager Terry Francona, the chance to see his players rejoice in their success was greater than that of the 83 victories won so far this season. It's their reward.
"I want guys to like it too, because sometimes they're young and they think they're going to do it all the time, and you're not doing it," he said. "So take advantage of it, we'll let people go out tonight and we'll probably have a little different programming tomorrow."
Farewell, friend
Victor Martinez was overwhelmed with emotion at a pre – game ceremony to celebrate his years with the Indians. Detroit's DH plans to retire after its 18th season, ending a career that began with Cleveland in 2002.
"It's as if my mother were saying," We will always have this team in your heart, "said Martinez, who has spent nearly eight seasons with the Indians.
Tiger director Ron Gardenhire and Francona played with Martinez.
"It's one of the reasons I work for the Detroit Tigers now, instead of the old team I worked for," said Gardenhire, who ran Minnesota from 2002 to 2014. "When he was there, he killed us, we could not get him out."
Francona called Martinez "one of the nicest guys in the game and one of the most professional hitter, an excellent teammate."
FULMER HURT
Fulmer came out after giving up the circuits to Lindor and Brantley with a right knee injury that he suffered while he was coming down the mound during Lindor's attempt.
"None of his lands after that had life, as they normally do," said the catcher James McCann said. "That's why I called Gardy, he begged to stay in the game, but his health is more important than anything."
Fulmer left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters.
TRAINER ROOM
Tigers: CF JaCoby Jones left with a squeeze from the right shoulder to the fourth after hitting the wall of the central field and diving for a blooper.
FOLLOWING
Indian rookie Shane Bieber enters the final of the series in search of his 11th win. Bieber is the first Cleveland rookie to win double-digit wins since Mitch Talbot's 10th in 2010. Francisco Liriano starts for Detroit.
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