It’s back to business for Indians
With the team’s 22-game win streak now in the history books, Cleveland has even bigger goals to chase
Francisco Lindor popped out of the chair at his clubhouse cubicle and asked a question before any reporter could get one off.
“You guys aren’t going to ask me about the streak, are you?” Cleveland’s jovial shortstop said, smiling. Well, yes. His. While the Indians’ historic winning streak is no longer the talk of baseball, Lindor’s on a personal roll that’s become notable.
The all-star set a club record with another extra-base hit and the Indians bounced back after having their AL record streak stopped at 22 by beating the Kansas City Royals 8-4 on Saturday to move to the brink of a Central title.
Lindor’s double in the sixth off Jason Hammel (8-12) gave him an extra-base hit in 10 straight games — a club record and four shy of the major league mark of 14, shared by Chipper Jones (2006) and Paul Waner (1927).
“I didn’t even know that,” Lindor said. “I saw it on the scoreboard.”
Carlos Carrasco (16-6) pitched into the seventh as the Indians improved to 32-5 in their last 37 games.
With the win, the Indians clinched at least a tie for the division and dropped their magic number for repeating as champs to one. They clinched their title on Saturday night when second-place Minnesota lost to Toronto 7-2.
A division crown is the first step for the Indians, whose only goal is winning the World Series after coming so close last year. From the moment they lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games, the Indians have been focused on getting back, and a division crown is a first step. Cleveland hasn’t won a Series title since 1948, baseball’s longest drought.
This is the first time the Indians have won consecutive division titles since 1999, when they finished a run of five straight first-place finishes.
Edwin Encarnacion hit his 35th homer for Cleveland.
Alex Gordon connected for the Royals, whose wild-card hopes took another blow and dropped 18½ games behind the Indians.
Less than 24 hours after losing for the first time in three weeks, the defending AL champion Indians returned to the business of taking their second straight division crown and ninth since 1995.
Following Friday’s 4-3 loss, the Indians were warmly saluted by their fans, who and gave them a rousing standing ovation in appreciation for the longest win streak baseball has seen since the 1916 New York Giants won 26 in a row.
No doubt the streak was fun, but it served as little more than a September diversion for these Indians. They have one goal — a Series title — after losing in seven games last year to the Chicago Cubs.
“I was happy about that,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of his team’s ability to rebound. “I didn’t think we wouldn’t, but it’s nice to see them go right back to trying to be as good of a team as we can be.”
The sensational Lindor is leading their charge.
With the Indians up by a run and with two on in the sixth, Lindor doubled high off the left-field wall to make 5-2. It was Lindor’s 40th double and broke a tie with Hal Trosky, who hit either a double, triple or homer in nine consecutive games for Cleveland in 1934.
“He’s using the whole field.” Francona said. “And he’s strong enough and he’s got probably 1,500 at-bats under his belt. So, he knows the league and he understands situations more. That comes with experience. So he’s still every bit as dangerous. He just also is finding his hits, spraying the ball around.”
SWEET 16S
The Indians now have three pitchers — Kluber, Carrasco and Trevor Bauer — with 16 wins. They are the first Cleveland pitchers to get at least 16 in the same season since Early Wynn, Bob Lemon and Herb Score in 1956.
MILLER TIME
Indians all-star reliever Andrew Miller made his second appearance since returning from the disabled list and faced one batter. He retired Lorenzo Cain on two pitches.
UP NEXT
Corey Kluber pitched a five-hit shutout in his last start and is 8-1 in his last nine starts. He’ll face LHP Danny Duffy, who will make his first start since Aug. 22 after being on the disabled list with a sore elbow.