Game 4: Oakland's Cal Quantrill (12-9, 4.86) at Cleveland's Brad Keller (8-9, 4.35)
Deflated in the clubhouse after blowing a three-run eighth-inning lead in Game 3
and with their backs so tight against the wall you can hear the squeaking, the A's
likely would have gone with ace Gerrit Cole to stay alive, but he was still tired
after Game 1's 124-pitch outing four days earlier. That left the A's with one viable
option in Cal Quantrill, a second-year starter with a 25-13 career record. He went
up against the Indians' Brad Keller, a third-year pitcher who's 32-22 in the CFA.
Keller allowed runners to reach scoring position with two outs in the first two
innings but stranded them. Quantrill blinked in the bottom of the second: Jake Lamb
led off with a homer, then J.T. Realmuto and Brad Miller walked, the second coming
with the notorious DMB passed ball four (the second to benefit the Tribe in this
postseason) that put both runners in scoring position. Two outs followed, but on
sacrifice flies by Carlos Correa and Dylan Carlson as Cleveland took a 3-0 lead.
Oakland got another runner in scoring position in the third, on Mookie Betts' one-
out double, then finally pushed across a run in the fourth on Will Smith's solo
homer with one out. Travis Shaw followed with a double for yet another runner in
scoring position, but stranded him. Willson Contreras got the run back in the bottom
half with an RBI single as Cleveland led 4-1.
The A's put runners on base in every inning after the fifth but scored no further.
After Brian Anderson's solo homer in the bottom of the eighth put the Indians up 5-1,
reliever Robert Gsellman came on to pitch the ninth. He got two quick outs, then
walked Cameron Maybin and Andrew McCutchen to put the potential tying run in the on-
deck circle. Joe Jimenez entered for the third time in the series and got his third
save, getting Betts to ground out to third to end the series. Cleveland wins 5-1,
wins series 4-0.
W: B. Keller L: Quantrill S: J. Jimenez GWRBI: Lamb
I always forget to award honors like series MVP, but rookie Dylan Carlson had seven
RBIs, two of them game-winners, while batting 3-for-8 with a triple and a homer.
Each of his hits drove in at least one run, and he added a sac fly.
It's not ideal when a team sweeps another in the playoffs, as one owner is left with
a bottomless, disappointing feeling to end the season, but after having been swept by
Tristan's Yankees last season in the ALCS, I'll take this version. I spent Thursday
evening playing the series 2.5 times, getting swept 4-0, losing 4-3 and finally winning
4-3 with some autoplays to end it before we Netplayed, so after last season's ALCS
nightmare and going 7-11 against Scott's team in practice while regularly getting
drilled by the top six hitters in his lineup, a Cleveland sweep was pretty much the
last thing I expected. In the real ALCS, the first four hitters in Scott's lineup
(McCutchen, Betts, Altuve, Rendon) went 20-63 (.317), but the bottom five went 11-74,
.149 as the A's were outscored in the series, 25-11.
Key stat of the series for Oakland:
Game 1: 1-10 RISP
Game 2: 1-8 RISP
Game 3: 2-10 RISP
Game 4: 0-10 RISP
Series: 4-38 RISP, .105.
With RISP, Cleveland went 0-5, 6-13, 3-9 and 1-4 to go 10-31 in the series, .323.
Despite all that, the midseason addition of Mookie Betts in a trade with the Seattle
Mariners clearly changed the A's fortunes and their future, making them an offensive
force, and Scott seems like a solid favorite to win the AL West next season.
Cleveland, meanwhile, could well finish in the basement of the top-to-bottom tough
AL Central.
But before 2022 and the arrival of the Cleveland Guardians, the Cleveland Indians, in
their last season in existence, reach the World Series. One step to go.
-- David de la Fuente
10/23/2021, Oak21-Cle21, "the Rock," Colavito Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2021 Athletics 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 10 2
2021 Indians 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 x 5 6 0 1 1
Athletics AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
McCutchen dh 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188 0 0 0 0
Betts cf 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353 3 0 0 0
Altuve 2b 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .438 2 6 0 0
Rendon 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 1 0 0
Conforto rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 1 0 0 0
Smith,WillD c 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 9 0 0 1
Shaw,T 1b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 5 0 0 0
Fuentes,J ph 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0
Russell ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 2 0 0
Maybin lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 2 0 0 0
Quantrill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Scott,Tan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Cishek p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Hand p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
35 1 9 1 4 0 1 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 9 0 1
Indians AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
Acuna Jr. cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118 4 0 0 0
Kepler rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133 1 0 0 0
Torres,G 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 6 0 0
Lamb dh 2 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .444 0 0 0 0
Encarnacion ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 0 0 0 0
Realmuto c 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 6 0 0 0
Miller,Bra 1b 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 4 0 0 0
Contreras,WE ph 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 6 0 0 0
Correa ss 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 1 3 0 0
Carlson lf 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .375 3 0 0 0
Dietrich 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0
Anderson,Bri ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417 1 1 0 0
Keller, Brad p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Lovelady p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Moronta p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Trivino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Gsellman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Jimenez,J p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
26 5 6 5 1 0 2 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 27 11 0 0
Athletics INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Quantrill L 0-1 3.0 2 4 3 2 4 60 33 13 1 0 0 0 0 9.00
Scott,Tan 2.1 2 0 0 0 2 22 16 8 0 0 0 0 1 0.00
Cishek 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 11 9 4 0 0 0 0 1 0.00
Hand 1.1 1 1 1 0 2 17 11 5 1 0 0 0 0 20.25
8.0 6 5 4 2 9 110 69 30 2 0 0 0 2
Indians INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Keller, Brad W 1-0 5.0 6 1 1 1 3 81 48 22 1 0 0 0 0 1.80
Lovelady H 2 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 6 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 6.75
Moronta H 2 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 19 11 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Trivino H 2 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 20 13 4 0 0 0 0 1 3.38
Gsellman 0.2 0 0 0 2 0 19 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 5.40
Jimenez,J S 3 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
9.0 9 1 1 3 6 147 89 38 1 0 0 0 1
Oak: Fuentes,J batted for Shaw,T in the 6th
Fuentes,J moved to 1b in the 6th
Cle: Contreras,WE batted for Miller,Bra in the 4th
Contreras,WE moved to 1b in the 5th
Encarnacion batted for Lamb in the 6th
Anderson,Bri batted for Dietrich in the 8th
Anderson,Bri moved to 3b in the 9th
GWRBI: Lamb
Temperature: 46, Field: wet, Sky: threatening, Wind: in from right at 8 MPH,
Rain Delays: 68 minutes.
10/23/2021, Oak21-Cle21, "the Rock," Colavito Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2021 Athletics 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 10 2
2021 Indians 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 x 5 6 0 1 1
Athletics -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
McCutchen dh 1>43 3>8 5>43 D W.1-2
Betts cf 9 D k k Jimenez,J
53
Altuve 2b D 7 43 8>Trivino
S
Rendon 3b k 53 6>S 463/gdp
Conforto rf 2>1/L 4>8 Lovelady S
43.1-2
Smith,WillD c k HR 7.2-3 k
Shaw,T 1b W D
Fuentes,J ph Moronta 9>Gsellman
k 63
Russell ss S.1-2 63 7>7 5
Maybin lf 43 8 8 W
Indians -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
Acuna Jr. cf 1>k 3>43 k k
Kepler rf k 43 6>S 63
Torres,G 2b k k k k
Lamb dh 2>HR 4>S
Encarnacion ph Cishek
543/gdp
Realmuto c W Scott,Tan 7>D
43.1-2
Miller,Bra 1b note 1
Contreras,WE ph S.2-H k
Correa ss note 2 643/gdp 7.2-3
Carlson lf 7/SF.3-H 5>8 Hand
8
Dietrich 3b 9 43
Anderson,Bri ph 8>HR
1: W+pb.1-3;B-2 2: 8/SF.3-H;2-3
Athletics IN OUT ER Indians IN OUT ER
Quantrill A1 B4 3 L 0-1 Keller, Brad A1 C4 1 W 1-0
Scott,Tan B5 C3 0 Lovelady C5 C6 0 H 2
Cishek C4 C7 0 Moronta C7 D2 0 H 2
Hand C8 D3 1 Trivino D3 D6 0 H 2
Gsellman D7 E1 0
Jimenez,J E2 E2 0 S 3
10/23/2021, Oak21-Cle21, "the Rock," Colavito Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2021 Athletics 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 10 2
2021 Indians 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 x 5 6 0 1 1
Score O Rnr BS Event
----- - --- -- -----
************** Top of the 1st inning, Athletics batting
0-0 0 --- 21 McCutchen grounded out to second (BSBX)
0-0 1 --- 20 Betts flied out to right (BBX)
0-0 2 --- 12 Altuve lined a double down the right field line (BCSX)
0-0 2 -2- 22 Rendon struck out (BFSBS)
************** Bottom of the 1st inning, Indians batting
0-0 0 --- 22 Acuna Jr. struck out (BCFBS)
0-0 1 --- 32 Kepler struck out (CBBFFBFS)
0-0 2 --- 22 Torres,G struck out (BBFCC)
************** Top of the 2nd inning, Athletics batting
0-0 0 --- 11 Conforto lined out to the mound (BCX)
0-0 1 --- 22 Smith,WillD struck out (BBCFS)
0-0 2 --- 31 Shaw,T walked (BBBCB)
0-0 2 1-- 01 Russell grounded a single up the middle, Shaw,T to second
(CX)
0-0 2 12- 00 Maybin grounded out to second (X)
************** Bottom of the 2nd inning, Indians batting
0-0 0 --- 20 Lamb homered deep to right center (BBX)
0-1 0 --- 31 Realmuto walked (BCBBB)
0-1 0 1-- 31 Miller,Bra walked, ball four was a passed ball charged to
Smith,WillD, Realmuto to third, Miller,Bra to second
(CBBBB)
0-1 0 -23 10 Correa hit a sacrifice fly to center, Realmuto scored,
Miller,Bra to third (BX)
0-2 1 --3 12 Carlson hit a sacrifice fly to left, Miller,Bra scored
(FBCFFX)
0-3 2 --- 01 Dietrich flied out to right (CX)
************** Top of the 3rd inning, Athletics batting
0-3 0 --- 22 McCutchen flied out to center (CFBBX)
0-3 1 --- 20 Betts grounded a double down the third base line (BBX)
0-3 1 -2- 12 Altuve flied out to left (BFFX)
0-3 2 -2- 20 Rendon grounded out to third (BBX)
************** Bottom of the 3rd inning, Indians batting
0-3 0 --- 21 Acuna Jr. grounded out to second (BFBX)
0-3 1 --- 22 Kepler grounded out to second (BBCCX)
0-3 2 --- 32 Torres,G struck out (BCBBSFC)
************** Top of the 4th inning, Athletics batting
0-3 0 --- 01 Conforto flied out to center (CX)
0-3 1 --- 00 Smith,WillD homered deep to center (X)
1-3 1 --- 22 Shaw,T lined a double to left center (CBFBFX)
1-3 1 -2- 31 Russell grounded out to short (FBBBX)
1-3 2 -2- 12 Maybin flied out to center (CBSX)
************** Bottom of the 4th inning, Indians batting
1-3 0 --- 11 Lamb lined a single to shallow left (BFX)
Scott,Tan now pitching
1-3 0 1-- 11 Realmuto grounded out to second, Lamb to second (SBX)
Contreras,WE pinch hitting for Miller,Bra
1-3 1 -2- 00 Contreras,WE lined a single down the right field line,
Lamb scored (X)
1-4 1 1-- 00 Correa grounded into a double play, Russell to Altuve to
Shaw,T (X)
************** Top of the 5th inning, Athletics batting
Contreras,WE moved to first base
1-4 0 --- 22 McCutchen grounded out to second (BFCBX)
1-4 1 --- 22 Betts struck out (CFBBS)
1-4 2 --- 12 Altuve grounded out to second (SBFX)
************** Bottom of the 5th inning, Indians batting
1-4 0 --- 32 Carlson flied out to center (BCBBFX)
1-4 1 --- 01 Dietrich grounded out to second (FX)
1-4 2 --- 12 Acuna Jr. struck out (BCSC)
************** Top of the 6th inning, Athletics batting
1-4 0 --- 10 Rendon lined a single to shallow center (BX)
Lovelady now pitching
1-4 0 1-- 01 Conforto grounded out to second, Rendon to second (FX)
1-4 1 -2- 12 Smith,WillD flied out to left, Rendon to third (CBFX)
Fuentes,J pinch hitting for Shaw,T
Moronta now pitching
1-4 2 --3 22 Fuentes,J struck out (BCCBS)
************** Bottom of the 6th inning, Indians batting
Fuentes,J moved to first base
1-4 0 --- 00 Kepler lined a single between first and second (X)
1-4 0 1-- 12 Torres,G struck out (BSCS)
Encarnacion pinch hitting for Lamb
Cishek now pitching
1-4 1 1-- 01 Encarnacion grounded into a double play, Rendon to Altuve
to Fuentes,J (FX)
************** Top of the 7th inning, Athletics batting
1-4 0 --- 11 Russell flied out to left (BCX)
1-4 1 --- 21 Maybin flied out to center (BCBX)
1-4 2 --- 10 McCutchen lined a double to right center (BX)
1-4 2 -2- 22 Betts struck out (CSBBS)
Game delayed by rain for 68 minutes
************** Bottom of the 7th inning, Indians batting
1-4 0 --- 10 Realmuto lined a double to left center (BX)
1-4 0 -2- 02 Contreras,WE struck out (CFC)
1-4 1 -2- 12 Correa flied out to left, Realmuto to third (FCBX)
Hand now pitching
1-4 2 --3 01 Carlson flied out to center (CX)
************** Top of the 8th inning, Athletics batting
Trivino now pitching
1-4 0 --- 11 Altuve lined a single to right center (CBX)
1-4 0 1-- 22 Rendon grounded into a double play, Torres,G to Correa to
Contreras,WE (BBSSX)
1-4 2 --- 22 Conforto grounded a single between first and second
(SSBFBX)
1-4 2 1-- 22 Smith,WillD struck out (CBBSFS)
************** Bottom of the 8th inning, Indians batting
Anderson,Bri pinch hitting for Dietrich
1-4 0 --- 10 Anderson,Bri homered deep to left (BX)
1-5 0 --- 32 Acuna Jr. struck out (CBFBBS)
1-5 1 --- 01 Kepler grounded out to short (CX)
1-5 2 --- 22 Torres,G struck out (BFBCS)
************** Top of the 9th inning, Athletics batting
Anderson,Bri moved to third base
Gsellman now pitching
1-5 0 --- 01 Fuentes,J grounded out to short (CX)
1-5 1 --- 12 Russell popped out to third (CFFBFX)
1-5 2 --- 31 Maybin walked (BBCBB)
1-5 2 1-- 32 McCutchen walked, Maybin to second (CBBFB>B)
Jimenez,J now pitching
1-5 2 12- 01 Betts grounded out to third (CX)