Tito’s trust in Bauer pays off for Indians

In Tito, they trust.

No wonder.

Indians manager Terry Francona raised a few eyebrows when he announced his starting rotation for the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, saving ace Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25 earned-run average) for Game 2 and Game 5, if one is necessary.

Thursday before 37,612 hungry fans at Progressive Field, Trevor Bauer (17-9, 4.19) rewarded his manager’s confidence.

For 51/3 innings, Bauer set a franchise postseason record by not allowing a hit. (Bob Feller in 1948 and Early Wynn in 1944 had gone four innings in World Series games.)

Two innings later, Bauer was lifted and the Indians’ solid bullpen took over. Andrew Miller (wilder than usual) and Cody Allen recorded the final seven outs in a 4-0 victory.

The Indians have the lead and their ace on the mound todaywith a chance to put a stranglehold on the best-of-five series.

Brilliant.

Francona starting Jason Kipnis in center field over Austin Jackson or Greg Allen also paid off. Chase Headley led off the Yankees’ third at-bat with a shot into the gap. Kipnis at top speed ran hard to his right and dove for a spectacular catch to rob Headley of extra bases.

“I was pretty pumped up about that,” Bauer said. “Some people have kind of doubted his ability in center field. ... Hopefully that puts that narrative to rest.”

In earning his first postseason victory, Bauer went 62/3 innings, allowing two hits and walking one. The other baserunner against him was Aaron Judge in the fourth who struck out but took first on a wild pitch. Gary Sanchez then hit into a double play.

Almost lost amid the no-hit excitement was the production of Jay Bruce. He doubled and scored in the second inning, cracked a two-run homer in the fourth and hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to bring home Jose Ramirez for a 4-0 lead.

“It couldn’t have gone better for us,” Bruce said. “You can’t say enough about the job that Trevor and the rest of the pitching staff did tonight. [The Yankees] never really got anything going.”

He’s referring to the same team that on Tuesday rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit for an 8-4 romp over the Twins in the AL wild-card game.

Of Bauer, Bruce said, “I’m happy he’s on my side. He’s very committed to his craft.”

The irony of Bauer’s success is he might not see any more action in this series. Francona said “we’ll see when he feels like he could be available.”

Yankees manager Joe Girardi won’t mind if he takes his time.

“His curveball was really good tonight,” Girardi said. “It’s as good as we’ve seen it.”

Francona, who flinched a little when someone used the word genius, said he doesn’t pay attention to second-guessers.

“I kind of live by you do what you think is right,” Francona said. “You answer questions and then in the morning I don’t run to see how I’m perceived.

“You have to have confidence in what you’re doing, he said. “And it’s not going to always work.”

On deck is Kluber, who did his best before the game to convey it doesn’t matter if he was the Game 1 starter or took the ball in the second game.

“From my point of view, if you’re out there worrying about which game it is or or what the games are in the series, things like that, that’s kind of stuff you really don’t have control over,” said Kluber who was the Indians starter in Games 1, 4 and 7 of the 2016 World Series.

Kluber will be facing Judge — the Yankees rookie right fielder who hit 52 homers in the regular season — for the first time.

“Obviously, he’s a great hitter,” Kluber said. “The year he’s had speaks for himself.”

He’s impressed with the Yankees’ “very versatile lineup. They’s got youth, they’ve got experience. They have power. They have speed.”

They also have a series deficit. Advantage, Francona.

Tom Williams is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Williams_Vindy.