CLEVELAND -- The Indians returned home to Cleveland early Monday morning after sharing hugs and tears in Boston after the 11-2 loss that will send the Red Sox to the World Series.

One lone fan was at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at about 4 a.m. to greet the team. Barb Kovalski was cheering loudly in support of their season.

She wanted them to know this team was loved and that she represented all the fans who couldn't stay up.

"I want them to know I'm here for the rest of the people who couldn't stay up, becasue I was so keyed up I couldn't sleep. So I just had to let them know we love this team," Kovalski said.

"We know it's going to take a few more days to get over this, but everybody in Cleveland knows we love the Indians. They had to come home on the plane feeling down so I'm here to let them know we love this team."

About 5,000 Cleveland fans watched the game at Jacobs Field. Only a few hundred people stayed at the ballpark until third baseman Casey Blake made the final out shortly before midnight.

Blake said the Tribe needed things to go their way, and they didn't.

Bruce Bertolo of Cleveland said he guesses he's not surprised that the Indians blew an early, three-games-to-one advantage by losing three in a row. He said he's a Cleveland sports fan, which means he's been through a lot.

Although fans still stand by the Tribe, the Game 7 loss will definitely hurt for a while.