Cleveland extends run to 22 wins
CLEVELAND: The Cleveland Indians have the longest winning streak in Major League Baseball in more than a century after their 32 extra innings victory over the Kansas City Royals yesterday.
In earning their 22nd consecutive win, the Indians moved past the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the secondlongest streak in MLB history.
Only the New York Giants, with 26, had a longer run of success but their remarkable 1916 stretch, which is recognised by MLB as the longest in major league history, included a tie.
Cleveland’s streak seemed destined to end at 21 games when it was down to its final out, trailing 21 in the bottom of the ninth, and down to its last strike.
But shortstop Francisco Lindor saved the day with a double to deep left field, which brought in a run and sent the game to extra innings.
Second baseman Jose
Ramirez doubled with nobody out in the bottom of the 10th inning to set up the victory. After designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion walked, right fielder Jay Bruce sealed the deal with a walkoff RBI double as the home crowd broke into a frenzy.
‘‘We had some opportunities and didn’t cash in but we kept playing,’’ Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.
‘‘That was a great atmosphere. It’s better when you win, but the experience for some of our young guys in incredible right now. They’re learning on the job right smack in the middle of this.’’
The Indians have dominated their opponents since their run began, a stretch during which every other American League team has lost at least eight games.
The Indians have outscored their opponents by a whopping 13734 margin during the streak and have enjoyed topnotch pitching the entire way as well as a potent offence that has shown no signs of slowing down. — Reuters