Boxengasse » mentality that we need to carry on every week,

BOSTON -- As Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen weaved his way through the Boston Red Sox lineup in the eighth and ninth innings Monday, a little piece of him flashed back to his boyhood in Florida. Allen took the mound in Game 3 of the American League Division Series without his best fastball or command. But as he surveyed the scene around him, his head was spinning with memories.I remember when I was a kid, watching games in this ballpark and seeing how crazy it was, Allen said in a raucous Indians clubhouse late Monday. For me to stand here and say I didnt hear the crowd, that would be a lie. I heard them. I could feel it, and Im sure their players could feel it.Its a really cool feeling to be part of a game like this, at Fenway Park, where theres so much history, playing against guys like Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz and that team over there. Its a really cool thing to be a part of.Once Travis Shaws pop fly settled into the glove of Cleveland right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall to seal a 4-3 Indians victory, Allen and his teammates experienced the ultimate in cool. They heard 39,530 Fenway fans go quiet before striking up a Thank you, Papi! cheer in recognition of Ortizs final game.In the midst of all that mourning, the Indians held an impromptu mosh pit at second base to celebrate a three-game series sweep. Boston is done, and Cleveland will move on and try to create some new memories against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series.The Indians entered the division series as consensus underdogs for a reason. September injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar put a major crimp in the pitching rotation, and Bostons lineup looked too deep and formidable to be stopped. Even though the Red Sox dropped five of six games to end the regular season, they led the majors with 878 runs and an .810 team OPS. Plus, they had the added incentive of trying to write a poignant final script for Ortiz.But everything unraveled against the Indians, who took the three games in the series by scores of 5-4, 6-0 and 4-3. The Red Sox struck out 31 times in 98 at-bats and posted a .214/.278/.378 slash line. Bostons three homers in the series came from the unlikely trio of Andrew Benintendi, Brock Holt and Sandy Leon. Ortiz, Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts hit a combined .200 (11-for-55) against Clevelands pitching.The Indians game plan from the outset was to seize the initiative. Boston has a lot of hitters who like to work deep counts, and the Tribe pitchers focused on throwing strike one to better dictate the action.Josh Tomlin, Mondays starter, averages a tick under 88 mph with his fastball and allowed a whopping 35 homers in 174 regular-season innings. But he throws four pitches and never competes like a guy whos velocity-impaired. They dont call him the Little Cowboy for nothing.If somebody doesnt believe in our pitchers, theyre gonna prove them wrong, Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway?said. Thats definitely the case with Tomlin. Hes had to prove himself from A ball on. Hes always been the underdog. He performs best that way.Tomlin twirled one-hit, shutout ball for four innings and seemed oblivious to the notion that he should be feeling any kind of pressure. In the fifth inning, after Benintendi doubled home a run to make it 2-1, the Fenway fans struck up a Tom-lin! Tom-lin! chant reminiscent of the mocking cheer that Pittsburgh fans used to rattle Johnny Cueto during the 2013 playoffs. It was utterly wasted on the Little Cowboy, who struck out Leon and retired Jackie Bradley Jr. on a groundout to avoid further damage.I was surprised there were that many people that knew my name, to be honest, Tomlin said.As the game progressed, everything fell into Cleveland manager Terry Franconas wheelhouse. Andrew Miller, providing a monster presence out of the bullpen, came on in the sixth inning and threw 35 pitches to record six outs. Bryan Shaw and Allen flirted with danger in the eighth and ninth, but Boston simply couldnt mount enough offense to get over the top.True to form, Clevelands hitters divvied up the goodies all series. Catcher Roberto Perez, a .183 hitter during the regular season, hit a big home run in Game 1. Chisenhall, who barely plays against left-handers, launched a telling three-run shot off David Price in Game 2. In the series finale, Tyler Naquin delivered an early two-run single, and 36-year-old Coco Crisp made a personal statement. With the Indians clinging to a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning, Crisp launched a Drew Pomeranz knuckle-curve over the Green Monster for a two-run shot that allowed everybody in the Cleveland dugout to exhale.It was the second home run in 119 career postseason plate appearances for Crisp, who began his major league career with Cleveland in 2002. He moved on to play for Boston, Kansas City and Oakland before the Indians reacquired him from the Athletics in late August.I hit it, and I was like, OK, I got it. Its a homer, Crisp said. And then I was like, Wait a second. I hit it, and thats the Monster out there, and that wasnt really a pull homer. I started running and had my head down, and I looked up and saw the second base umpire twirling his fingers. Thats when I got pumped up.The sheer joy and self-effacing nature of Crisps quote is typical of the Indians, a likable batch of grinders who take their non-star status as a point of pride. Along with an underrated lineup, a solid defense and an effective bullpen, they have the advantage of being a unified group. Just about every media interview with an Indian includes some mention of how each player on the roster has bought into the team dynamic.Everybody in here loves each other, Tomlin said. We love being around each other. Ive never seen a group of individuals who get to the ballpark as early as we get to the ballpark. We play cards with each other and hang out with each other at night. There are a bunch of things that go into it. Its not just what we do on the field. Its what we do off the field as well.Now that theyve dispatched with Boston, the Indians have the luxury of enjoying each others company for another series -- and possibly a World Series after that. Theyre enjoying the ride so much that they cant abide the thought of it coming to an end. Discount Fake Yeezy Boost . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Fake Yeezy Outlet . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.fakeyeezydiscount.com/ . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Fake Yeezy Online . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Fake Yeezy China Factory .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has a horde of trophies from his dynamic 2015 season.The Austin, Texas, native is still searching for the prize he perhaps craves most -- a victory over his hometown Longhorns. Hell get his chance Saturday when the 20th-ranked Sooners (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) and Longhorns (2-2, 0-1) renew their rivalry in Dallas.Just about everything else has fallen into place beautifully for Mayfield since he transferred from Texas Tech and walked on at Oklahoma. Last season, he earned the starting job, led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.The lone regular-season blemish for the Sooners last season was a 24-17 loss to Texas. Mayfield threw for just 211 yards, and he was sacked six times. Folks back home enjoyed reminding him of last years game.Thats one of your biggest games of the year, Mayfield said. For a lot of fans around here, it is the biggest game of the year. Rightfully so, its one of the top rivalries in the country. I have a lot of friends back home who are UT fans, so I caught some grief.Mayfield grew up an Oklahoma fan in Austin, so he understands what the rivalry means from both sides.Its huge, he said. All the guys that dont grow up around it dont necessarily know what this rivalry is all about, but I grew up down there in the heart of UT land. I know what its all about, but its pretty special to me, and thats why its exciting. Big week.The Sooners entered the Texas game undefeatedd and ranked 10th last year, while Texas was 1-4.dddddddddddd Mayfield said the Sooners werent aggressive enough.It wasnt a fact of overlooking them, it was just not playing with our mentality, the mentality that we need to carry on every week, Mayfield said.After the loss to Texas, Mayfield led the Sooners to seven straight wins and a Big 12 title, and he was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.Mayfield entered this season as one of the favorites to contend for the Heisman, but losses to Houston and Ohio State pushed him out of the picture. He came back and showed his value when he passed 274 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-46 win at No. 21 TCU last Saturday.I think we came into the TCU game with the right mentality of never giving up, and dont worry about what theyre going to do, just do your job and thats the mindset that we need to do, he said.Mayfield typically has accomplished his goals, and now, beating Texas is the next one on his list. He believes having played against the Longhorns in the atmosphere in Dallas last year, with half Oklahoma fans and half Texas fans, should help him this time around.Ill be able to settle in early, and I know the crowds going to be ready, and its obviously a very exciting game, he said. We split it right down the middle and the fans are ready to get after each other.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP ' ' '