Indians Punch Out Yanks

Oct 09, 05:00 AM

Current Headlines: By Bob Nightengale

NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Indians not only won the American League Division Series on Monday night with a 6-4 victory against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, but perhaps also changed the future of the Yankees franchise.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, an 18-year-old growing up in Cleveland when the Indians last won the World Series in 1948, had to endure the Indians celebrating in the middle of his field after winning the series 3-1.

"This may not have been the most talented team I've been on," winning Cleveland pitcher Paul Byrd said, "but it's the best team. To close out the season against that amazing lineup, in Yankee Stadium, is the best feeling ever."

The Indians, capturing their first playoff series since 1998, face the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday in the AL Championship Series at Fenway Park.

Heavy consequences possibly await the Yankees. They last won the World Series in 2000 and have lost four consecutive postseason series and 13 of their last 17 playoff games. Steinbrenner told The Record of Hackensack (N.J.) that manager Joe Torre would be fired if they didn't advance to at least the ALCS. They also have several potential free agents, including third baseman Alex Rodriguez, closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada.

"I'm not sure how long it will take to get over this -- or if we can get over it," left fielder Johnny Damon said. "This team, year after year, is brought to win a championship. Unfortunately, there hasn't been one in a very long time."

The Yankees trailed 4-0 in the second inning and 6-1 in the fourth after Torre's decision to start Chien-Ming Wang on three days' rest backfired. Wang recorded just three outs.

"This has been a great 12 years, whatever the hell happens from here on out," Torre said. "I'll look back on these 12 years with great, great pleasure." (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.