Rays-Indians: Breaking down do-or-die game

Tonight the Rays and Indians will play in the American League wild-card game. The winner advances to the Division Series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. USA TODAY Sports' Paul White goes deep inside today's matchup:

The starters

Alex Cobb will have to be special to top David Price's complete-game effort to put the Rays into the playoffs. But while Price lived up to his staff-ace status in the play-in game against the Texas Rangers, it's Cobb who truly has pitched like one since Aug.15. That's the day he returned from two months on the sidelines after taking a line drive to his head. As Cobb lay on the field that night, he said he wanted to get back up and keep pitching. If he had been able to, the Rays might not find themselves in this series of win-or-go-home scenarios. Since he came back, Cobb is 5-1 with a 2.41 ERA in nine starts. It's not that he wasn't already emerging before the concussion from the line drive. Cobb, 25, was 6-2, 3.01 before the injury, including his only start against Cleveland this year - 71/3 shutout innings April6 in St. Petersburg.

Danny Salazar's upper-90s fastball is what grabs everyone's attention. The fact the Indians rookie says he's trying to use the fastball only about 50% of the time speaks to the growth that gives Indians manager Terry Francona enough confidence to start him in a winner-take-all game. Salazar threw nearly 77% fastballs in his second major league start - averaging his season-high of 97.2 mph. He lost that game 6-5 to the Detroit Tigers, striking out 10 in 71/3 innings but allowing four runs. But he blanked the Tigers for six innings Sept.1, a game the Indians point to as a measuring stick for his progress and why they're willing to hand him the ball tonight. He was down to 58% fastballs in the Sept.1 game but the average velocity still was above 96. The 23-year-old hasn't faced the Rays in his 10 major league appearances.

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The lineups

The Rays' biggest concern is Desmond Jennings, who isn't at full speed (manager Joe Maddon says 80%) because of a sore hamstring. They haven't run as much this year as Maddon teams usually do (Jennings leads with 20 steals), but the lineup has been progressively more balanced during the second half as the pieces around Evan Longoria improved. James Loney has been the most consistent hitter all year, leading the team with a .299 average. Then along came rookie Wil Myers (.293), who has hit well enough to spend time in the clean-up spot, and David DeJesus later came in a trade and has produced in the leadoff spot.

Depth was a crucial piece of the Indians' success this season, but the bench shouldn't have as much impact in a one-game showdown. Center fielder Michael Bourn was still testing his sore leg during Tuesday's workout. He expects to play, but taking out that speed element would hurt the Indians. Right fielder Drew Stubbs could move into the leadoff spot if needed and runs as well as Bourn at his best, but Stubbs is more challenged reaching first base. Michael Brantley has been the team's hottest hitter (.325 in September), and Nick Swisher hit seven of his 22 homers the final month.

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Why the Indians will win

If Maddon likes a swarming offense, he might get more than he bargained for from Cleveland. That's exactly what the Indians have done through their 20-5 finish to the season, including winning their final 10. Seven players had 11 or more RBI in September, and nine Indians combined to knock in 116 runs with nobody driving in more than 17. An electric Salazar would set the tone in front of a full house that should remind everyone how Cleveland and its ballpark rocked in the glory days of the 1990s.

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Why the Rays will win

Cobb's return from injury is a compelling story, but don't let his breakout season get lost in the drama. He has been better than Price. Maddon says the Rays offense swarms. What they do is make you pitch, swinging at fewer pitches outside the strike zone than any other team in the majors. They are poised on offense, with a poised young pitcher on the mound and facing a team that isn't sure how it will cover the final few innings once its starter is gone.

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Outlook

It's not about teams on a roll coming into October - ask the Rangers. Momentum is today's starting pitcher - an old baseball cliché but quite possibly the difference-maker in this game. Salazar can be dazzling, but Cobb is every bit as impressive and more likely to go deeper into the game. That's especially crucial with the Cleveland bullpen in flux. The Rays grand tour has become as matter-of-fact as the way their offense beats you - and continues with a stop in Boston.

Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

Gannett/USA Today

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Medina students lose D.C. field trip over shutdown

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MEDINA -- A group of students in Medina is feeling the effect of the government shutdown firsthand.

The shutdown forced the students from A-I Root Middle School to cancel a field trip to Washington, D.C., because all of the national museums and parks are closed.

"We were looking forward to it. Monday we heard that it wasn't gonna happen, and we're just really mad and upset," said Andy Prostor, an eighth-grader.

Wednesday, dozens of the students marched through the city in a peaceful protest.

The students carried signs during the protest. One in particular chided "Congress stop acting like children. That's our job."

The school principal says the school organized the protest to show that the students have a voice -- and to encourage them to share their views.

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LIVE BLOG: Indians vs. Rays

It's a moment Indians baseball fans have been awaiting for 6 years... The return of playoff baseball to Cleveland.

From the first pitch to the final out, follow all the action throughout the game here in our Tribe Fever game blog.

To set the table for you with tonight's action, here's the pitching match-up.  Cleveland sends rookie Danny Salazar, 2-3 in the regular season with a 3.12 ERA, to the mound to face Tampa hurler, 11- 3 in the regular season with a 2.76 ERA.  

Now, onto the game action...

Progressive Field is rocking with packed house!!  43,579 Indians fans on hand to cheer their team on.

FIRST INNING:

Salazar's first pitch is a strike to Rays LF David DeJesus.  On the next pitch, he flies out deep to CF Michael Bourn for the first out.  The next batter, RF Wil Myers strikes out! Tampa 1B James Loney is the third batter of the inning.  Salazar strikes him out!

Now it's the Tribe's turn!  CF Michael Bourn, returning after missing several games with sore wrist, will lead off for the Indians.  Bourn flies out to  right on the first pitch he sees.  1B Nick Swisher steps up to the plate and after a meeting of the umpires is called out on a foul tip that comes close to hitting the ground, but ends up in the catcher's mitt.  The Tribe faithful are not happy with the call.  Replays clearly show it was the right one though.  Now it's 2B Jason Kipnis' turn to see if he can get something going.  He grounds out to end the inning.

After one inning, we're scoreless.  Rays - 0 Indians - 0

SECOND INNING:

3B Evan Longoria kicks off the second frame for the Rays.  He becomes Danny Salazar's third strikeout of the night!  The Rays now send 2B Ben Zobrist to the plate and he fouls out to Tribe #B Lonnie Chisenall.  Talk about deja vu, Desmond Jenning, Tampa's CF, flies out to Chisenall to end the Ray's inning.

DH Carlos Santana leads off the bottom of the second inning for the Indians but grounds out.  Next up, LF Michael Brantley lines out to center field.  RF Ryan Raburn steps into the batter box to try and get a little two out magic going.  And he does with a double!!  SS Asdrubal Cabrera is up looking to give the Indians the first lead of the game.  Unfortunately, he flies out to center field to end the inning.

Through two, it's still a scoreless tie:  Rays - 0 Indians - 0  

THIRD INNING:

Tampa DH Delmon Young hammers Salazar's first pitch of the inning over the left field wall to give the Rays the game's first run.  SS Yunel Escobar follows that with a fly out to right field.  C Jose Molina proceeds to ground out to Kipnis for the second out of the inning.  Back to the top of the order, and DeJesus flies out to shallow right field to end the inning . 

The Indians send C Yan Gomes to the plate to start their half of the inning.  Gomes sends a deep shot to left that is caught on the run by DeJesus.  3B Lonnie Chisenall jumps on the first pitch he sees for a single!  Back to the top of the Tribe order we go with CF Michael Bourn and he strikes out.  Fans are anxious, hoping  Buckeye Nick Swisher can tie the game or give the Indians the lead.  But he grounds out to end the inning.

After three, the Tribe trails Tampa: Rays - 1 Indians - 0  

FOURTH INNING:

RF Wil Myers leads off the inning for the Rays. He becomes strikeout number four of the night for Salazar!  1B James Loney, who struck out in his first at bat, lines a single to right field.  Now 3B Evan Longoria is up to bat.  He bounces a hit between third base and the shortstop.  Two on with one out.  2B Zobrist is up and shows bunt but ends up flying out to right.  Loney moves to third.  Runners on the corners with two outs.  Desmond  Jennings lines a double to left field.  Loney and Longoria score.  Rays take a 3-0 lead.  Salazar intentionally walks Delmon Young.  The Indians bullpen is up and active.  Yunel Escobar grounds out to end the top of the inning, but the Rays manage to increase their lead over the Indians and now lead by 3 runs.

2B Jason Kipnis leads off the fourth for Cleveland and grounds out to start the inning.  C Carlos Santana digs in for the Tribe and shoots a hit down the right field line for a double!  LF Michael Brantley follows that with a single up the middle and Santana advances to third.  Indians at the corners with one out and RF Ryan Raburn up to bat.   Raburn takes a walk to load the bases.  Now it's SS Asdrubal Cabrera's turn to put some numbers on the board for the Indians.  Tampa's bullpen starts to get busy. Cabrera hits into a 6-3-1 inning ending double play.

Following four innings:  Rays - 3 Indians - 0

FIFTH INNING:

Rays C Jose Molina starts the inning off with a walk and that means the end of the night for Indians pitcher Danny Salazar as manager Terry Francona goes to the bullpen.   Matt Rzepczynski comes in to face LF David DeJesus and strikes him out for the inning's first out.  Francona goes back to the bullpen and brings in Brian Shaw to take on RF Wil Myers.  He strikes him out!  1B Loney comes to the plate but Indians catcher Yan Gomes throws out Molina trying to steal second to end the top half of the inning.

Following his defensive gem in the top half of the inning, Yan Gomes comes to the plate to try and get momentum back on the Tribe's side.  And he delivers with a lead-off double!!  3B Lonnie Chisenhall, who doubled earlier, lines a single to right field and Gomes moves to third.  Two on, nobody out.  CF Michael Bourn is up and strikes out.  Nick Swisher comes to the plate and grounds out to first.  The Indians narrowly miss getting caught up in a double play when Gomes tries to go home but there is no one covering third when he heads back as the throw comes home.  Runners at second and third with two outs and 2B Jason Kipnis at the plate.  He hits a weak tapper to the pitcher and another potential Indians rally comes up short.

After five, it's still Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

SIXTH INNING:

Indians pitcher Brian Shaw gets Tampa 1B James Loney to fly out to start the inning.  He follows that up by striking out 3B Evan Longoria.  2B Ben Zobrist lines it to Swisher for the third out of the Rays' inning.

C Carlos Santana leads off the bottom frame for the Indians and he gets called out on strikes.  LF Michael Brantley steps in to the batter's box and hits a grounder to the third baseman who throws him out at first.  RF Ryan Raburn is up and strikes out to end the inning.

Six innings in the books and it's Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

SEVENTH INNING:

Shaw stays in the game and Jennings hits a deep liner to left to lead off the Rays' inning.  Terry Francona makes another call to the bullpen and brings out former starter Justin Masterson.  Tampa makes a substitution, subbing in Sam Fuld as a pinch runner for Desmond Jennings at first.  Masterson gets Delmon Young to strike out for the first out of the inning.  Yunel Escobar taps the next pitch to the mound and Masterson makes the easy toss to Swisher for out number two.  Jose Molina is the next batter and he strikes out to turn the inning over to the Tribe.  Fans are starting to get noisy again.  Time for the seventh inning stretch.

Asdrubal Cabrera leads off the seventh for the Indians with a grounder to the second baseman who throws to first to get Cabrera out.  Yan Gomes is back up to bat and lands a single into right field for the Tribe's seventh hit of the night.  Lonnie Chisenhall comes to the plate with two hits under his belt.  He gets his third hit of the night!  Two on, one out and the tying run comes to the plate in the form of Michael Bourn.  Bourn flies out to left field for the second out but it's not deep enough for the runners to advance.  Two on with two outs and Tampa manager Joe Madden makes his first call to the bullpen, bringing on Joel Peralta to face Nick Swisher.  Swisher strikes out and the Indians miss another opportunity to put runs on the board with runners in scoring position.

We go to the eighth, Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

EIGHTH INNING:

Masterson remains on the hill for the Indians.  David DeJesus leads off for the Rays and gets hit by a pitch.  Wil Myers is the next batter and he hits a grounder to third and beats out the throw for a single.   James Loney hits into a 5-4-3 double play leaving a runner at third with two outs.  Evan Longoria steps up to the plate and hits a sharp liner to third but Chisenhall makes an amazing grab to end the scoring threat.

Six outs left for the Indians to make a comeback.  Jason Kipnis will try and get something going.  Defensive changes for the Rays as Kevin Kiermaier takes over in center field for Myers.  Kipnis pops up for the first out.  Carlos Santana follows with a single to left field!  Michael Brantley flies out to left field for out number two.  Tampa goes to the bullpen with one out and two on.  Jake McGee comes on to face Ryan Raburn and strikes him out on a 99 mph fastball.

Eight in the books, Rays - 3, Indians - 0.

NINTH INNING:

Cody Allen has come on to pitch for the Indians.  Ben Zobrist greets him with a single to right field.  Rays RF Sam Fuld makes his first plate appearance of the night and strikes out.  That's it for Allen as Terry Francona goes back to the bullpen bringing in sidearm hurler Joe Smith.  The first batter he'll face is Delmon Young who bounces a hit off the glove of 3B Lonnie Chisenhall.  Zobrist advances to third.  Runners on the corners with one out.  Ouch!  Escobar hits a ball off the glove of Swisher.  A run scores and the lead is up to 4 with runners on first and second with one out.  Smith gets Jose Molina to strike out for the inning's second out.  David DeJesus flies out to end the Rays' ninth.  Down four with three outs left.  Can the Tribe perform one more miracle comeback?

The Indians' last chance to keep playing in October will come against Fernando Rodney.  Asdrubal Cabrera leads off and strikes out.  Now it's up to Yan Gomes to get something going but a broken bat hit gets him thrown out at first.  Lonnie Chisenhall, with three hits on the night, is up.  

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Investigator: Police pawn records collect dust

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CLEVELAND -- They are thought to be valuable crime-fighting tools -- especially in cases of home burglaries.

But Channel 3 news has found that hundreds of pawnbroker records are stored in cardboard boxes collecting dust at the Pawn Unit of the Cleveland Police Department.

Pawn shops are required to identify the customer and describe the merchandise he or she is selling or pawning. A pawn slip or card is sent to Cleveland police, where it is supposed to be entered into a police computer database. But a source close to the Pawn Unit says many of the slips never make it into a computer and instead are stored in cardboard boxes.

The source says any victim of a home burglary who is expecting help from the police department's pawn unit is wasting their time. 

"The chance of finding your stolen item with the volume of cards that they have is slim to none," said the source.

Jennifer Nickels experienced the frustration first-hand. Her Lake Avenue apartment in Cleveland was burglarized while she was away over the Labor Day weekend. When she returned home, she noticed her bedroom air conditioner was out of place. She quickly discovered that burglars had ransacked her place, stealing valuable family jewelry and electronics totaling nearly $10,000.

A detective advised her to check local pawn shops for her stolen items, and she followed his advice only to be told by the pawn shops to check with the Pawn Unit at police headquarters.

Channel 3 news has learned the police Pawn Unit is comprised of one civilian whose job it is to catalogue every pawn slip that local shops mail to her. That can be hundreds weekly.

After talking with the lone employee, Nickels felt completely frustrated and hopeless.

"I think I would be shocked if they were to call me in the future and say 'We got the guys who did it or we have our jewelry,' " she said.

Police Chief Michael McGrath failed to respond to a request for an interview, and his office failed to answer any of the questions that the Investigator Tom Meyer e-mailed to it regarding their record-keeping.

Meyer's source said the record-keeping is too big a job for one employee.

"It doesn't do anybody any good. A valuable crime-fighting tool is not being used," he said.

Nickels said: "I put more faith in myself to find my stuff on eBay or on Craigslist than I do in the in the Police Department to help me."

WKYC-TV

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Cuyahoga Valley National Park shuts down

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PENINSULA -- Park visitors pay the price for Washington D.C.'s political power play.

The closing of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has major impacts for visitors.

All gated parking areas in the park will be locked. No visitors centers will be open or staffed. The administrative offices will close. Visitors to Ohio's only national park won't even have access to restroom facilities.

"If it has a lock, it will be locked", says Mary Pat Doorley, Public Information Officer for the CVNP.

More than 100 park employees will be furloughed.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will be shut down as well, which will have a huge impact.

Fall foliage is approaching its most colorful time, and the train has been booked with reservations.

The popular Farmer's Market at Howe Meadow on weekends will be canceled and the Towpath Marathon, scheduled for Oct. 13, is in jeopardy of being nixed.

The CVNP website and Facebook page will not be monitored, and there will be no one to field questions.

You can contact the Conservancy for Cuyahoga National Park through their website or visit the two "Trail Mix" stores they operate in the park.

WKYC-TV

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Brook Park: Laid-off Glenn physicist reacts to shutdown

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BROOK PARK -- Sheila Bailey's been a physicist at NASA Glenn for 28 years.

She is passionate about her work and research.

She is upset by the furlough notices given to her and her colleagues.

More than 3,000 government and private workers are idled at Glenn.

"It's very sad and it's inexcusable. Some people were in tears. It was devastating," she said.

Only safety and security workers remain on the job at Glenn.

Bailey is worried about her younger colleagues with families.

"It's very much of a financial burden. ... Some people are living paycheck to paycheck," she said.

She is also worried about the impact on the region's economy.

NASA's largely well-paid professional staff resides in communities all over Northeast Ohio.

"That's 3,000 people not putting money into the local economy," she said.

So far NASA Glenn is the most dramatic impact of the shutdown.

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Cleveland out to boost Westlake water bills

WESTLAKE -- Cleveland's water system intends to recover $58.8 million from Westlake water customers for costs it will face if Westlake follows through changing its water supplier to Avon Lake.

And that could mean dramatically higher bills.

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough's been pushing for a switch. The two cities have been exchanging conflicting studies and angry words for a couple years.

Now Cleveland's water system is asking City Council to pass measures which will allow it to raise Westlake water rates effective January 1, 2014.

Typical homeowners would see their bills jump almost $1300/year over a five-year perios.

Cleveland says it must recover Westlake's fair share of costs made to improve service in that community. That's $39.8 million.

If Westlake secedes from the Cleveland water system, there will be an impact on neighboring communities including Bay Village, Fariview Park, North Olmsted and Rocky River.

The impact of it disconnecting would mean another $19 million in costs, Cleveland says.

The Water Department says it's unfair for other communities and customers to absorb that cost.

Westlake officials sought to leave Cleveland's system claiming the switch would mean better service and save money.

Cleveland supplies more than 70 commmunities in five counties.

It's fighting a battle of having  fewer customers using less water. Losing a customer the size of Westlake would be a big hit and dangerous precedent.

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Cleveland: Workers, citizens brace for federal shutdown

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CLEVELAND -- It was a busier than normal Monday at Cleveland's Celebrezze federal office building, where thousands of government workers were updated on whether or not they'll be on the job Tuesday.

Many citizens came hoping to resolve matters or fix problems while Uncle Sam was still open for business before an expected midnight shutdown.

John Pollard came to deal with veterans and Social Security issues.

"I had to come early in the morning, and it's packed in there, wall to wall ... this is not how our government is supposed to work," he said.

Workers have gotten their marching orders whether or not to report to work Tuesday if the shutdown kicks in.

DFAS workers handle Navy and veterans payroll. The agency is not directly funded by Congress, and its work is deemed essential.

DFAS worker Sharron Webb said, "They told us to report in, keep paying veterans and the military."

But lots of civilian military workers were not so fortunate.

Coast Guard worker Jim Nicks said, "We've just been told if there's a shutdown not to come to work."

About 3,300 government and private workers won't be reporting for work Tuesday at NASA Glenn if there's a shutdown.

Routine OSHA workplace inspections would stop. The Cuyahoga National Valley Park would close. Most IRS operations would halt.

There would be delays processing new passports.

Mail delivery will go on. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid checks will continue.

Air controllers, TSA airport screeners and law enforcement agents would all stay on the job.

Federal courts will continue operations. But there could be some layoffs by the middle of next month.

From Washington, Ohio lawmakers are holding firmly to their respective positions. One side insists on stopping funding for Obamacare. The other says halting the government is no way to deal with that issue.

Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur complained about Tea Party Republicans insisting that the president's health care plan be defunded: "Inside the Republican caucus, they are a huge force and a force for non-compromise to Speaker John Boehner comes out defanged. He can't even work with our side."

Boehner said, "It's time for the Senate to listen to the American people just like the House has listened to the American people (and agree to defund Obamacare)."

The debate is now more about blame and less about finding a way to prevent an action that will impact millions of Americans.

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Senate rejects 'Obamacare' delay; shutdown imminent

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WASHINGTON -- The federal government is poised to shutdown for the first time in nearly two decades following more than a week of legislative jockeying by House Republicans to extract concessions from President Obama and Senate Democrats on the Affordable Care Act.

House Republicans were on track to make a fourth and final attempt in the hour before a midnight shutdown to again advance a GOP-backed plan to delay the individual mandate to purchase health insurance on exchanges that begin the open enrollment period on Tuesday.

Republicans were also seeking a motion to start formal negotiations with the Senate on the stopgap spending measure --an unusual request for a six-week spending bill the funds the government at current levels, but it provides Republicans a vehicle to keep the debate going.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he would not put a Senate-passed bill on the floor to keep the government funded through Nov. 15 because it does not include any provisions affecting the healthcare law. 

"That's not going to happen," he said.The Senate voted twice Monday to reject House efforts to delay the individual mandate, repeal a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices enacted to help pay for the law, and a proposal to eliminate a proposed subsidy to members of Congress, their staffs, and members of the Obama administration to buy insurance in the new system.

Obama reiterated that he would not sign any bill that seeks to dismantle the law. 

"One faction of one party in one house of Congress in one branch of government doesn't get to shut down the entire government just to refight the results of an election," Obama said at the White House.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., maintained the only way to avoid a shutdown is to approve the Senate-passed stopgap spending bill with no provisions on Obamacare. 

"They try to send us something back, they're spinning their wheels," Reid said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Democrats will deliver most of their 200 votes if Boehner would agree to put the Senate bill on the floor. 

"I think it's very clear Democrats are making an explicit offer to the speaker to keep government open. 

Whatever he may bring out of his caucus to bring to the floor, we hope that he will also give a vote to the clean (funding bill)," Pelosi said.

Susan Davis, USA TODAY

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Brian Hoyer guides Browns past Bengals 17-6

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CLEVELAND -- Brian Hoyer, the local kid who always dreamed of being Cleveland's quarterback, threw two touchdown passes in his first start at home to lead the Browns to a 17-6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Hoyer's 1-yard TD pass to Chris Ogbonnaya with 4:54 left gave the Browns (2-2) an 11-point lead, and Cleveland turned it over to its vastly improved defense.

In his second start in place of injured Brandon Weeden, Hoyer finished 25 of 38 for 269 yards. 

He threw a 2-yard TD pass in the first half to Jordan Cameron, who had 10 catches for 91 yards.

The Bengals (2-2) couldn't get anything going on offense and Andy Dalton was intercepted by Buster Skrine with 3:43 left, ending any chance of a comeback.

Cleveland limited the Bengals to 63 rushing yards and cornerback Joe Haden contained wide receiver A.J. Green.

Associated Press

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