Tim Kurkjian explains how Terry Francona was able to help mold the Indians into a contender. (1:09)

TORONTO -- For the Cleveland Indians, the script was the same every game -- hope for the best from whoever they started, then count on Andrew Miller and the bullpen to close it out.

That plan seemed especially dicey in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series, with lightly used Ryan Merritt on the mound.

But out of nowhere, the rookie delivered.

Merritt coolly kept the Indians ahead until reinforcements arrived, and Cleveland earned its first trip to the World Series since 1997 by blanking the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 Wednesday.

The 24-year-old lefty defied expectations, shutting down the powerful Blue Jays before exiting in the fifth inning. Thanks to a most unlikely pitching performance, a most unexpected team won the ALCS 4-1.

Cleveland, which has never hosted a World Series opener, will play Game 1 at Progressive Field on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager Terry Francona's team will try to augment what's already been a scintillating year in Cleveland after LeBron James and the Cavaliers earned the city's first major pro sports championship since 1964.

The Indians' title drought dates to 1948. In 1997, they let a one-run lead get away in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 and lost to the Florida Marlins in the 11th.

"We always said if we could do it with this group it would be so special because this is as close to a family feel as you can get in a professional setting. So for that part of it, it is beyond feeling good," Francona said.

The Dodgers led the Cubs 2-1 going into Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday night. Cleveland didn't play either club this season.

Miller, acquired from the New York Yankees in a midseason trade, was selected the ALCS MVP as the Indians took their sixth pennant.

"I feel like I've said the word `special' a million times in the last 20 or 30 minutes. But it's the truth. It's a blast to be a part of," Miller said.

With all of 11 major league innings under his belt -- and only one start, on Sept. 30 -- Merritt took the mound and looked just like a seasoned vet . The lefty retired the first 10 batters and allowed a mere two hits before being pulled after 4 1/3 innings.

"I know they were counting on me," Merritt said. "Before the game, they came and told me they had my back, everybody had my back, good or bad. So that takes some pressure off, and I just went out there and pitched and trusted my team."

Merritt got taps on his heart and hat from teammates when he left the mound. Then it was up to Cleveland's tireless relievers to hold a three-run lead against the wild-card Blue Jays.

Miller again did most of the heavy lifting, going 2 2/3 innings before Cody Allen worked the ninth for a save . Winning pitcher Bryan Shaw tossed an inning before Miller came in.

Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp homered for the Indians.

With starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer dealing with injuries, the Indians kept defying the odds.

Cleveland overtook defending World Series champion Kansas City and topped a $196 million Detroit team to win the AL Central, then put an abrupt end to Big Papi's career, sweeping David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox in the Division Series.

The Indians stayed on a roll in the ALCS, shutting down the banging Blue Jays. Cleveland won despite hitting .168 in the series, with slick-fielding shortstop Francisco Lindor leading the way in going 7 for 19.

Toronto lost in the ALCS for the second straight year.

"I'm sure there will be some disappointments and grumbling and complaining about how you fell short again, but that's not coming from me," manager John Gibbons said. "Because I know what these guys did, and I think it's a pretty good accomplishment. The key is we want to take that next step one of these days. Hopefully, it's next year."

Merritt -- a Texas native drafted in the 16th round by Cleveland in 2011 -- hadn't pitched in a game since his late September start, although he'd gotten some work in this month in the instructional league at the Indians' spring training complex in Arizona.

A day after Toronto averted a sweep, the crowd at the roaring Rogers Centre expected the Blue Jays to roll over the rookie.

Maybe the Blue Jays did, too.

"With our experience in our lineup, I'm pretty sure he's going to be shaking in his boots more than we are," Toronto slugger Jose Bautista said after Game 4.

After the Blue Jays were eliminated, Bautista took a different tone.

"He seemed to make the right pitches at the right time," Bautista said. "Hats off to him."

After the game, Cleveland players chanted "boots" in the celebration, urging Merritt to pull cowboy boots from his locker and shake them.

Merritt struck out three batters in the first two innings -- all looking -- and didn't allow a baserunner until Josh Donaldson's one-out single in the fourth. After Russell Martin's bloop single with one out in the fifth, Francona leaned again on a bullpen that soaked up 8 1/3 innings in a Game 3 win Monday.

Shaw pitched an inning, and Miller came on with one out in the sixth and a runner on. Donaldson bounced into a double play on Miller's first pitch, and the tall lefty made it through the seventh and eighth with little trouble before giving way to Allen.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mike Napoli doubled and left fielder Ezequiel Carrera misplayed the ball off the wall for an error. Lindor scored from first on the play.

Santana and Crisp added solo shots in the third and fourth off Toronto starter Marco Estrada to put the AL Central champions up 3-0.

PRECEDENT

Merritt was the second pitcher to start a postseason game with only one previous regular-season start. Matt Moore of Tampa Bay did it in 2011 in Game 1 of the Division Series against Texas. Moore pitched seven scoreless innings that day.

CLEVELAND KIN

James posted video on his Instagram account of him and the Cavs watching the game's final out at a crowded Cleveland sports bar. James, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith and others were gathered around a table by the front door, with fans pouring out into the street to watch.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Indians: Francona said before the game that Bauer was supposed to have his lacerated right pinkie looked at by a doctor again. The idea was to see if the right-hander could potentially pitch out of the bullpen at all during this series after being lifted when he was bleeding in the first inning of Game 3.

Now the question is whether Bauer can be of any help in the World Series.

"Obviously, he needs to heal, but he can't just not throw," Francona said.

Bauer sliced his pinkie last week repairing one of the drones he enjoys flying as a hobby. During the boozy clubhouse celebration after Game 5, Bauer had his right arm wrapped in protective plastic.

UP NEXT

Indians: Cleveland returns home and rests up for the World Series.

Blue Jays: Toronto faces an uncertain offseason. Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders are in the final year of their contracts.

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Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister</s>Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (center) accepts the American League Championship Series MVP trophy as team owner Larry Dolan (right) and his son Paul Dolan (left) stand nearby after the Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series Wednesday in Toronto. The Indians advance to the World Series. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)</s>The Indians will play the eventual National League champion on Tuesday in Cleveland in the first game of the World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Chicago Cubs by two games to one in the series for the National League crown.

The Dodgers and Cubs play the fourth game of the series Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.

Cleveland won the ALCS four games to one. The Indians haven't played in the World Series since 1997, when they lost to the then-Florida Marlins. The team hasn't won the World Series since 1948, when Cleveland beat the then-Boston Braves.</s>Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli celebrates after their 4-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's American League Championship Series in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</s>A most unlikely pitching performance helped put a most unexpected team into the World Series.

Rookie Ryan Merritt coolly delivered a lead to the Andrew Miller-led bullpen and the Cleveland Indians won their first pennant since 1997, blanking Toronto 3-0 Wednesday in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Cleveland, which has never hosted a World Series opener, will play Game 1 at Progressive Field on Tuesday night against either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager Terry Francona’s team will try to boost what’s already been a magical year in Cleveland after LeBron James and the Cavaliers earned the city’s first sports championship since 1964. The Indians’ title drought dates to 1948.

The Dodgers led the Cubs 2-1 going into Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday night. Cleveland didn’t play either club this season.

Miller, acquired from the New York Yankees in a midseason trade, wound up as the ALCS MVP as the Indians took their sixth pennant.

With all of 11 major league innings under his belt, Merritt took the mound and looked just like a seasoned vet. The 24-year-old lefty retired the first 10 batters and allowed only two hits before being pulled after 41/3 innings.

“I know they were counting on me,” Merritt said. “Before the game, they came and told me they had my back, everybody had my back, good or bad. So that takes some pressure off, and I just went out there and pitched and trusted my team.”

Merritt got taps on his heart and hat from teammates when he left the mound. Then it was up to Cleveland’s tireless relievers to hold a three-run lead against the wild-card Blue Jays.

Miller again did most of the heavy lifting, pitching 22/3 innings, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for the save. Winner Bryan Shaw worked an inning before Miller came in. Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp homered for the Indians.

With starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer dealing with injuries, the Indians kept defying the odds.

Cleveland overtook defending World Series champion Kansas City and topped Detroit to win the AL Central, then put an abrupt ending to Big Papi’s career, sweeping David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox in the AL Division Series. The Indians stayed on a roll in the ALCS, shutting down the banging Blue Jays.

Merritt — a Texas native drafted in the 16th round by Cleveland in 2011 — made only one start during the regular season at the end of September. The newcomer hadn’t pitched in a game since then, although he’d gotten some work in this month in the instructional league at the Indians’ spring training complex in Arizona.

A day after Toronto averted a sweep, the crowd at the roaring Rogers Centre expected the Blue Jays to roll over the rookie. Maybe the Blue Jays did, too. “With our experience in our lineup, I’m pretty sure he’s going to be shaking in his boots more than we are,” Toronto slugger Jose Bautista said after Game 4.

Instead, Merritt struck out three batters in the first two innings — all looking — and didn’t allow a baserunner until Josh Donaldson’s one-out single in the fourth. After Russell Martin singled with one out in the fifth, it was time for Francona to lean again on a bullpen that pitched 81/3 innings in a Game 3 win Monday.

Shaw pitched an inning, and Miller came on with one out in the sixth and a man on. Donaldson bounced into a double play on Miller’s first pitch, and the tall lefty made it through the seventh and eighth with little trouble before giving way to Allen.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mike Napoli doubled and left fielder Ezequiel Carrera misplayed the ball off the wall for an error. Francisco Lindor scored from first on the play.

Santana and Crisp added solo shots in the third and fourth off Toronto starter Marco Estrada to put the AL Central champions up 3-0.</s>Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer reacts as a cut on his finger bleeds during the first inning in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays Monday in Toronto. Bauer left the game in the first inning. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</s>Toronto Blue Jays' Troy Tulowitzki fields a first inning grounder in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Jays and Indians in Toronto on Oct. 19, 2016. (Stan Behal/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network)

Toronto Blue Jays' Ezequiel Carrera has trouble handling Mike Napoli's ball off the wall to score Cleveland's first run in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Jays and Indians in Toronto on Oct. 19, 2016. (Stan Behal/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network)

Toronto Blue Jays’ Marco Estrada during Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians in Toronto on Oct. 19, 2016. (Craig Robertson/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network)

If Ryan Merritt is indeed shaking in his boots Wednesday afternoon, Indians manager Terry Francona will do everything to keep him calm.

Merritt, who has limited experience in the majors, will get the start for Cleveland, who carry a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series and will look to finish off the Jays.

Following Tuesday’s 5-1 win at the Rogers Centre, veteran Blue Jay Jose Bautista suggested that Merritt might be “shaking in his boots” in Game 5.

“I’m sure that’s true,” Francona said Wednesday with a laugh. “He knows he’s not alone out there. He’s got us in the dugout and hopefully that reassures him a little bit. It would sure help us win a game if he pitches welll and I told him that.

“I think his biggest goal for today is to be himself and try not to let nerves get in the way of who he is.”

The Jays, who are looking to extend the series to a Game 6 and 7 in Cleveland on Friday and Saturday, will counter with Marco Estrada, who has been Toronto’s best starter so far in the post season.

When Toronto manager John Gibbons released his lineup card for Wednesday, Melvin Upton Jr. and Darwin Barney were in for Michael Saunders and Ryan Goins.

In Upton’s case, the move makes sense because the Jays are facing a left-handed starter in Ryan Merritt.

Saunders, who had a home run in Game 3, has been one of the more consistent Jays hitters in the series, which isn’t saying much.

Meanwhile, Gibbons is sticking with other veterans who have struggled at the plate including catcher Russell Martin.

“One thing I do know (about Martin) is he’s always had a knack of doing something big,” Gibbons said. “Maybe it could be as simple as a walk, get on base at a key time.

“As far as his hitting, especially this time of year, catchers, they’re beat up. He catches a lot of games. He’s not that young, young kid any more.”

Saunders, meanwhile, is second only to Josh Donaldson (.438) in post-season batting average among Jays hitters (.350.) Martin, meanwhile, has just two hits in 30 playoff at-bats (.067).

The complete starting order for the Jays, with post-season batting average:

Follow along here with our Sun team at the Rogers Centre for updates and observations.</s>TORONTO — A most unlikely pitching performance helped put a most unexpected team into the World Series.

Rookie Ryan Merritt coolly delivered a lead to the Andrew Miller-led bullpen and the Cleveland Indians won their first pennant since 1997, blanking Toronto 3-0 Wednesday in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

Cleveland, which has never hosted a World Series opener, will play Game 1 at Progressive Field on Tuesday night against either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Indians will try to boost what’s already been a magical year in Cleveland after LeBron James and the Cavaliers earned the city’s first sports championship since 1964. The Indians’ title drought dates to 1948.

The Dodgers led the Cubs 2-1 going into Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday night. Cleveland didn’t play either team this season.

With all of 11 major league innings under his belt, Merritt took the mound and looked just like a seasoned vet. The 24-year-old lefty retired the first 10 batters and allowed only two hits before being pulled after 4 1/3 innings.

Then it was up to Cleveland’s tireless relievers to hold a three-run lead.

Miller again did most of the heavy lifting, pitching 2 2/3 innings, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for the save. Winner Bryan Shaw worked an inning before Miller came in.

Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp homered for the Indians.</s>TORONTO (AP) — Andrew Miller has been selected the MVP of the AL Championship Series after his latest splendid performance in relief helped the Cleveland Indians reach the World Series.

Miller pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 win Wednesday over Toronto, capping a five-game series in which the 6-foot-7 lefty overpowered the Blue Jays. Miller had one strikeout in Game 5, increasing his series total to 14 in 7 2/3 shutout innings.

Miller was acquired from the New York Yankees in a July 31 trade — and Cleveland had an interesting idea of how to use him. Rather than restricting him to a closer role or using him only in the eighth inning, the Indians have been flexible with Miller, especially in the postseason.</s>For two generations of the city's headstrong sports faithful, the self-effacing label was used to explain the achingly unexplainable.

The Drive. The Fumble. The Shot. The Decision. When the going got good, Murphy's Law always got going.

These days, it has a sweet new meaning.

Only in Cleveland could a rookie making his second career start and an understaffed Indians team repeatedly cast aside be going to the World Series.

With 4 1/3 fearless innings from the most unlikely playoff hero in franchise history -- an unheralded 24-year-old Texan named Ryan Merritt -- followed by a familiar whitewashing from Andrew Miller and an indomitable bullpen, Cleveland's storybook year continued in a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday at the Rogers Centre.

The Indians clinched their first trip to the Fall Classic in nearly two decades four months to the day after the Cavaliers captured the city's first major sports title in 52 years.

The World Series will begin in Cleveland for the first time next Tuesday.

"This is awesome. It's tough for them to pick a guy and trust him to go out there that hasn't had much experience.

"It was an honor."

File this one under the category of just so crazy it might work.

In the delirious haze of the cramped visitors' clubhouse afterward, a flock of Indians' players encircled Merritt, drenching the former 16th round draft selection with enough bottles of Bottega Prosecco champagne to fill a bath tub.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista had suggested Merritt would fade when the lights burned brightest, saying, "With our experience in our lineup, I'm pretty sure he's going to be shaking in his boots."

Here was an eleventh-hour addition to the playoff roster who spent the season at Triple-A Columbus and had logged 11 career innings in the big leagues.

A soft-tossing left-hander against a powerful Toronto lineup with eight right-handed hitters. An admittedly wide-eyed colt in the loudest stadium in the league.

If merely two of Cleveland's top four starters were injured -- not three of them -- Merritt would still be in the Arizona Instructional League, where he was pitching only last week.

Indians manager Terry Francona pulled Merritt into his office two hours before the game.

"He said, 'Hey, no matter what, good or bad, when you go out there, we're behind you,' " Merritt said. " 'I'm behind you. Your team is behind you. Everybody is behind you. So just go out there and be yourself and just have fun. Just enjoy it.' "

"I wanted to make sure he knew this wasn't life or death," Francona said.

"Yeah, I was definitely nervous," Merritt said.

Yet, as if this Indians season could not take a stranger turn, it never showed.

Merritt began his day with an 83-mph fastball down the middle to Bautista and continued to pummel the zone. With sharp command of a repertory of pitches that ranged in speed from the high 60s to the mid 80s -- he threw first-pitch strikes to eight of the first nine hitters -- Merritt had the Blue Jays off balance all day.

He was perfect through 3 1/3 innings and had faced the minimum number of batters before allowing a one-out single to Russell Martin in the fifth. With the Indians leading 3-0, Francona promptly pulled Merritt, but not before thanking him for a performance "above and beyond his years."

Merritt allowed two hits and struck out three over 4 1/3 innings.

In the postgame scrum around his locker, one player shouted, "Look, he's shaking in his boots."

Another said, "Sign them and send them to Joey."

"He shocked the world! He shocked the world!" cried star shortstop Francisco Lindor. "That's what I told him before the game, 'Go out there and shock the world, baby.' "

"But I didn't let it affect me or get to me," he said. "I mean, that's a good lineup. I guess he's got a right to say it. It's my first start. The emotions out there were kind of crazy at first, a little nervous. But it settled down, I tried not to let the crowd get to me too much, and I trusted my defense."

The Indians' bats, meanwhile, scored a dozen runs all series, but delivered just enough. They jumped on Toronto starter Marco Estrada early Wednesday. Mike Napoli hit a run-scoring double in the first, Carlos Santana swatted a solo homer in the third, and Coco Crisp hit a solo shot in the fourth.

Once the bullpen got ahold of the lead, it was all but over.

The trio of Bryan Shaw, Miller, and closer Cody Allen held Toronto to four hits over the final 4 2/3 innings. Miller, who pitched 2 2/3 more scoreless innings, became just the fourth reliever to be named ALCS MVP. He struck out 14 hitters over 7 2/3 near-perfect innings for the series.

When Troy Tulowitzki popped up the final out into the glove of first baseman Carlos Santana in foul territory, the party was on.

Only in Cleveland it meant something entirely different.

Only in Cleveland could the Cavaliers vanquish the greatest regular season team ever to become the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the finals.

Only in Cleveland could an Indians team without so many of their best players -- and with one of the game's lowest payrolls -- tear into the World Series.

Only in Cleveland could a baby born on June 19 or later know of a world where only, well, Cleveland wins championships.

"This has been a year where everything goes right," Indians owner Paul Dolan told reporters. "Even when something goes wrong, it ends up being right."

Contact David Briggs at: dbriggs@theblade.com, 419-724-6084 or on Twitter @DBriggsBlade.
The Cleveland Indians defeat the Toronto Blue Jays and win the American League Championship Series 4–1, advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1997. Major League Baseball names Cleveland reliever Andrew Miller the series Most Valuable Player.