Tribe in World Series: Better relieve it!

TORONTO — This was not how the Indians would have imagined it. Then again, that fits this unbelievable, improbable season of theirs. Against all odds, defying all expectations in the wake of so many setbacks, this Indians team is going to the World Series. Believe it, Cleveland.

The circumstances surrounding the clinching game on Wednesday were as incredible and unfathomable as everything else has been for the Tribe. In a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, rookie Ryan Merritt — with only one Major League start to his name — blanked Toronto’s lineup and lasted long enough for ALCS MVP Award winner Andrew Miller and Cleveland’s bullpen to apply the clamp.

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“Nobody has shied away from the challenges that we’ve faced,” Indians ace Corey Kluber said. “It speaks to the kinds of guys we have. Nobody is backing down from anything. Everybody is just trying to go out there and do their jobs.”

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

That it was Merritt on the mound — a player so unknown that team owner Paul Dolan was searching for the pitcher in the clubhouse celebration to introduce himself — was a fitting way for this Cleveland team to win the pennant.

“It is absolutely fitting,” said Dolan, as he held the AL championship trophy under his left arm. “It just demonstrates this was an organizational win. We’ve built a system, so when we needed somebody to step up in a crucial moment, we have people behind them.”

On the final out, Troy Tulowitzki popped up a pitch from closer Cody Allen, sending the baseball drifting into foul territory in front of the Indians’ dugout. First baseman Carlos Santana camped under the ball, squeezed it with his glove and dropped to his knees. As Santana lifted both arms into the air, his teammates formed a mob all around in him in celebration.

What is it about this team?

“I think ‘it’ is the right word. We just have ‘it,'” said Miller. “Nobody’s scared. We started a guy that had one career start today, and we had confidence in him, and I think that’s special. It’s just top to bottom, like I said, there’s 25 guys, the staff, top down from ownership, the way they treat us is unbelievable. There’s a good reason why we’re here.”

For the first time since 1997, the Indians are the champions of the AL. This marks the sixth pennant for the Cleveland franchise, which has not won the World Series since the days of Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau and Larry Doby in 1948. The 68-year drought is the second longest in the Major Leagues, trailing only the Cubs, who have not won it all since 1908.

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As it happens, Cleveland could be awaiting the Cubs, who are currently battling the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Game 1 of the World Series will be Tuesday at Progressive Field. This will be the first time the Tribe starts a Fall Classic at home, as their other World Series appearances all began on the road.

On the eve of Wednesday’s game, Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista quipped that Merritt would be “shaking in his boots” more than Toronto’s hitters. Indians manager Terry Francona laughed at that comment, but then did not disagree. Merritt is 24 years old, a wide-eyed rookie, and he was nervous. Rogers Centre houses eight times the population of Celina, Texas, where the lefty went to high school. It gets loud under the closed roof, and Toronto’s bats can make the decibel level climb in a hurry.

Before the champagne bottles popped open in the clubhouse, one of Merritt’s teammates yelled, “Were you shaking in your boots?”

The team broke into a collective roar and the party was soon underway.

“I heard it,” Merritt said of Bautista’s comments. “But I didn’t let it affect me or get to me. I mean, that’s a good lineup. I guess he’s got a right to say it. It’s my first start, but the emotions out there were kind of crazy at first — a little nervous. But it settled down, [I] just trusted myself.”

Merritt pounds the strike zone, though, and he did so again vs. the Blue Jays, keeping them guessing over 4 1/3 shutout innings. With a fastball that sat around 86 mph, the southpaw was perfect through 10 batters before allowing a single to reigning AL Most Valuable Player Award winner Josh Donaldson in the fourth. Merritt moved on unfazed, creating a double-play grounder off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion to end the inning. The left-hander struck out three, scattered two hits and walked none.

“The only guy that really got in his way was probably me,” said Francona. “He gave up one hit, but I thought where he got us, we could turn it over to our bullpen, the guys that have been doing it all year. But for him to do what he did under those circumstances — he may not look the part, but he is beyond his years, and it’s one of the most phenomenal things I’ve ever seen.”

The raucous crowd was quieted by a first-inning run, which was delivered via a wall-bruising double by Mike Napoli. The volume continued to drop with solo home runs by Santana (third inning) and Coco Crisp (fourth), giving the Indians the kind of lead needed to calm Merritt’s nerves and once again lean on the …

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