For those who missed last night's Yankees 8-4 win over the Indians in Game 3 of the ALCS, here's a brief synopsis of TBS's telecast, featuring play-by-play man Chip Caray and analysts Tony Gwynn and Bob Brenly:

Caray: "MYSTIQUE!"

Gwynn: "CLUTCH!"

Brenly: "BABE RUTH!"

Once Robinson Cano's single went by the hovering glove of Trot Nixon in right field, the sixth, seventh, and eighth runs scored for New York and the broadcast booth seemed in the middle of a nice, sensual Cano-gasm.

After the other three first-round series in the MLB playoffs turned out to be sweeps, the Yankees dodged being the fourth and final sweep victim. In the process they halved the Cleveland Indians' series lead. New Amsterdam still needs to win the final two games in this best-of-five to reach the ALCS and play some team named the Boston Red Sox, who swept the LA Angels of Anaheim earlier on Sunday.

Of course, this still seems unlikely, but I'm only delving into the possibility of Yankee magic because I have aspirations of being a national sports voice someday. Four times in ALDS history has a team gone down 0-2 and come back to win the next three games. One of those teams was the Yankees in 2001, and one of those teams to blow said 2-0 lead was the Indians in 1999.

There. The Seed of Gloom And Doom has been implanted in the Cuyahoga River. I only did that because I enjoy toying with the tawdry emotions of Midwestern market sports fans. And because I'm a Tigers fan. Now let's come back into reality.

For the Indians, Paul Byrd starts Game 4 tonight against Chien-Ming Wang, who started Game 1. This means Joe Torre is giving the ball to Wang on short rest instead of Mussina on a Rip Van Winkle catnap. Mussina must have been punched out by Barney Gumble in an argument over England's greatest prime minister.

In terms of relievers, the Yankees' options are narrowing down, as Nebraskan phenom Joba Chamberlain went two innings Sunday night, and Game 3 winner Phil Hughes went 3 2/3. You have to think they're both a last resort in Game 4. Meanwhile, Eric Wedge has a slew of talented arms in his bullpen who haven't pitched since Friday, including primary setup men Rafael Lewis and Rafael "Stopwatch" Betancourt.

Now, if — if — IF!!! — the Yankees are able to rough up Byrd and the bullpen in Game 4 and move the series back to Cleveland, the Yankees still have to face either C.C. Sabathia or Fausto Carmona on Wednesday night in Cleveland. (Sabathia is currently scheduled as the Game 5 starter.)

But with this being the only MLB playoff series not yet decided, all ears (whose canals lead into the brains of humans who enjoy baseball) will be tuned into Game 3 Monday night. They're going to hear the Yankees fan cheering like there's no tomorrow from the first pitch. They'll hear an announcing crew lauding the Yankees on that Game 3 win. But the eyes, via optic nerves, will see the stat abbreviation "CLE LEADS SERIES 2-1," and the logical portion of the brain will decipher that one more Indians win will mean the Yankees will have lost their fourth straight playoff series, including three first-round exits.

Mystique. Clutch. Babe Ruth.

Series lead. Bullpen. Um ... Rocky Colavito.

Which triad would you rather have on your side?