Cleveland ties AL record with 20th win in row

The Cleveland Indians share a record with a team celebrated by Hollywood. “Moneyball” has its sequel. Following a familiar script of scoring first, playing strong defence and riding dominant pitching, the Indians extended their winning streak to 20 games and matched the AL mark held by the 2002 Oakland Athletics, beating the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on Tuesday.

Cleveland’s streak, which began Aug. 24 in Boston, is tied for the majors’ second-longest in 82 years.

Corey Kluber (16-4) strengthened his Cy Young Award case with a four-hitter as Cleveland joined the 2002 A’s, 1935 Chicago Cubs (21) and 1916 New York Giants (26) as the only teams to win at least 20 games in a row.

Francisco Lindor homered to lead off the first inning against Matthew Boyd (5-10), and the crowd of 24,654 stood and roared when Kluber sprinted to the mound for the ninth.

Fireworks exploded overhead and the Indians lined up to celebrate yet another win in this unthinkable streak.

The Giants’ revered 101-year-old streak includes a tie that interrupted 12- and 14-game unbeaten runs. However, the Elias Sports Bureau, the official statistical custodian for Major League Baseball, has always regarded the Giants’ stretch as the top mark because tie games were replayed from the start back then.

Cleveland can equal the Cubs’ 21game run Wednesday afternoon.

The Indians and A’s, whose unexpected run to the post-season 15 years ago was re-told in the film starring Brad Pitt, don’t have much in common besides their streaks.

Kluber improved to 8-1 in his last nine starts and lowered his ERA to an AL-best 2.45 with his third shutout and fifth complete game of the season.