Well, that was not the way to end a series. The Indians still have two more games to reach the World Series, but their best chance clearly lies with Fausto Carmona in Game 6. Jake Westbrook can win Game 7 of course, but let's be honest: Who wants to get this thing to a Game 7?

The Indians attributed the Game 5 loss to one person: Josh Beckett. "He was unhittable," Paul Byrd said after watching from the dugout. And he was. Especially because, as manager Eric Wedge said, his team did not make adjustments, which left players constantly between offspeed and fast ball all night long. That leaves you lunging, which doesn't work with a pitcher like Beckett. Wedge said his players needed to be more aggressive and take a chance now and then. Instead, they looked at a lot of hittable strikes.

As for Beckett, he was rather pointed when the notion was brought up to him that the Indians had Danielle Peck sing the National Anthem. Peck subbed for Taylor Swift, who canceled at the last minute when her handlers realized she was double-booked (a curiousity in itself). Peck is from Coshhocton, and the word is she's an Indians fan. She also dated Beckett at one point in her life (much to Beckett's good fortune, from the looks of her).

Asked after the game about Beck being present, Beckett snapped: "I don't get paid to make those (blank) decisions." He added: "Thanks to them for flying a friend of mine here and letting her see the game for free." Well, then.

For the record, the Indians said they were unaware of the Beckett-Peck connection.

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