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LeBron James, Cavs congratulate Cleveland Indians on World Series berth

By Brendan Dlubala

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Cleveland Indians celebrate beating the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Cleveland Indians celebrate beating the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS and advanced to the 2016 World Series. After doing so, LeBron James, J.R. Smith and others offered their congratulations.

The Cleveland Indians faced off against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series. After losing Game 4, the Indians sent out rookie starting pitcher Ryan Merritt on Wednesday to give them a chance to close the series out. He delivered 4 1/3 shutout innings and allowed two hits. Merrit had only pitched 11 innings in the major leagues prior to this game.

Fortunately, the Indians started off hot with one run in the first inning via Mike Napoli’s double. The followed it up with a solo home run by Carlos Santana in the third and a solo home run by Coco Crisp in the fourth. These were the only runs of the game.

The Blue Jays threatened in the ninth inning. Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen, was pitching and allowed a lead off double to Jose Bautista. However, he followed it up with a strikeout of Josh Donaldson and another of Edwin Encarnacion. Allen then got Troy Tulowitzki to pop up in foul territory for the final out, closing out the ALCS and providing the Cleveland Indians with a World Series berth.

The Cleveland Indians will be the second Cleveland team to make it to a championship final in 2016. The first, the Cleveland Cavaliers, won their NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors. But now that the Indians are in the World Series, LeBron James and some other Cavaliers players are showing their support.

The first game of the World Series will be at Progressive Field in Cleveland, across the street from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ stadium. The Cavaliers will be facing the New York Knicks in their home opener and enjoying their NBA championship ring ceremony.

The Cavaliers weren’t the only ones supporting the “Tribe.” The Cleveland Browns, Ohio State, former Indian Kenny Lofton and many others also chimed in with their congratulations.

Congratulations and good luck to the Cleveland Indians. They haven’t been to the World Series since 1997. They also haven’t won one since 1948, which is the longest current drought between World Series wins. But maybe this is Cleveland’s year.

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