George bracket: 1961 Indians beat 2017 Astros in six games

Game 1: Indians 9, Astros 5
WP: Grant (2-0)
LP: Verlander (0-1)
HR: Kirkland (2), Temple (1)

Game 2: Astros 6, Indians 5 (11 innings)
WP: Harris (1-0)
LP: Stigman (0-2)
HR: Gurriel (2), Held (1)

Game 3: Astros 4, Indians 3
WP: Morton (1-0)
LP: Bell (0-2)
Save: Giles (3)
HR: Gurriel (3)

Game 4: Indians 12, Astros 6
WP: Latman (2-0)
LP: McHugh (0-1)
HR: Francona 2 (3), Correa (4), Romano (2)

Game 5: Indians 2, Astros 1
WP: Grant (3-0)
LP: Verlander (0-2)

Game 6: Indians 5, Astros 3
WP: J Perry (2-0)
LP: Keuchel (1-1)
HR: McCann (1), Essegian (1), Held (2), Kirkland (3)

The 1961 Tribe upset the 2017 champions, getting complete games in the final two games and outscoring the Astros by 11 runs over the six contests.

The Astros jumped out in front in the opener at Minute Maid Park, with Jose Altuve and Marwin Gonzalez getting RBI hits in a three-run third. But the Tribe scored three of their own in the top of the fourth, with Johnny Temple hitting an unlikely two-run homer off Justin Verlander. Willie Kirkland's home in the fifth drove Verlander from the mound, and the Tribe tagged Luke Gregerson for three more in the sixth, with Kirkland picking up two more RBIs.

Houston even the series with an 11-inning win in Game Two. With two outs in the 11th, Altuve doubled and Gonzalez singled him in to make Dick Stigman the loser. Woodie Held hit for the cycle in Cleveland's loss, going 5-for-5 with two singles, a double, a triple and a homer. The homer came in the eighth inning off Francisco Liriano and tied the game.

The series shifted to 1961 and Memorial Stadium in Cleveland for Game Three. Yuri Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the second off Gary Bell. The Tribe did work a 3-3 tie, but consecutive doubles in the seventh from Gurriel and Alex Bregman put the Astros back in front, and Houston relievers Brad Peacock and Ken Gile stranded five baserunners in the final two innings to protect that lead.

Houston's Game Four starter, Collin McHugh, lasted just two innings, allowing six runs, five earned. Kirkland had three RBIs off McHugh. The Astros pulled within two runs after five innings, but in the sixth Tito Francona hit a three-run homer off Peacock. John Romano and Francona added solo shots in the eighth and ninth innings respectively.

Mudcat Grant outdueled Verlander in Game Five. Verlander yielded two runs in six innings on five hits; Grant went the distance on a four-hitter, with the only run coming in the sixth when Gonzalez followed Altuve's two-out single with a double. Grant struck out seven and walked none. Romano and Temple had the RBIs for the Indians.

The series reverted to 2017 and Houston for Game Six, and the Astros scored a pair of first inning runs. But designated hitter Chuck Essigian homered in the second off Dallas Keuchel, and Held hit a two-run homer to put Cleveland ahead. Kirkland hit another two-run homer in the fifth, and Jim Perry took it from there. Perry threw an eight-hitter, only four of them after the first inning, and walked none.

Player of the Series: Willie Kirkland

Projected rotation: Grant-Bell-Perry-Latman-(Grant)-(Bell)-(Perry)