Indians starter Trevor Bauer wasn't expecting to get a standing ovation at Toronto's Rogers Centre.
But the right-hander got a rousing round of applause from Blue Jays fans when he left the mound after just two-thirds of an inning, having to leave Game 3 of the American League Championship Series after the pinky finger on his throwing hand began to bleed profusely. Cleveland's bullpen took care of its injured starter, limiting the Blue Jays to just two earned runs on six hits and taking a commanding 3-0 series lead with a 4-2 victory on Monday night.
As Bauer was leaving the game he waved his glove hand to the fans who were cheering and applauding above the Indians dugout.
"That was the loudest standing ovation I've ever gotten after an outing," he joked. "I guess I enjoyed the claps and them cheering since I was injured."
Bauer got the start despite cutting his finger while repairing a toy drone last Thursday. He needed 11 stitches to close the wound and was pushed back to the third game of the series after originally being named Cleveland's starter for Game 2.
Throwing in game conditions, however, opened the wound right up.
"I think after the 1-2 pitch to (Troy) Tulowitzki, I felt on my ring finger a little bit of blood so I looked down, bleeding pretty good," said Bauer. "I was like, 'Well, my only chance to stay in the game here is get back quick in the dugout and stop the bleeding', but sometimes circumstances aren't in your favour and good teams find a way to over come them and find away to win.
"Glad we were able to do that today."
After Bauer issued a two-out walk to Tulowitzki, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons asked home plate umpire Brian Gorman to check on the pitcher as blood could be seen dripping down his hand on to his uniform and the pitcher's mound.
Indians manager Terry Francona came out of the dugout and talked with Bauer and the umpires before the decision was made that he would have to leave the game.
"When I went out there, I mean, first thing I saw was blood on the rubber," said Francona. "I figured that wasn't a real good sign that things were going well.
"It was bleeding pretty good. The weird thing, it was only one little spot that opened, but, man, it was coming out a lot."
Bauer issued two walks, had one strikeout and threw nine of his 21 pitches for strikes. He was replaced by right-hander Dan Otero.
Bauer's availability for the remainder of the Indians post-season run is uncertain at this point. Cleveland could elect to replace him on their roster should they advance to the World Series.
Right-hander Corey Kluber will get the ball for the Indians on short rest in Game 4 on Tuesday afternoon while the Blue Jays will counter with Aaron Sanchez.
"It feels fantastic. There's a lot of joy in the clubhouse," Bauer said of being one win away from the World Series. "We've overcome a lot to get to this point and everyone believes in the team. They go out there and play. When one guy goes down, another one steps in. Multiple guys step in. We're having a lot of fun"