M’S Backs Are To The Wall Indians 3, Mariners 2

Triumphantly, Omar Vizquel took the game in hand.

Vizquel stabbed Luis Sojo’s eighth-inning line drive to shortstop and turned it into a double play as the Cleveland Indians held off the Seattle Mariners 3-2 Sunday night, taking a 3-2 lead in the American League playoffs.

Jim Thome put Cleveland on top with a two-run homer off Chris Bosio in the sixth inning, and the Indians twice wriggled out of difficult situations to stay ahead.

The gut-wrenching finish kept Orel Hershiser perfect in the postseason, improving his career record in the playoffs and World Series to 7-0.

Game 6 will be back in the Kingdome on Tuesday, and Randy Johnson will be asked again to save the season for Seattle. It’ll be his fourth appearance this month with the M’s season hanging in the balance.