ALCS - Tribe breaks out the broom over Pale Hose

The 2005 Indians, surprisingly, sweep the 1955 White Sox in a series that saw two close games early and then two easy Indians wins once the series moved to Comiskey. Tribe pitchers were pretty stellar overall, and their slugging prowess was on display.

Bruce took his White Sox club to new heights and the club was a tough matchup all year, finishing tied for the best record in the AL (with the Indians).

Game One: Cleveland 6, Chicago 5 (11 innings). A raucous way to start the series. Tied at one apiece, the Sox erupt for four runs in the seventh, capped by a Minnie Minoso double that plated a pair and sent CC Sabathia to the showers. But the Indians make a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the inning, as Victor Martinez launches a grand slam to give the Tribe a brief 5-4 lead. In the top of ninth, Minoso singles home the tying run off closer Bob Wickman and the Sox have hope.

But in the bottom of the 11th, the Tribe celebrates the win as Travis Hafner hits a homer that just wraps around the right field foul pole to give the Indians the victory.

Game Two: Cleveland 2, Chicago 1. Cliff Lee is lights-out for the Indians, going eight innings and only allowing one run. Chicago ace Billy Pierce is a bit wild early, walking two in the first and then allowing them to score on two singles. But that's all the Indians' offense can muster, and the Chisox can't get their hitters untracked. Bob Wickman pitches a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Game Three: Cleveland 5, Chicago 1. The Chisox again can't come up with much offense against

the strong Indians pitching, only scoring a run on five hits off Kevin Millwood and Bob Howry. Millwood strikes out eight in 6.1 innings and Howry takes it home. The Indians score two runs apiece off Jack Harshman in the fourth and fifth, as Hafner has another big day, hitting a two run homer and a two-run RBI single to account for the scoring.

Game Four: Cleveland 11, Chicago 6. The good news for the White Sox is that their offense finally reappeared. The bad news is that Dick Donovan and Billy Pierce (recruited in relief in a desperate try to win the game) give up  8 Indians runs.  As usual, Jake Westbrook is not great but is good enough to take the win. The Indians paint the scoreboard with homers from Coca Crisp and Aaron Boone (who hit two in the series) and five doubles. Boone has three RBIs to lead the way, while Ronnie Belliard and Grady Sizemore have two apiece.

It's on for the Indians to face the winner of the senior circuit matchup between LA and Houston.

--submitted by Joe P.--