Bruexit — UCLA Star Pitcher Trevor Bauer is now one win away from the World Series, after his courageous start with a mangled pinky inspires his fellow Indians, who go on to beat the Blue Jays 4-2, and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 ALCS
Cleveland Starter Trevor Bauer may have faced only four batters in his start against Toronto on Monday night, but the fact that he was out there at all, and tried to gut it out even after his injured finger started gushing blood, was all the inspiration his teammates needed to rise up and beat the Blue Jays for the third straight time. Bauer injured himself on Friday while trying to do routine maintenance on a drone. MLB rules disallow a bandage, so despite 10 stitches, Bauer attempted to make a go of it with his purple pinky unprotected.
Bauer struck out the first batter he faced. He walked the second, and got the third on a line out. Then his finger started spouting blood. Instead of just giving up and coming out, he tried to hide it, pressing the wound against his dark jersey. But blood was gushing everywhere, so they stopped the game and said he must be removed. The Cleveland bullpen came through, slamming the door on Toronto in that 1st inning, and allowing only 2 runs the rest of the way, really picking it up for their fallen hero teammate. Cleveland managed 4 runs, taking Game 3 4-2, and taking a dominant 3-0 lead in the series.
A 3-0 series lead in NOT a guarantee any longer, since the Boston Red Sox lifted that curse a while back, but the Indians are definitely in the driver’s seat, with 2 more games (of the possible 4 left) still to be played in Cleveland. It is possible that Bauer, who started the year in the bullpen but got promoted to the starting rotation during the season, could see more action in this series, and there’s an even better chance that he will be healed in time if the Tribe does indeed reach the World Series. That would sure be something, if in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Bruin Bauer is facing the Dodgers, whose Bruin Manager Dave Roberts inserts Bruin Chase Utley to face Bauer for all the marbles, with the whole World watching.
Speaking of World Class Bruins, here are 50 more photos of the UCLA Spirit Squad (taken at the most recent Football game).
