BROOMS ON DECK

Associated Press

TORONTO

Andrew Miller and the Cleveland bullpen pulled off their most impressive feat yet in these American League playoffs, taking over after Trevor Bauer’s bloody exit and holding off the Toronto Blue Jays in a 4-2 victory Monday night that moved the Indians within one win of their first pennant since 1997.

Jason Kipnis and Mike Napoli homered for the Indians, who took a 3-0 lead in the AL Championship Series. They are unbeaten in six playoff games this year and can complete their second consecutive sweep this afternoon.

Six relievers combined for 25 outs and 128 pitches, limiting Toronto to two runs and seven hits. Miller got four outs for the save.

“If anybody has a hiccup, we probably lose,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.

Indians ace Corey Kluber is scheduled to start Game 4 on short rest after Bauer’s drone-related finger injury created more upheaval in a rotation that’s been short-handed all postseason.

Bauer faced only four batters before getting pulled in the first inning after his stitched-up right pinkie began dripping blood.

Enter the stingy Cleveland relievers, who pitched the Indians to a Division Series sweep over Boston and have them on the verge of another.

“It’s a good feeling,” Kipnis said. “We’ve still got one more to get there, and it’s going to be tough. We know these guys. Just kind of like the Boston series — we don’t want to wait around for them to figure it out. We want to get to them now.”

After Bauer left with two down and two on in the first, the final 25 Toronto outs were distributed as follows: four each for Dan Otero and Jeff Manship, three for Zach McAllister, five each for Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen, and four for Miller.

“We’re having a blast. Just watch us play. Watch all the smiles. Guys are loose. Guys are having a good time, and you’re seeing the play out there kind of reflect that attitude,” Kipnis said.

The Blue Jays have never led in the series. And when Kipnis led off the sixth with a home run to right-center field, Cleveland went up 3-2 and was suddenly just a few outs from being able to turn the game over to Allen and Miller.

They appeared in that order, yet another instance in which Francona has maneuvered his bullpen unencumbered by the idea of rigid roles.

Allen, who usually closes for the Indians, came on in the seventh with a runner on and nobody out. A two-out walk to Jose Bautista put the potential tying run on, but Josh Donaldson’s liner to left field stayed up long enough for Coco Crisp to make a sliding catch.

Miller, who struck out 10 in 32/3 innings through the first two games of the series, fanned three batters this time.

“We knew that we could do this, where we could piece together bullpen arm by bullpen arm and go one inning, two innings and still get a win,” Kipnis said. “We’ve done it before. We have the experience.”

Cleveland has won nine straight games dating to the regular season.