2016 ALCS: Andrew Miller Is Mariano Rivera Dominant As Cleveland Indians Take 2-0 Lead On Toronto Blue Jays

The Cleveland Indians took a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 ALCS. Here’s three reasons the Tribe pulled out the Game 2 win.

The Cleveland Indians have a 2-0 lead in the 2016 ALCS thanks to another unbelievable performance that left one of the American League’s best offenses relatively silent.

Miller Time

Andrew Miller is making a case for his own statue in Gateway Plaza.

The lefty was filthy, yet again, in postseason play.

In Game 2, Miller went two innings and struck out five.

Here’s his 2016 ALCS numbers: 12 batters faced, 10 strikeouts, 1 groundout, 1 hit.

Miller’s slider is wicked. And even that adjective doesn’t do it justice. His slider is the best pitch a reliever has consistently thrown since Mariana Rivera was blowing away batters with his cut fastball.

Pedro Martinez agrees.

“Not even the great Mariano overpowered…good hitters, like this kid is doing…It’s something like I’ve never seen in the postseason,” The TBS Analyst said.

Miller’s made 55 pitches during the ALCS, 31 of which have been sliders. The Blue Jays have put exactly one of those sliders in play.

For the postseason, Miller has 17 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Closer Cody Allen deserves his due, as well. The duo has combined for eight appearances this postseason, hurling 12 2/3 innings while striking out 25. They’ve allowed zero earned runs.

The Indians haven’t trailed in a postseason game in the last 42 innings. The bullpen is a huge reason the Tribe’s been able to play with and keep the lead. If you want to shorten games, that’s how you do it.

The Little Cowboy

Josh Tomlin was excellent. Again. Two postseason games and two wins. Nobody thought Tomlin would be this good. You didn’t. I didn’t. Josh’s parents probably didn’t even think it.

What’s his line for the postseason? The Little Cowboy’s started two games. He’s logged 10 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 10 and walked three. His postseason ERA is 1.59.

Tomlin’s facing some of the most powerful offenses in baseball. The Red Sox led the Amercian League in runs scored. The Blue Jays were the fourth most prolific home-run hitting teams during the regular season in MLB, blasting 221 moonshots.

Speaking of being prolific at something, Tomlin allowed home runs at an alarming rate. He surrendered 36 during the 2016 campaign. That’s the third most in all of baseball.

You could understand if fans felt easy about Tomlin going into the game. A home-run hitting club versus a guy who gives up a lot of homers isn’t exactly a formula that will leave you dreaming of a pennant.

But there was Tomlin, pitching 5 2/3 and striking out six in Game 2 of the ALCS.

Expect the unexpected with this Indians team. Tomlin is proof.

 Frankie Lindor

If you somehow missed Francisco Lindor‘s heroics during Game 1, the 22-year-old shortstop made darn sure you remembered his name after Game 2.

His glove was on display again, evidenced by the backhanded play he made to get Jose Bautista early in the contest. He got done at the plate as well, collecting two hits and what proved to be the difference making RBI.

Next: Listen To Tom Hamilton Call Lindor's Game 1 HR

Linder became the first placer since Omar Vizquel  to collect three consecutive multi-hit games in the postseason. Vizquel accomplished the fete in 2008.