Lob & Kritik » Granlund put his rebound off the post.Th

CLEVELAND -- After laboring through a season-high 46 pitches in the World Series opener Tuesday night, Andrew Miller didnt have a shred of an iota of a doubt that he would throw however many fastballs and sliders are required to give the Cleveland Indians their best chance to win Game 2 on Wednesday.Its the World Series, Miller said. Ill be ready. Im going to take advantage of the training staff here and all the gadgetry to feel good tomorrow. The most we can play is six more games. And Ill find a way to be a part of them.Designated hitter Carlos Santana shares Millers optimism and determination. He gave the Indians a scare when he suffered a cramp in his right calf in the fourth inning. But Santana stayed in the game, and he expects to be good to go Wednesday thanks to the magic of hydration and an ample supply of bananas. Second baseman Jason Kipnis -- the third Indian with potential availability issues -- was not at his locker stall after Game 1 while presumably undergoing treatment on his injured ankle. Unless he reports to the park on crutches, its safe to assume how he feels about playing.These are the 2016 Indians. They always show up, and they take an almost whimsical sense of pleasure in overcoming setbacks and proving people wrong. Now theyve ridden the same thematic elements to eight of the 11 October victories theyll need to bring Cleveland its first World Series championship since 1948.Theyll try to continue their run of October dominance in Game 2 against the Cubs, while relying on the same formula that has allowed them to spring traps against favored teams for the better part of a month.The atmosphere at Progressive Field was electric for the first Series game in the city since 1997, and it was everything that Indians fans hoped it would be. Corey Kluber dazzled the Cubs for six innings and combined with Miller and closer Cody Allen to strike out 15 Cubs -- tied for the second-highest nine-inning total in a World Series game.In nine postseason games against Boston, Toronto and the Cubs, Clevelands pitchers have crossed the threshold from impressive to remarkable. Theyve logged an aggregate 1.58 staff ERA (14 earned runs in 80 innings pitched), with 21 walks and 96 strikeouts against three of the deepest and most potent lineups in the majors this season.Almost without fail, the Indians seem to find a new offensive protagonist every day.Outfielder Brandon Guyer, an early August non-waiver-deadline pickup from Tampa Bay, led the majors with 31 hit-by-pitches during the regular season. So naturally, he took an 89 mph cutter from Jon Lester off the leg with the bases loaded to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the first inning.Clevelands young and energetic left side of the infield got into the act in a big way. Third baseman Jose Ramirez and shortstop Francisco Lindor became the third pair of teammates under age 25 to collect at least three hits in the same World Series game. They joined Goose Goslin and Ossie Bluege of the 1924 Washington Senators and Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury of the 2007 Boston Red Sox as the third duo to achieve the feat.Catcher Robert Perez, he of the .183 regular-season batting average, had the biggest night of all with two home runs and four RBIs. Perez joined Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome as the third Indians player to produce a multihomer game in the postseason. He also entered an elite fraternity with Yogi Berra, Gene Tenace, Johnny Bench and Gary Carter as the fifth catcher to record a multihomer game in the World Series.Their 8-1 postseason record notwithstanding, the Indians have grown accustomed to the national perception that theyre the final speed bump in the Cubs inevitable drive to a title. That sentiment was expressed loud and clear Tuesday when Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy posed a question during Cleveland manager Terry Franconas pregame news conference. The two men have a longstanding relationship and collaborated on the managers 2013 book, Francona: The Red Sox Years, so they have a tendency to cut through the niceties and get right to the point.Are you aware and in your room do your guys care that this event around the country is all about the Cubs? Shaughnessy asked. Do you feel like saying, Were here, too?Replied Francona: Youve already been banned in Boston. Now youre banned in Cleveland.Inspired by their managers relentless honesty and good humor, the Indians have adopted a straightforward mindset that allows them to shrug off each bad thing that happens and see it as an omen for something good right around the corner.It was evident in the fourth inning Tuesday, when Santana hobbled into second base on a single by Ramirez. He spent several minutes being tended to by the Indians athletic trainer, and it looked for all the world like another case of the baseball gods piling on a team that has endured a series of devastating injuries this season.Yet absolutely no one in the Cleveland dugout or bullpen was thinking bad thoughts.Honestly, we were out in the bullpen thinking, Coco [Crisp] is going to come in and hit a double in the seventh inning with three men on, Allen said. Next man up. Thats how its worked.The Indians are arent afraid to express sentiments that might be left unspoken in other clubhouses. In the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped hints that they would try to take advantage of Lesters well-publicized issues throwing to bases. But all the Dodgers posturing and dancing on the basepaths never amounted to much.Not so for the Indians. In the first inning, Lindor singled with two outs and immediately stole second base. He attempted another steal in the third inning only to be thrown out by Cubs catcher David Ross.Not only does it bring excitement, but it also brings a little bit of a distraction for the pitchers, Indians center fielder Rajai Davis?said. Lindor was able to capitalize on that today with that stolen base early. I think he got into the head of Lester a little bit, and he lost his command for a few batters and we were able to take advantage of that.The Indians will face another challenge in Game 2 when Trevor Bauer takes the mound nine days after exiting early with a blood-soaked right pinkie finger in Toronto. Miller, who looked rusty after an extended layoff, will have to pitch through some fatigue. Sometime during this series, a starter other than Kluber will have to make his mark, and Dan Otero and Bryan Shaw will have to join Miller and Allen in recording some big outs.But the Indians are now conditioned to expect positive results. After injuries to Michael Brantley, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar and all the other obstacles theyve encountered this season, they have every intention of seeing this thing through to the finish.Weve had so much crap happen to us this season, every guy in here shows up the ballpark with the attitude, Try and figure out a way, Allen said. You just try and find a way, and if you dont, so be it and you move on to the next day and try to find a way to do it that day.Thats the motto weve had, and its worked. That mantra doesnt just involve a few individuals. It involves everyone. Zach Gentry Womens Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Devin Bush Steelers Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Jack-Ham-Elite-Jersey/ . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Joe Greene Youth Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Diontae Johnson Steelers Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. TORONTO -- The old Henrik Lundqvist was back in net for Sweden.The 34-year-old Lundqvist made 36 saves to help Sweden beat Finland 2-0 in the World Cup of Hockey on Tuesday.We were confident with him coming in today, even after?Jacob [Markstrom]?played such a good game like he did [on Sunday], Swedish captain Henrik Sedin said. Being around Henrik for a few weeks now, we knew he was going to come in and have a great game.Anton Stralman and Loui Eriksson scored as the Swedes (2-0-0) got a firm grip on the top spot in Group B. Finland (0-2-0) is facing long odds for advancing to the semifinals.Lundqvist, who missed Swedens first game of the tournament due to an illness, struggled in pre-tournament competition, posting a 4.49 goals-against average and a .778 save percentage in two appearances. The Rangers goaltender was pulled from last Wednesdays game against Team Europe after allowing five goals on 22 shots in a 6-2 loss.I felt pretty rusty out there the first period, not as aware as I wanted to be, but I got some really good help with some loose pucks and stuff like that, Lundqvist said. Second and third, I felt more comfortable, but it was fun. I really enjoyed being out there playing. Big game, important game, not being able to play the first, you never know where its going when youre not healthy.Tuukka Rask, starting in the Finnish goal over Pekka Rinne, stopped 27 shots.We played such a great game, started off well, created so many good scoring chances, but we didnt score, Finnish coach Lauri Marjamaki said. Off course, the goalie Lundqvist was impressive.dddddddddddd But so proud of my players and our team effort. It was great today. But it is not enough.Finlands Mikael Granlund had two excellent scoring chances just past the midway mark of the third, but Lundqvist got his right pad on the first shot and Granlund put his rebound off the post.The matchup got physical in the third when Finlands Sami Lepisto caught Swedens Mikael Backlund with a questionable high hit just inside Swedens blue line with a little over nine minutes to play. Lepisto was assessed a minor penalty for roughing, while Backlund received treatment on the Swedish bench.It was a shoulder hit to the head, or towards the nose, Sweden coach Rikard Gronborg said. I know he was bleeding a little bit [from] his nose.Sweden led 1-0 after two periods. Stralman, a defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, put a backhand feed from Sedin past Rask at 9:57 of the middle period.Finlands Patrik Laine had a strong scoring opportunity in the final minute of the second, but Lundqvist was able to get his glove on Laines one-timer.Every single Finnish player had a shot on goal. Laine, a first-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets, led the way with five.We had many good scoring chances, but he was playing awesome in the net, Laine said.Sweden concludes the preliminary round on Wednesday against Team North America, and Finland meets Russia on Thursday. ' ' '