Tito flip-flops relievers, gives Jays ‘different look’

TORONTO — Throughout the postseason, Indians manager Terry Francona has leaned on left-hander Andrew Miller as his main leverage weapon, leaving Cody Allen to close things out. In Monday’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, Francona flipped the script.

With Cleveland holding a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning, Francona handed the ball to Allen. The right-hander then worked 1 2/3 innings, creating a bridge to Miller’s four-out save. By flipping the two relievers, Francona was asking Allen to handle the top of Toronto’s lineup, and allowing Miller to face the bottom to end the game.

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“I wanted Cody to go through the heart of their order,” Francona said. “Andrew did it the other day. I thought giving them a different look would be good. And then, if we had the lead late, go to Andrew, ‘OK, we’re going to go ahead win or lose.’ I didn’t want to use [Miller] early and not win the game, because we have leaned on him a lot.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 14   CLE 2, TOR 0 Gm 2 Oct. 15   CLE 2, TOR 1 Gm 3 Oct. 17   CLE 4, TOR 2 Gm 4 Oct. 18 CLE @ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 5 …

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