Tribe sweeps! Papi, Sox rally to bitter end

BOSTON — The Indians entered this American League Division Series as underdogs, and they do not expect anything to change after they dispatched the Red Sox. Cleveland is used to being counted out, but it also enjoys the challenge of proving people wrong.

Following a 4-3 win in Game 3 on Monday night, a victory that completed a sweep of the favored Red Sox, the Tribe’s players partied inside the cramped confines of Fenway Park’s visitors’ clubhouse. Boston was denied the kind of October comeback it has pulled off in the past, and the only solace for the Fenway faithful was that they were able to send off retiring icon David Ortiz in grand fashion.

No, this time it was Cleveland that made history. Four more wins, and the Indians will reach their first World Series since 1997.

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“We might not be the most talented team in this league,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, champagne dripped from the brim of his hat. “But, that doesn’t mean we can’t win. And I think everybody in here believes that. We get to keep playing. That’s the best thing I can say. We get to keep playing. Hopefully, when it’s time to go home, it can be on our terms.”

The Indians dictated the tone of this ALDS series and are now bound for their first AL Championship Series since 2007. Right-hander Josh Tomlin ignored the taunts of a Fenway crowd that mockingly chanted his name and gave a gritty, five-inning effort. Coco Crisp delivered a critical home run, and Francona leaned heavily again on his bullpen to seal the win.

Fittingly, Cleveland will now take on the Blue Jays in the ALCS, starting on Friday (8 p.m. ET on TBS) at Progressive Field. Toronto is led by team president Mark Shapiro, who spent the previous 24 years in the Tribe’s front office.

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During a break in the celebration, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead against a familiar face.

“I wouldn’t be standing here today and having this opportunity, if it wasn’t for Mark,” Antonetti said as the players partied behind him. “For both of us to advance to the ALCS is really a dream come true. At a minimum, we know one of the two of us is going to end up in the World Series. Obviously, right now, I’ve got a strong preference on which one.”

Once again, it was the bullpen that pulled Cleveland home in the ALDS. Francona — in possession of a 4-1 lead — went to Andrew Miller with none out in the sixth. The lanky lefty got six big outs and exited with a two-run lead. Bryan Shaw recorded the first two outs in the eighth and closer Cody Allen recorded the last four outs of the game.

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“It’s impressive because we got it done,” Miller said. “This offense that we faced, this team is so great, but particularly from the perspective of a relief pitcher, this offense is just unbelievable. To find a way, it doesn’t have to be pretty, and it wasn’t tonight.

“I think certainly, Bryan and Cody and I would like to be more efficient and effective and straightforward, but it’s just these guys are so darn good. And just find a way to get it done is all that matters at the end of the day.”

It was initially difficult for Allen in the eighth inning as Ortiz — playing in the final game of his career — walked. Hanley Ramirez stung a single to make it a one-run game. But Xander Bogaerts lined one right to second, and the Indians had escaped another threat. Allen again escaped trouble in the ninth, working out of a two-on, two-out jam and clinching the series by inducing Travis Shaw’s flyout to right.

“Our guys battled through it,” Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. “There was a lot on the line there, but we always knew that the pressure was on [the Red Sox]. And that helped us relax a little bit and make pitch after pitch and put the pressure on them, and get a popup in the end.”

Just like that, the end of the season for the Red Sox meant the end of the line for the beloved Ortiz, who announced 11 months ago that this would be his final season.

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“Given how we performed as an offensive team throughout the year, and it’s not to take anything away from their pitching, but I think there was no more than one run we were able to score in any one inning,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “The inability to string some hits together, generate the bigger inning, …

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