Relieve-Miller band keeps on rockin’

TORONTO — In some alternate universe, the American League Championship Series might have turned when Blue Jays manager John Gibbons made that slow amble out of the dugout in Game 3, alerting home-plate umpire Brian Gorman to the blood that was rapidly staining Trevor Bauer’s right pants leg.

It did not, as the Indians’ very capable bullpen soaked up 25 outs and pushed the Blue Jays to the brink of elimination, then sent them home two days later with a 3-0 victory in Wednesday’s Game 5. No matter what happens in the World Series, the Indians’ bullpen use this October will be talked about for years to come.

• World Series Game 1: Tuesday on FOX

“That bullpen game after Bauer couldn’t go, that was the key to the series,” Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. “It put us up 3-0 and then we could just relax and play baseball from then on.”

Game Date Matchup TV/Highlights 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 TOR 5, CLE 1 Gm 5 Oct. 19 CLE 3, TOR 0 • ALCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Blue Jays | Indians

ALCS MVP Andrew Miller has proved to be every bit the valuable weapon that the Indians thought he would be, as manager Terry Francona’s favorite names in this ALCS were the ones repeatedly crossed off of his lineup card. His relievers soaked up 22 of 44 innings, permitting four earned runs and compiling a 1.63 ERA.

• Gear up for the World Series

“Our bullpen did some phenomenal things,” Francona said. “They answered the bell time after time after time, and they’re going to have to continue to do that. …

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