NEW YORK -- After a nightmarish first few innings Monday in Game 4 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan, the Indians showed signs of life against the Yankees in the fourth inning when Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer to straightaway center field at Yankee Stadium. However, the Tribe fell, 7-3, as the Yanks forced a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
Santana's first extra-base hit of the series completed a two-out rally that broke up the dominance of Yankees starter Luis Severino, who retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before Jay Bruce worked out of an 0-2 count by fouling off three two-strike pitches en route to a nine-pitch, two-out walk.
That extended the inning for Santana, who was seemingly waiting for Severino to throw a slider with his 2-1 pitch. Severino left it over the plate, allowing Santana to center it with a 104.1-mph exit velocity, according to Statcast™. The drive traveled a projected 421 feet toward Monument Park beyond the center-field fence.
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Nine of Cleveland's first 15 runs in this series scored via a home run. Santana, meanwhile, has a pair of two-run hits, his home run following up a two-run single off Carsten Sabathia in Game 2.