Cleveland Indians: Reliving past postseason series against the Yankees

1997 ALDS: Cleveland Indians top New York Yankees, 3-2

The 1997 American League Division Series between the Cleveland Indians and defending champion New York Yankees was a back-and-forth battle that consisted of high-scoring games. Game 4 of the series had the lowest combined score at just five while the first game had the highest with 14 runs scored.

The series opened up with a win for the Yankees in an 8-6 final score. Sandy Alomar belted a three-run home run in the first inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Yankees combined for four home runs as a team.

The second game turned to the Tribe behind starting pitcher Jaret Wright. Wright tossed six innings and allowed three runs, but was able to secure the win thanks to a five-run fourth inning by Cleveland.

With the series tied at a game each, the venue shifted to Jacobs Field where the Yankees routed the Indians 6-1 in Game 3. David Wells pitched a complete game for New York, despite striking out just one batter, keeping his pitch count at just 104 pitches.

In Game 4, the Indians once again battled back. New York scored two in the top of the first, but that would be all they got. Entering the bottom of the eighth down 2-1, the Indians scored a run in both the eighth and ninth to walk-it-off and force a deciding Game 5.

In the series finale of Game 5, it was again Jaret Wright on the mound for the Indians, picking up his second win of the series for the Tribe.

A 4-3 final in Cleveland’s favor helped the Indians advance to the ALCS where they topped the Baltimore Orioles to advance to their second World Series in three seasons. Going seven games with the Florida Marlins, the Indians fell just shy of their first title since 1948.

1998 ALCS: New York Yankees best Cleveland Indians, 4-2

After having never met in the postseason, the Yankees and Indians squared off in consecutive seasons, this time in the American League Championship Series. While this series didn’t go seven games, the series was full of offensive explosions.

The first game of the series set the tone for what would be the other five, seeing the Yankees rattle off seven runs in the 7-2 win over the Tribe. The matchup was a familiar one with David Wells and Jaret Wright facing off, two of the better pitchers from the 1997 series.

The second game was much closer, going 12 innings to decide a winner. In the top of the 12th, the Indians logged three runs to secure the 4-1 victory and even up the series as it transitioned to Cleveland.

The Tribe captured the first game at Jacobs Field. The Yankees scored in the first inning, but were shutout the rest of the way as the Indians tallied six runs for a 6-1 win and a 2-1 series advantage. Unfortunately, that was the last win the Tribe would get in the series.

New York claimed 4-0 and 5-3 wins the next two games in Cleveland to take a 3-2 series lead back to Yankee Stadium. In Game 6, the Yanks scored nine runs in a 9-5 win to secure the series win and advance to the 1998 World Series.

The Yankees went on to sweep the San Diego Padres in the World Series for their second title in three years and the first of three straight.

2007 ALDS: Cleveland Indians beat New York Yankees, 3-1

It was almost a decade before the Indians and Yankees met again in the postseason, coming in the 2007 American League Division Series. Once again, the offense proved to be a focal point of the series with games ending with 15 combined runs, 12 and 10 with one outlier three-run game.

The first game was a loud one for the Indians who tallied 12 runs in a 12-3 win to begin the series. Four home runs for the Indians led the way, including a four-RBI game from Kenny Lofton, who went 3-for-4 with a double.

The second game was a different story, needing extra innings to decide the winner. However, there was controversy. In the bottom the eighth with the Tribe at the plate and down one, Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain was swarmed by midges, helping to result in a run for the Indians that forced extra innings. The Indians then won the game in the 11th inning to take a 2-0 series advantage.

The Yankees battled back in the third game of the series with an 8-4 win. New York scored a combined seven runs between the fifth and sixth inning. The Indians attempted the comeback, scoring one in the eighth, but fell short.

The Indians went on to win the series with a 6-4 final in Game 4. Grady Sizemore began the game with a solo shot and the Tribe didn’t look back, scoring two runs in the first, second and fourth innings of the game to secure the victory.

The series win put the Tribe in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox and we’ll just leave it there.

2017 ALDS: New York Yankees edge Cleveland Indians, 3-2

Yet another decade passed before another Indians, Yankees postseason series, coming just three years ago in 2017 for the most recent matchup. Coming off the 2016 World Series appearance, hopes were high for Cleveland and the series began well. However, the Yankees battled back and eventually took the series.

The first game looked promising for the Tribe as they jumped out to a 4-0 win to begin the series. Trevor Bauer tossed 6.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts before handing the ball over to Andrew Miller and Cody Allen who locked up the win.

For the third straight postseason series between the teams, Game 2 went into extra innings, seeing the Indians capture a 9-8 win in 13 innings after scoring four in the sixth and one in the eighth to force extras. Francisco Lindor led the way for Cleveland, registering four RBI in the contest.

From there, the tide turned, seeing the Yankees claim the next three games. Game 3 was close with New York edging out a 1-0 thanks to a Greg Bird home run in the eighth inning off of Miller.

The momentum shift proved detrimental for the Tribe as they fell in Game 4 by a score of 7-3 and then Game 5, 5-2.

Advancing, the Yankees lost to the Houston Astros in the ALCS who technically then won the World Series, but there should be a nice, big, bold asterixis next to that title.

2020 ALDS: Cleveland Indians versus New York Yankees

So, here we are. The fifth postseason meeting between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees. The rubber match. We’ve done the scouting report, we know the pitchers, there’s really just one thing left to do.

This series could be the most exciting of them all. While the past provided strong matchups of evenly matched teams, this year could be much different.

The Indians have been built on strong pitching while their offense has slowly and steadily come back to life. The Yankees have been built on power, but their pitching has quietly been the driving force this season.

Tonight will kick off the series between the two teams as part of four games being played today before a full slate of eight games on Wednesday. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. as is Game 2 on Wednesday. If a third game is needed, it’ll be played on Thursday, but a time hasn’t been announced. The entire series will be played at Progressive Field.

In the history of the series, the winner has advanced to the World Series twice, being the Indians in 1997 and the Yankees in 1998. Could this be the third time?