The Indians established themselves as a force to be reckoned with immediately against the Yankees in the ALDS, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 and going on to a 12-3 rout in the series opener.

Game 2, a 2-1 extra-innings walk-off victory in Cleveland -- made memorable by an swarm of midges that disrupted Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain in the eighth, leading to the Indians scoring the tying run -- was tighter before the two clubs split Games 3 and 4 and Cleveland advanced to the Championship Series.

Jhonny Peralta went 7-for-15 with three doubles in the series, and six Cleveland players hit homers. Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon each had five hits (including two homers apiece) for the Yankees.

Path to the ALDS: Cleveland (96-66) won the AL Central by eight games; New York (94-68) finished second in the AL East and won the Wild Card 

Managers: Eric Wedge, CLE; Joe Torre, NYY