October 15, Year 1 — Down 1-0 as heavy underdogs in the ALCS, with no Indians starter besides Sam McDowell having been effective in the postseason and the 111-win Oakland A's staring him down, Early Wynn was tasked with merely giving Cleveland a chance to win Game 2 in Oakland.

He did that...and then some.

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The Indians righthander, who went through an up-and-down season (9-9, 4.48), didn't allow a hit until the ninth inning when Wally Schang's sinking liner ticked off the glove of a diving Manny Ramirez to lead off the inning.

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Wynn gathered himself after the single to retire the next three, getting Rickey Henderson to fly to center before striking out Marcus Semien and getting Jimmie Foxx to ground out to end it.

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Wynn's final line saw him strike out seven, walking only two in the one-hit shutout that evened the series and gave the Indians a sense of confidence moving forward as they send ace Sam McDowell to the hill at home in Game 3.

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"Clutch," said first baseman Jim Thome, who helped Wynn's cause with a 2-for-4 day including his third home run of the postseason in the 8th. "That effort against that lineup, really impressive."

Ramirez, whose valiant effort on Schang's lone hit came up just short, apologized to the pitcher in the clubhouse afterward, which Wynn appreciated though it wasn't necessary.

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"Manny did all he could," Wynn said. "Goal was to win the game...Manny helped us do that. We needed the win, it wasn't about me."

Ramirez had an RBI double and is now batting .385 in the postseason.

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But, about him or not, the night belonged to Wynn, who hit every edge of the strike zone over the course of his effort, keeping Oakland's hitters off balance throughout the 104-pitch effort.