Streak reaches 21
Only 1 team has won more games in a row than the Indians.
INDIANS 5, TIGERS 3
CLEVELAND — For more than 100 years, American League teams have gone on winning streaks of varying lengths — short ones, long ones, double-digit ones.
Nothing, though, like the one the Cleveland Indians have pieced together.
An early 1-0 deficit — only the second time during the streak the opposition has scored first — was quickly erased, and the Indians led the rest of the way Wednesday afternoon in a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
The victory extended the Indians’ streak to an American League record 21 games, surpassing the 2002 Oakland Athletics’ 20 in a row.
Cleveland is now tied with the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the second-longest winning streak of all time, trailing only the 26 in a row won by the 1916 New York Giants, whose streak included a tie in the middle.
“I think they’re enjoying themselves. They should,” Indians Manager Terry Francona said. “It’s pretty special.”
Francona was asked whether he thought the Giants’ run should be the record since it includes a tie.
“I wasn’t there,” he said, drawing laughter. “I’ve given that zero thought.”
In what was an oddity over the past 21 games, the Indians trailed in the first inning. With two on and two out, Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario doubled home a run. It was the first run scored against Mike Clevinger in his past four outings, Wednesday included.
That lead lasted about 18 minutes. With two on and two out in the bottom of the first, Jay Bruce belted a three-run home run to left field that just cleared the 19-foot wall. It gave the Indians a 3-1 lead, which meant they have trailed at the end of only four complete innings in 21 games.
After giving up the early run, Clevinger and the Indians dugout didn’t flinch.
“I don’t think there was a second that I doubted we were gonna score some runs or string together some hits,” Clevinger said. “That thought never crossed my mind. I wasn’t just wishing we were gonna score. It was, I kinda knew we were gonna score.”
The Indians (90-56) never trailed again but had to work to protect their lead.
Jose Ramirez created a run in the third inning, driving a ball to the right-center gap and legging out a double by just beating JaCoby Jones’ throw to second base. Edwin Encarnacion followed with a bloop single on which Ramirez was able to score, making it 4-1.
The Tigers drew to within one run in the sixth inning. Miguel Cabrera reached on an error by Yandy Diaz and Nick Castellanos followed with a double to make it 4-2. Andrew Romine singled with two outs to score Castellanos and end Clevinger’s day. Nick Goody entered and escaped the inning.
Clevinger (10-5) lasted 52/3 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on
6 hits and 6 strikeouts.
Roberto Perez added an insurance run in the seventh on a solo home run to center field.
The Tigers let out some frustration in the third inning, and it led to the ejection of catcher James McCann (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Manager Brad Ausmus. Bruce drew