Kluber upstages Gray’s debut as Indians down Yankees
CLEVELAND » Unflappable and unassuming, Corey Kluber rarely shows any emotion on or off the mound.
But after a night when he joined three Hall of Famers — and three of his pitching heroes — on a rare list, Kluber allowed himself a brief moment to gloat. “It’s cool,” he said. Pinpoint. Typical Kluber. Cleveland’s ace upstaged Sonny Gray’s debut for New York by pitching a three-hitter and leading the Indians to a 5-1 win over the sloppy Yankees on Thursday night.
Kluber (9-3) struck out 11 and outshined Gray (6-6), let down by a New York defense that made three errors in the first inning. The defending AL champions won the opener of a four-game series with a potential playoff opponent and ended their losing streak at three.
With his latest dominant performance, Kluber joined Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to strike out at least eight in 12 consecutive starts. Johnson did it four times in his career and holds the record with 17 straight.
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Kluber often dismisses any chance to brag about his statistics or milestones. But he was pleased to be in such elite company.
“I mean, all three are guys I grew up watching and idolizing, so to be mentioned with them is definitely an honor and it’s cool,” he said.
For five innings, Gray (6-6) was nearly as good as Kluber, but New York kicked the ball around in the first behind the right-hander, who was acquired at Monday’s trade deadline from Oakland to help the Yankees return to the postseason.
Gray settled in after the rough beginning and allowed only two hits until the sixth, when Yan Gomes broke an 0-for-13 slide by hitting a two-out, two-run double to put Cleveland up 4-0.
Following the game, Gray didn’t make any excuses and wasn’t about to point fingers at his new teammates.
“That’s just part of the game,” he said of the miscues by first baseman Chase Headley, second baseman Tyler Wade and right fielder Clint Frazier in the first. “You make pitches. We were able to come out of the first inning with only two.” DIAMONDBACKS 10, CUBS 8 » Paul Goldschmidt hit his third long homer of the game to snap a ninthinning tie, and Arizona pulled out a rain-delayed victory over Chicago.
Goldschmidt drove a 3-2 pitch from Wade Davis (2-1) deep into the right-center bleachers with one out. J.D. Martinez followed with another solo drive off the AllStar closer.
Goldschmidt’s first career threehomer game gave him 25 for the season, and his six RBIs matched a career high. ROCKIES 5, METS 4 » Nolan Arenado walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Colorado a win over New York.
Charlie Blackmon and Mark Reynolds homered for the Rockies, who maintained a 51/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card. BREWERS 2, CARDINALS 1 » Keon Broxton drove in the go-ahead run and saved one with a leaping catch, Matt Garza made a strong start in his return from the disabled list, and Milwaukee edged St. Louis.
Broxton, who robbed Jose Martinez of a homer in the second inning, gave the Brewers a 2-1 lead with a single in the fifth off reliever Brett Cecil (1-4). PIRATES 6, REDS 0 » Chad Kuhl permitted four hits in seven efficient innings, Starling Marte went 3 for 4 and scored three times, and Pittsburgh had little trouble with Cincinnati. RAYS 5, ASTROS 3 » Steven Souza Jr. homered and drove in three runs, Corey Dickerson added three hits and made a dazzling defensive play to preserve the lead, and Tampa Bay beat Houston.
The Rays have won three in a row since dropping the series opener 14-7, and it’s the first time Houston has lost three in a row since June 11-13. ROYALS 6, MARINERS 4 » Brandon Moss hit two home runs and Lorenzo Cain drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Kansas City beat Seattle. RED SOX 9, WHITE SOX 5 » Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer and Rick Porcello ended a four-game losing streak with his first win since June as Bostonbeat Chicago. DODGERS 7, BRAVES 4 » Alex Wood allowed one run in six innings to avenge his lone loss of the season, Chris Taylor had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Los Angeles beat Atlanta.
Wood (13-1) evened his record this season against his former Atlanta teammates. He gave up a career-high nine runs, seven earned, in a 12-3 loss to the Braves on July 21. The left-hander returned to his All-Star form in the rematch.