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Kipnis to Bautista: 'That's why you don't say dumb sh--'

Caylor Arnold / USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis departed the American League Championship Series with some words of advice for Jose Bautista.

Bautista predicted Tuesday that Indians' rookie starter Ryan Merritt would likely be "shaking in his boots" during Game 5 after looking at Toronto's lineup. Merritt responded by tossing 4 1/3 shutout innings in Cleveland's 3-0 win, punching its ticket to the World Series.

"That's why you don't say dumb shit," Kipnis told reporters with a laugh. "You can quote me on that. That's why we don't worry about stuff like that. It wasn't locker room material. We already know what's at stake, we already are pretty locked in on what we're trying to get done right now and play the game.

"We don't worry about predictions. We don't worry about what's being said. These guys are so concerned about what's going on and winning the game - nine innings in-between the lines - there's not much that can throw us off our game."

Bautista finished 0-for-2 against Merritt with a ground out and fly out. He later hit a single and a double to finish 2-4.

"Did he get a hit off him? He sure didn't," Kipnis said of Bautista. "Pretty good for when you're shaking. The guy's in his second start. That is an amazing lineup over there, that is a really talented lineup with a lot of guys with some thump in the middle of that lineup - some great hitters with some great seasons and for him to kind of breeze through it the first couple innings is incredible."

Following the loss, Bautista was asked about his comments on Merritt, and said he meant no ill-will toward the 24-year-old.

"There's never any disrespect meant," Bautista said. "I simply gave my opinion on what I thought could have happened. I never said he wasn't good enough. Obviously he's here and in the little experience he's had before tonight he had pitched well. I also stated that those types of matchups could go either way and sometimes people step up to the occasion and he certainty did."

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